Hi Bradley,

Thanks for writing to us.  It sounds like you’ve faced several challenges, but it’s great to hear that you are now able to start focusing on the future and thinking critically about what you want to do next! 

To gain more concrete professional experience, you might want to consider volunteering or finding an internship to build your resume while still being able to set a schedule that works for you.  Volunteering is a great way to try out different fields and types of work and may lead to an unexpected professional path. Another option might be researching more flexible job options that might be able to better accommodate your current energy levels, appointment schedule, etc.  Flexjobs (www.flexjobs.com) is a useful resource to learn more about telecommuting/flexible jobs and the companies that hire for them.  They also have a very robust job board.  It is membership-based but you can explore everything before you commit, and if you decide to join you can enter the code CANCER when you check out to receive a 50% discount.

I’ve reached out to one of our career coaches to get further insight into your situation, but in the meantime, the following resources might be helpful:

• 
  Resume Review Service - http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new(free program where a professional coach will review your resume and provide feedback to help you refine it towards your current work goals)


• 
  Resume and Cover Letter resources- http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/resume-cover-letter
  


• 
  Recording of Job Search Webinar - http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/job-search
  


• 
  Job Search Toolkit (2^ndEdition): http://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

In addition, I recommend you check out the section of our Resource Directory focused on Young Adults with cancer: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/resources/categories/resources-for-young-adults (The SAMFund, Cancer for College and Stupid Cancer might be especially relevant to your situation). 

I would also like to mention that we have a Professional Development Micro-Grant program that offers cancer patients and survivors professional development opportunities to build or enhance their skillsets. The application period for the 2018 grant cycle will be opening this fall.  We would be happy to notify you when the next application opens. More information can be found here: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/resource/micro-grants

A coach will be in touch soon!

Kind regards,

Nicole Franklin, MPH

Manager of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Hi Bradley.

I am sorry you have had such a rough haul and very happy that you are a survivor. I empathize with your frustration however know that as a career coach, you are young and have your whole career ahead of you. So many people have false starts, make wrong choices, and jump around early in their career. At this point it is easy for you to position yourself as entry level.

Your greatest challenge right now is figuring out what to do next however I caution you about approaching it as if this is what you will do the rest of your life because it is highly unlikely that this will be true. I wrote a book called I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This. I suggest you pick this up and take all of the assessments in Chapters 3 and 4. You can also go to personalitytype.com and answer the four sets of questions to identify what your MBTI (Myers Briggs) type is. Then look at a copy of Do What You Are by Paul Tieger to see what jobs are a fit for your specific personality type. You could also benefit from hiring a career coach in your geographic area. Finally, your alma mater where you went to college should have career assessment resources and career coaches.

I realize that you are still recovering and cannot work full-time however once you identify a few potential paths to take in your career, you can then think about part-time internships, volunteer work, shadowing someone who does what you think you may be interested in, or temp/contract work as Nicole mentioned.

One more point that I want to make is that while you have a love for action sports, it would be unlikely that you would have landed in a career with this, and being outside in some manner is definitely still a possibility. One of your biggest obstacles is that you just don't know what all of the jobs and industries are that exist, and why would you? Most people are familiar with a smaller universe so educating yourself about job titles and industries is another great thing to do.

I wish you the best Bradley!

Take care,

Julie