Marie,

Good luck to you. I've done it all. The hardest part about not telling during a job interview (when you get that far) is that you can come off stilted and unnatural and a good HR person will know something's up,  but not what. I don't have a good rule of thumb.  I said I did freelance work in writing, which was true-ish. 

What I recommend is finding a job sideways; through a personal connection.  Then the employer already knows and it's off the table. 

To a certain degree, you can understand the employer's awkwardness if you do bring it up. It's pretty heavy as far as subjects go. It makes people think of death, not the most friendly of subjects with strangers. 

I guess my recommendation is to spend more time networking and making connections in the field, to the point where you have friends in different organizations, and less time sending out emails to companies. 

Good luck. 

Hi Marie,

Thank you for reaching out, it sounds like it has been extra challenging thanks to how your previous employer behaved. It is helpful to know that people have gaps on their resume for all kinds of reasons, and it is definitely more common post-2008. Whatever you decide to do, you'll want to practice the response and get comfortable with it. Keeping it succinct is important as well, you want people to focus on what makes you an asset to the company and the job and discussing a health issue at length isn't going to accomplish that. Here are some examples, "I was dealing with a family issue that is resolved now, and though I am really glad I was able to take the time to focus on that I am now so excited to be in a position to take the next step in my career and do XYZ with your company." Or "the fit stopped being right at my last job and I felt it was important to take a step back and figure out what would be my best next move, I did a little of X and a little of Y during that time and was totally excited to find this opportunity because it really speaks to these XYZ things that I believe I excel at." We call this technique the swivel and the goal is to address the question and then move the conversation back to getting you the job. Also, in your case perhaps you could just focus on the fact that the company reorganized and your position was eliminated and say something like while that was challenging it ultimately gave you the time to figure out what you wanted your next move to be.

It is also important to remember that anyone who is familiar with the law and conducting an interview will know they aren't supposed to discuss anything related to your health with you in an interview so even if you disclose it they may not engage in a conversation with you about it. And that might come off as cold, whether it was meant to or not. All someone can legally ask is "can you perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation?"

Michael is also right, the majority of jobs today are found through networking so devoting time to your LinkedIn profile and reconnecting with people online and off is going to be a critical part of the process. Don't be too narrow in your reach when it comes to networking either, you never know who might be the one to link you to a person or opportunity. It is definitely not just limited to professional contacts.

In terms of references, did you have a peer/colleague at your last job who you are in touch with or could be? A reference doesn't necessarily have to come from your supervisor, etc. Your goal will be to pick the people from your professional life who will do the best job highlighting your contributions and potential. And, if you get to that stage in an interview process someone is really just looking for the final proof to hire you.

Other things you will want to think about, what does your online footprint/brand say about you. Can you do anything to bolster it? Is there a course or certificate you could do to show activity and dedication to whatever it is you'd like to do next? It is also important to know if your cancer is readily discoverable online?

Bottom line, it is definitely a very personal decision and whatever you decide you will want to practice what you say, how you say it and how much you share so that you are doing it in a way that is appropriate for a professional interview and most importantly focused not on your past health situation but on your future and your abilities to contribute to the job in question. 

Please let me know any questions or if there is anything else we can do! Don't forget to try our free resume review service for feedback from one of our coaches (http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new)

Wishing you lots of luck in your search,
Rebecca

Rebecca V. Nellis
Chief Mission Officer
Cancer and Careers

Thanks to both Rebecca and Michael for your thoughtful answers. I will say that, Michael, I have encountered the awkward fumbling over my "freelancing," and I do think the recruiter picked up on it. Either that or she phoned my former employer. Thanks to you both, I probably will avoid the truth, but not exactly lie either...just have a clear understanding of what I will say. The hardest thing to hear was that I need to network. Formerly in public relations and writing, my confidence is shot. Though I am considered quite attractive, I just moved to a new city with my partner, and thanks to post-cancer fallout, things aren't going well with us or our finances, so I don't have the things I used to have to keep up appearances. The last thing I feel like doing is go out and try to be fabulous again. I know it has been two years...they have been rough. Rougher than cancer itself! Thanks for listening. This is a great site.