Hi John,

Thank you for reaching out and apologies for the delay in response, it appears your submission got buried. There are certianly jobs that are available that may be more conducive to your current situation. I'd recommend taking a look at the articles and resources in our Looking for Work section of the CAC website. In particular, the article on Flexible Work may provide you with some ideas for what may work best for you at this time and how to most effectively get into it. I'd encourage you to also take a look at our comprehensive list of services and resources for Job Searching as you create your plan for looking for work. Finally, I'd encourage you to network when possible - this can help get word out that you're looking and that you're back in the job market, it can help you to not only find out about new positions that may be available, but could also help you get a foot in the door if you network with someone who will vouch for you or help you to get your resume in front of the right person.

Finally, for financial resources, take a look at our Financial Assistance Resources page to see if any of the programs/organizations listed may be of use to you.

Feel free to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org if you have any additional questions or requests for more information.

Warm regards,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Thank you for your suggestions. I hope that physically I can handle new job but I need income. How frequent did you come across cases with background like mine and finally they can land a job? My network is very limited since I am out of job market for so long.

I understand you may feel your network is small due to being out of the job market for a period of time, but I encourage you to think beyond the typical LinkedIn network and those who are only in your industry or whom you have previously worked with. You can network with anyone in your life - be it friends, community members, mutual friends, etc. There is no telling who cn connect you with who or what jobs. I recommend watching our recorded webinar on Networking to get a better sense of how to go about it, who you can approach, and what sort of follow-up is helpful. 

There are many people who are out of the workforce for long periods of time, in addition to those with a chronic disease like cancer, such as those who might take years off to raise children, care for family, etc. So, with that said, regardless of where you've been the last 15+ years, what you want to do now is focus in on your potential and what you can currently offer an employer. It would be a good idea to go through some job descriptions of positions that interest you and with a fine comb, really look into what they're looking for, soft skills that you can highlight, and any experience that might be similar to what they're asking for. It's often overlooked how organized and proactive you need to be when managing a diagnosis and treatment, so see if there are ways that you can highlight that - are you savvy with an online calendar? Any organizational software or tools? now is the time to get creative in your approach. It may not look exactly the way you imagine a job search to look like, but that's okay! Having the foundational elements in good shape, such as the resume and cover letter, are a good starting point, and from there you can tailor yourself and interview style based on the job for which you are applying.

I hope that is helpful! Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at cancerandcareers@cew.org if you have additional questions or would like more information/resources.

Warmly,

Nicole