Hi Rachel,

Thank you for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. Congratulations on a successful first interview! Getting a foot in the door can be the hardest part, so it’s an accomplishment already. Before I get to answering your question, I have a few questions and the answers may help to illuminate your best path forward.

 You say that you’d only be working in this job for a month and a half before getting surgery. Seeing as you’ve just had a first interview, and the hiring process can take some time, it might be worth exploring how set their start date is. Would pushing it back a bit be an option for you? It’s certainly not a first interview question, but exploring what options are available may help you discover there is more flexibility than originally assumed. If you’re the candidate they really want, perhaps they are willing to push the start date back a bit. If pushing the start back isn’t really an option, perhaps there are some other flexibilities they may be open to. Staggered hours, varying schedules, etc. It’s always worth asking. I just recommend that if you’re asking these questions during the interviewing process, you take the time to really be thoughtful about the way in which they’re posed. It might be best to be general and vague so as to not let on too much or create any red flags or concerns about you. However, you may get a different read on the employer and feel comfortable being a bit more direct in the reason for asking these questions. Again no situation is identical so it’s a good idea to get a better sense of who you’re speaking with to better understand how to share this information with them, if at all.

 You’re right to be weary around disclosure and to take the time to be considerate of your approach. There’s no set rule that you should or should not disclose, it’s circumstantial and can really depend on a number of factors, including your gut feeling about the company, the hiring manager, and the culture of the workplace. We have a number of resources that can help you make these decisions:

• Managing Disclosure When Looking for a Job


• The recordings of our Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand and Communicating Effectively webinars


• Our blog post on Disclosure in the Workplace: When is it Appropriate?
  


• Our article on Using The Swivel in Interviews
  


• How to Safely Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” During an Interview


• Though you may not need them, it’s always a good idea to understand the laws that can provide protection in the workplace – for a general overview, take a look at our article on Your Legal Rights in the Workplace: Cancer and the ADA, FMLA, Etc.
  

 Have you spoken to your healthcare team about what you can expect in terms of what limitations you can expect, after the three week recovery? Often they can help you set realistic expectations that can help you determine what will and will not be possible for you after the surgery.

 As for the insurance and disability part of your question, that’s of a more legal nature, so I would recommend checking out Triage Cancer (www.triagecancer.org) for more in-depth information and resources that can be helpful in determining what would ensure you would continue coverage so as not to risk any gaps in insurance when you need it and what options you have while you’re recovering from surgery.

 I do hope the above is helpful as you navigate your job search and upcoming surgery. Should you want more information, have additional questions, or just want to speak with someone on staff, feel free to reach out to us at cancerandcareers@cew.org.

Warm regards,

Nicole

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW (she, her, hers)

Assistant Director of Programs