Hi Holli,

I have sent your question over to our coaches who will be in touch soon. In the meantime, if you haven't already, I would recommend checking out our Looking for Work resources (http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work) and free Resume Review Service (http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new).

Best,

Sarah, Manager of Programs, Cancer and Careers

Holli,

 You have a lot of options. 
The first question, are you looking for Full or Part time role?

Do you need employer sponsored health insurance?

If you don’t need full time, why not try a few roles.

You can google more of these:

 Freelance
Writing Jobs - Freelance writing resources, jobs ...  

www.freelancewritinggigs.com/

 9 Online Gold
Mines for Finding Paid Freelance Writing Jobs

thewritelife.com/find-freelance-writing-jobs/

www.freelancewriting.com/freelancejobs/freelance-writing-gigs.php

 Look for part time non-profit jobs. Here’s a national based list of opportunities. www.idealist.org/

You should also be able to find a similar listing at your state
level.

You can also search for a list
of the non-profit organizations
close to you, select the ones that appeal to you and then check their websites.

 You could also explore local
Consulting firms, whose consultants offer services that include a few of
your interests.

You will find large consulting firms as well as small local
ones.  The smaller firms will probably
allow you to set how many hours you prefer to work per week or month. 

 You could also register with

 www.workoptions.com/how-to-find-a-flexible-new-job

www.Flexjobs.com

 and such
organizations to see what you come across.

Also, simply make of list of organizations, close to where you
live, that appeal to you.  Be sure to do
your research within your network to learn first hand how they rate as an
employer and a work environment.

 Make a list of your
Network; include people you once worked with, your
neighbors, your friends, your family and people who are connected.

 First, write a dynamite resume and test it out on someone who is
in the hiring environment to ensure you are on target.

 I hope this helps stir your mind as to the potential opportunity. 

 Keep us posted as to how you are doing. 
I’m sure more ideas will be sent your way.

 Margot

Holli:

Margot makes great points, especially when it comes to
looking for part time or freelance work. 
And she has provided you with some great resources.

I’ll confine my thoughts to looking for a full time
job.  My advice is twofold…

1. Spend a lot of time thinking through what you
   really want to do.  You provided a great
   list of what you can do, and what you might want to do, but I suggest you get
   very clear in your head about the exact type of job you want, and the type of
   organization where you want to do it.




2. Focus on your transferable skills.  You listed a lot of transferable skills: grant writing, event planning, membership
   management, and previously, computer training, excellent written and oral
   communication skills, setting up office procedures.  Once you figure out
   exactly what you want to do and where you want to do it, put together a resume
   that highlights these skills and demonstrates why you are a good candidate for
   the job you want.

Don’t worry about your degree.  If you can write well, for example, you are
qualified for a technical writing job – if that’s what you want.

To sum up, I think your first step should be clarify exactly
the type of job you want.  Then you can
demonstrate (in a resume and interview) how your transferable skills make you
an excellent candidate for that position.

Hope this helps.  Hope
your health is holding up.

All the best,

Bud

Thank you, Margo for the suggestions for part-time or freelance work.  

Bud, I appreciate your thoughtful response too.  Being clear and not all over the place will serve me better.  I do wish that I felt that I could get the type of job I want, but after being in a search for a while before being diagnosed, I don't know that communications (which I like) is attainable. I also have a recent wavy work history.  I was temping, doing general office work, before I was diagnosed and did well at it. I had left a job before that that I thought was toxic after only 7 months.  They liked my work, but it was a tough environment with a lot of conflict (I'm careful about what I say during interviews.)  I had been laid off for two years before that.  

At 53, I'm wondering if I should spend much more time trying to get into an area that doesn't seem attainable.  I have seen this happen to other friends and acquaintances who have had to work multiple part-time jobs, either within or outside of their chosen fields, because they couldn't wait to get positions in their fields.  

Are any of the coaches on this site available for more in-depth work or conversations?

Holli

I want to add 2 more thoughts.

1. Consider preparing a Functional Resume which is focused on your knowledge, competencies and achievements rather than Employment history.  Look up examples.  You still  will list your Employment history but that can be brief.

2. I agree with Bud - you have to focus your search on what would appeal to you with an eye on reality. A happy employee is more apt to perform well.   Ask yourself whether you are the right person to judge what's attainable. I am hearing your lack of confidence come through and getting in your way.

Food for thought.

Margot