Steve –

 The job search process, at our age, can be so frustrating.  I can probably provide you with several good
ideas; I need to know more about your skill set and your profession over the
past few years.

 Your best approach is to access the job search through the
side door rather than responding to ads and job postings.  You will need to network your way into the
job.  You will want to develop your
networking skills in order to expand your network and build relationships.  So fill me in, so I can provide specific
ideas to you.

 In the meantime, I would advise you not to share your
current diagnosis with a potential employer or interviewer.  I know it’s foremost on your mind, and part
of your reality.  However, you have no
way of knowing whether you will encounter empathy or a fear that you are a poor
risk to their company. You don’t know what their previous experience has been
with illness and other employees.

 To address your more urgent need of earning some money, I
would encourage you to sign up with a few temporary services so you can have
access to part time and temporary assignments.  
Depending on your profession, there may also be contracting firms where
you could register.  When I was a
recruiter, I noted that several companies brought individuals in as contractors
or temporary employees and later, after seeing the performance first hand, offered
them positions with their company.

 Looking forward to learning more about your career, so I can
advise you in greater detail.

 Margot

How may I send you my information?

Steve

Hi Steve,

You can write to Margot at cancerandcareers@cew.org and we will pass the information on to her directly.

Best,

Sarah, Cancer and Careers Program Coordinator

Steve -

Now that I have a better idea of your professional
background, here’s what I recommend.

Identify a few contracting firms who specialize in IT
particularly in project management.  A
few years back, I worked with such a firm and there was a great demand for
Project Managers.  Do you have the
certification?  There were also several
positions that were virtual, where you could work from home.

Be sure to check out the Big 6 firms.  You could work as a contractor for one of
their accounts.  Also, network with the
smaller consulting firms close to your home where you might be able to get a
long term assignment.  Today we find many
seasoned experts working on a consulting basis. 
The positive side of that is that you usually make a high hourly rate
and therefore don’t have to work as many hours to meet your financial
needs.  The downside is that there isn’t
always a constant stream of work and you have to carry your own health care.

You have an impressive background.  Register with senior job banks and with
interim executives sites where the focus will be on your expertise rather than
your age.   Google the following keywords to identify
sites:  interim executives, senior job
bank, project management, IT Consulting firms, Management Consulting, IT
contractors.  Visit websites that focus
on those types of jobs and instead of applying to the company, find someone who
can give you an introduction to an individual in that company.

Check to find out whether there are conferences coming to
your area, where company leaders might be attending. It would make it easier to
“run into” those decision makers and take the first steps to developing a
relationship.

Since you also have Business Development skills, perhaps you
should volunteer some hours to help your local Business Association, Chamber of
Commerce, Professional Association of Project Managers or IT Professionals where
you would have visibility in the business community.

Give this a try and see what comes of it.  I hope these ideas help.

Margot

Steve:

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having both health and employment problems. However there is a bright side. You have a lot going for you – extensive executive experience and a thriving city.
There are opportunities out there, you just need to uncover them.

Here’s what I suggest…

• Avoid the job boards. Looking for a job through them is a disheartening experience. Don’t waste your time sending your resume out into the void. Instead, take the personal route. Cultivate relationships that can help you identify opportunities.
• Tap into your network. Speak to all of the people with whom you’ve developed relationships over the years. Let these people know you are looking for a new opportunity. Focus on your wealth of experience and your accomplishments and how they demonstrate that you can make a significant contribution in a new organization. Be proactive – come at this from the perspective that a company would be lucky to get someone with your level of experience and demonstrated accomplishments.
• Downplay your age and illness. Present yourself as a “seasoned pro who has a lot to offer,” not as an “older guy looking for a job.” You know the language of your industry. Pepper your conversation and resume with the buzz words that demonstrate you know what you’re talking about.
• Don’t bring up your illness unless you have to. It may never come up until you receive an offer. If your condition is obvious because of the chemo, present it in a matter of fact way. Say something like, “I’m battling cancer, but the prognosis is good. This illness has made me realize that I still have a lot to give.”

In short, my best advice is to present yourself not as a victim of age and illness but as someone who has a lot to offer. Be proactive in your job search. Wear your disease with pride. Looking for a job while undergoing radiation and chemo demonstrates a resilience and inner resolve that define you as a battler. Use this to your advantage.

Bud Bilanich
The Common Sense Guy
Denver, Colorado USA

Hi
Steve,

 I
wanted to follow-up on this great advice from Margot and Bud with a little more
information on deciding whether or not to disclose your diagnosis to potential
employers. This is a very personal decision and there are a number of factors
that may impact whether you share this information or not. They include your
personal privacy preferences, treatment side effects that may impact your work
and the need for reasonable accommodations. The decision to disclose is a bit
more tricky when looking for work, because you don’t know what the environment
is like and how people will respond. In either scenario, the only time you have
to disclose something (though not necessarily the specifics of your cancer
diagnosis) is if your employer is bound by the Americans with Disabilities Act
and you want to request a reasonable accommodation. For more information on the
ADA and reasonable accommodations, check out our legal and financial section
here http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/Legal-and-Financial
and we always recommend speaking with a legal professional before disclosing,
to find one visit http://www.nclsn.org/.

 I
hope this is helpful, please let us know if you have any other questions!

 Best,

Sarah,
Cancer and Careers Program Coordinator