blog

Blog post thumbnail
A Benefit’s Only a Benefit If It Benefits You

Rachel Becker, LMSW on January 17, 2017

The Society for Human Resource Management’s 2016 Employee Benefits Report found there are approximately 350 different benefits being offered by today’s employers. If you are a talented candidate evaluating job offers, consider the actual value these benefits provide, particularly if your needs have changed due to cancer.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
To-Do or Not To-Do? How Creating Lists Can Help Your Brain.

Rachel Becker, LMSW on October 31, 2016

To-do lists can be key to helping survivors with “chemo brain” stay on track. And according to a recent article in Fast Company, the act of creating and cultivating a to-do list, regardless of whether or not you ultimately check items off that list, can be beneficial. Here’s how!

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
4 Myths About Telecommuting

Rachel Becker, LMSW on September 13, 2016

Telecommuting is becoming increasingly common in today’s work world which is great news for working cancer survivors who can benefit greatly from job flexibility. Nonetheless, there are a number of myths about “working from home”, still heralded as common knowledge, that are worth busting!

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Are You Getting in the Way of Your Own Job Search?

Rachel Becker, LMSW on August 22, 2016

Most job-seekers experience a lot of ups and downs while looking for work. It’s quite common for this virtual roller coaster to cause us to start telling ourselves “stories” about emotionally fraught circumstances that aren’t necessarily true — and believing them can slow us down on our path to employment.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
The Flexibility Question: Exploring Company Culture Before You Accept the Job

Rachel Becker, LMSW on August 1, 2016

For cancer survivors who are returning to the work force or changing careers, landing in a work environment with an open and flexible company culture can be a top priority. But is it possible to get a sense of how flexible a potential employer <em>really</em> is before you accept an offer?

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Tips for Developing Your Time Management Skills

Rachel Becker, LMSW on July 14, 2016

"Time management"a life skill that gets developed and refined over time. For many cancer survivors, taking the time to refresh ones approach to time management can help mitigate the overwhelming feelings that often arise when balancing a job and/or job search, ongoing doctor appointments, and all of the other things that come with life.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
LinkedIn Tips: Profile Refresh Made Easy

Rachel Becker, LMSW on June 20, 2016

The online community Skillcrush recently released a brilliant and easy-to-follow infographic illustrating 23 steps you can take to update your LinkedIn profile. Here are a few highlights...

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
National Conference Session Spotlight: Body Confidence, Self-Confidence in the Workplace

Rachel Becker, LMSW on June 3, 2016

We’re particularly excited to be debuting a brand-new session at this year’s annual conference: Body Confidence, Self-Confidence in the Workplace, will be presented by Sage Bolte, PhD, LCSW, OSW-C, CST, Executive Director of the Life with Cancer Program at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Things to Consider Before Googling “Cancer” at Work

Rachel Becker, LMSW on May 12, 2016

It can be very useful to find instant answers to treatment-related questions via Google, but it’s important to remember that searching cancer-related topics while on the job can lead to unintended workplace disclosure.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Taking Control of Finances During Cancer

Rachel Becker, LMSW on April 21, 2016

Many hospitals are now hiring financial navigators to assist cancer survivors in addressing money-related concerns, but there are also many steps you can take on your own to take control of your financial circumstances.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Beyond LinkedIn: The Dos and Don'ts of Building an Online Brand

Rachel Becker, LMSW on March 31, 2016

LinkedIn is not the only online platform to focus on when building/maintaining a professional online presence. Facebook and Twitter are also frequently reviewed by both hiring managers and employers, which makes it essential for today’s professionals to understand social media dos and don’ts.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Webinar Recap: Career Change

Rachel Becker, LMSW on February 22, 2016

In February 2016, our Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar Series turned its focus to the subject of career change. Led by expert career coach Julie Jansen, this 60-minute session explored the ways cancer survivors can empower themselves toward making a work transition.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Refresh Your Job Search in 2016!

Rachel Becker, LMSW on January 21, 2016

Whether you’re in the midst of an ongoing job search or starting a new one, now is the time to harness the energy of the new year and strategize for 2016.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Increase in Remote Workforce Is Promising News for Working People with Cancer

Rachel Becker, LMSW on November 16, 2015

A recent study revealed that the number of people telecommuting has increased significantly over the past 10 years, and that’s promising news for working people with cancer.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
The Most Important Expert on Your Healthcare Team: You

Rachel Becker, LMSW on November 2, 2015

You are the world’s leading authority on your life and work. When mapping a plan for working through treatment, it’s important to marry your expertise with that of various members of your healthcare team.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Bad at Multitasking? Here’s Why We All Are.

Rachel Becker, LMSW on October 1, 2015

posted in

An effective tip for staying focused at work is to let go of the idea of multitasking, because as it turns out, you were probably never very good at it to begin with.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Does Your LinkedIn Post Pass This Quiz?

Rachel Becker, LMSW on September 10, 2015

When it comes to work and our professional lives, there is one social media platform that is in a category unto itself: LinkedIn. As such, the site is best used by following certain “rules of the road.”

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Online Resources for Professional Development

Rachel Becker, LMSW on August 24, 2015

Professional development is essential whether you are actively employed, taking time off from work, job-hunting or looking to make a career change. And with the abundance of free courses available online today, learning new skills is easier than ever.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
"Essential Function of the Job" According to the ADA

Rachel Becker, LMSW on July 27, 2015

posted in ADA, In the News, Legal

An appeals court in Virginia upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the EEOC on behalf of a breast cancer survivor who had been let go from her job after treatment left her unable to do heavy lifting. The court's final ruling was that the firing was not a violation of the ADA, because lifting was an essential function of the job.

Read More

Blog post thumbnail
Cancer and Careers in New Mexico!

Rachel Becker, LMSW on July 2, 2015

We are so excited to share the opportunity we had last month to bring the discussion of work and cancer to a new region of the country for Cancer and Careers — the Southwest!

Read More