Job Searching after Cancer

[pjpeace]

I had to quit my job to move back home with my family when I got sick and did not work during treatment. So I haven't worked for now going on a little over a year. Ok...so I need to start looking for a job (if only I could get paid to save the world...guess like Spider Man and Super Man I've got to have a day job too but mainly I will need health insurance b/c COBRA runs out in December).

My main question is...how do I explain what i've been doing for the past year while i've been in treatment/recovering from surgery? Or just flat out tell them you had cancer and are currently in NED?

Thanks everyone!

[klryder02]

That is a hard one.

I can't give any advice based on experience on this one, but if it were me, I say just a general medical/health issue. Because you are NED, I would not bring up cancer specifically, just say medical issue.

Although it is illegal to not hire someone based on medical history, I personally don't think that keeps it from happening. If it is a small company you are interviewing with, potential large medical claims in the future could be costly for them.

I may be over analyzing this...just my thoughts.

[nodo]

I think that I would be upfront about it since there is that space in your employment history. I wouldn't offer it if there was no space, but since there is, why not explain it? Most everyone has been touched by cancer in some way and I think there is a lot more understanding about it. I would definitely explain how it has made me a better person and in turn a better potential employee. I hadn't worked in several years prior to cancer and actually went back about six months after finishing chemo. I needed something to do besides be at home all day with my kids and think about cancer. My employer has been great. They knew all about it - I just didn't want any surprises. And, if a company didn't want me because of a cancer history, I wouldn't want to work there anyway.

Good luck on your job search!

[larbo's wife]

I would mention it ( the cancer) My husband was in the same boat of being on disability for over a year and then losing his former job due to his physical limitations after his return. I feared that he would be unemployable due to his illness and his age (over 50) He updated his resume and put it out on an on-line job search. (Monster .com) Within days he was getting calls from prospective employers and had several calls for interviews. He was upfront about his illness and all of the places he interviewed with offered him positions. He is currently working as an executive buffet chef at a new casino and golf resort in Iowa. He does miss doing the hands on cooking but now he must work more with his brain than with his brawn Kathy

[cynnycal]

Hey Paula,
I had the very same thoughts, i just got an internship (as you know) and I crafted my cover letter for that very VERY carefully.
In it, I mention the medical setbacks I've had, but I focused more on how determined and focused i am now, and how i am CLEAR, and HEALTHY (no matter how true or not that is...heh.. )
But in the event that I got hired on fulltime, I don't want them to think that there's a chance i'm not a good investment AND i wanted to be very clear that the hardest (i.e. read: most EXPENSIVE) part of my treatment (surgeries etc) are over. and i'm good to go from here on out .

i can fwd you the letter if you want an idea of how to get started. everyone that i showed it to (to get feedback before i sent it in) was really impressed by how it was worded.

[Workerbee]

Be sure to look into Federal Govt. jobs. Private industry talks about not discriminating, but govt. is the only place where you can be certain they won't. Also the health insurance group is large enough that one more cancer patient won't make a difference.

[notgivingup]

PjPeace,

I can add actual experience here. I hired a stage IV cancer survivor for a medical device sales job in July 2005. It was one of the best hires I made. We are in the cancer industry and her experience added a passion that you can't learn. In that case, she told all and was proud of it. I hired her for her strength and desire to win.

[johnnys84]

I actually had to deal with this exact question at a pre-interview today. A firm I am interviewing with next week wanted to know why my work experience was so limited at the firm I am at now. Before I even knew what it was coming out of my mouth I told the partner that I had been dealing with Stage II colorectal cancer for roughly the past year. I told him all I had been through and that I was currently NED, he was loving it. Saying how tough all of the must have been and that he couldnt wait to meet with me next week.

I am trying to leave my present firm because my workload has decreased greatly since I came back from surgery last December, and then had more surgery in March, and was out till April. Get the feeling that they are trying to encourage me to leave.

I had initially planned not to mention any of it during an interview so I didnt scare anyone off, but I think in this case it really worked out.

[pjpeace]

Thanks guys you've given me some good advice! Yeah Becca definitly send me the letter you wrote! i like being crafty with wording ; )

[guest3]

I've done at least 8 interviews over the past several months to see what different types of job opportunites were out there. I had used my 7 months of unemployment after being laid-off as a vacation...well I was still going through a series of medical tests to rule out metastasis. The first question out of everyone's mouth was...what did you do for 8 months? The acceptable answers I've learned are I've occupied my time with travel and/or volunteering. Both were true. In my case, with my fatigue, etc, there was no way that I was going to tell them anything about my health history. I am working full-time now, and as much as it is a struggle, I feel better at this new company with no one knowing about my cancer. I used to work at a hospital where everyone saw me losing 40 pounds before being diagnosed, going through chemo, etc. I was known as "the girl who had cancer". That was the focus of my existance there, so now it is nice to feel not so cancerous. I am experiencing life after cancer, although it is still on my mind daily, and going through what I went through has made me a much stronger person. Just wanted to share my experience. Good luck with your decision and job hunting:)