Hi Gabriella,

Thanks for writing to us. First of all, it’s wonderful to hear that you’re feeling ready to start applying for work!  I understand that it can feel a little stressful to think about explaining a gap on your resume to potential employers, but there are ways to address that.

As you already noted, you are generally  not legally obligated to disclose your medical history and/or any medical conditions to your prospective or current employer, but ultimately it’s a personal decision. However, if you need to access a reasonable accommodation you may have to disclose some information to show you’re entitled to it, but may choose not to disclose during the interview process and instead wait until you receive an offer to request an accommodation or even wait until you have started the job. For more information on disclosure, I recommend watching our webinar: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/2020-webinar-online.

In terms of broaching the subject of a resume gap during an interview, one method that we 've found to be successful is called “The Swivel.” It involves addressing a question asked by an interviewer, and then redirecting (or swiveling) the conversation towards your actual goals and desire for the job. When planning your swivel, you want to come up with concise, credible answers to the gap question and practice it until you’re comfortable with it. The most important thing you can do is be prepared by having practiced interviewing, so you can sell your skills and show them that you are the best for the job. Remind yourself of your 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.

And remember that your resume and cover letter are static documents designed to get you a first interview, so we generally recommend that people don’t disclose anything about their health, but instead use that space to highlight achievements, sell yourself and align your skills and abilities with the company and job in question. Here are some strategies for dealing with a resume gap: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/resume-cover-letter/resume-gap.

Also you might think that if you weren’t working, you don’t have anything  to show prospective employers — but that isn’t necessarily the case. Did you do any volunteering, take any online courses or attend conferences or anything else that would show you were using or building your skillset? If not, that’s completely okay. Focusing on your health was the most important thing to do—but it there anything you did/or can do now to help make yourself more marketable?

I’ve included some other resources you might find useful:

• Resume review service: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new
  

• Job Search Toolkit (3^rd Edition): 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)

• Article on managing disclosure when looking for work: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/job-search-disclosure/managing-disclosure-when-looking-for-a-job
  

• Article on job-hunting after cancer treatment: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/exploring-your-options/job-hunting-after-cancer-treatment 
  

I hope this is helpful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at cancerandcareers@cew.org or 646-929-8032.

Kind regards,

Nicole Franklin, MPH

Senior Manager of Programs 

Cancer and Careers