Hi Sophie,

Thanks for writing to us. It’s great to hear that you feel ready to start working after two years of treatment and are thinking critically about your next steps. To start, I have a few questions that I think will help us think about your situation more clearly. In terms of work, what kind of work are you interested in doing? Are you still interested in writing and/or teaching music? Have you taken any additional courses or trainings in the last two years? Would you consider interning or volunteering to gain additional experience or just interested in finding a full-time job?

Along with your teaching and writing jobs, you should include any other skills and relevant experiences on your resume that would show how great an asset you would be to an employer. In terms of an employment gap, one method we 've found successful for fielding questions regarding gaps in employment is called “The Swivel”, which addresses a question asked by an interviewer and then redirects the conversation towards your actual goals and skillset for the job. For example, saying “There was a family situation that I had to attend to, but it’s been resolved and I’m fully prepared to meet the responsibilities of this job. Let me tell you how…” is perfectly acceptable. It answers the question of why there is a gap, and no one would argue with the fact that cancer can be considered “a family situation.” But more importantly, it moves the conversation towards the opportunity at hand, thus leaving the interview to move forward from there. Practicing your response is key, so that you feel comfortable when answering.  It’s important to remind yourself of your many accomplishments, none of which should be overshadowed by taking time off. For more info on “The Swivel”: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/interviewing/the-swivel. We also have strategies for dealing with a resume gap: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/resume-cover-letter/resume-gap.

 We have a lot of job search content that might be useful for you to look at while you start thinking about your options: 

• Free resume review service: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new
  


• Job Search Toolkit (3^rd edition): https://www.cancerandcareers.org/publication_orders/new (features advice on improving resumes, cover letters; interview and networking tips and other useful tools to help you during a job search)

• Webinar on Building a LinkedIn profile: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/linkedin (everyone has a network on LinkedIn, not just people who have a long work history. Investing time in LinkedIn could unearth some unexpected connections and opportunities)


• Job-Search Tools: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/exploring-your-options/job-search-tools
  

Our National Conference on Work & Cancer is also tomorrow, Friday June 19^th and will cover a wide range of topics related to working after a cancer diagnosis including job search, legal issues, disclosure, building confidence and more! We also have two upcoming virtual events that might be provide some more guidance and tip-- Networking During Social Distancing on Thursday, June 25^th and Ask The Experts session with career coach, Kathy Flora on Tuesday, June 30^th.

In addition, I would recommend checking out the Young Adults with Cancer section on our website: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/resources/categories/resources-for-young-adults. The SAMFund, Stupid Cancer and the Ulman Foundation might be especially relevant to you).

I look forward to hearing back from you!

Kind regards,

Nicole Franklin, MPH

Senior Manager of Programs

Cancer and Careers