Hi Lisa,

Thanks for reaching out. I’m sorry to hear that your cancer diagnosis changed your plan to pursue a PhD (at least for now), but it’s great that you’ve identified grant writing as another professional path. It sounds like you have an incredible breadth of professional experience to offer.

I’ve reached out to our career coaches to get further insight into your question, but in the meantime, the following resources might be helpful:

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


• Recording of our 2020 Change Webinar: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/career-change
  

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

I’d also suggest registering  for our upcoming ‘Enhancing Your Skills: Prepping for Success’ webinar on July 8^th for additional guidance on how to assess your existing skills (and needed skills/training) when changing careers.

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

A coach will be in touch soon!

Kind regards, 
Nicole Franklin, MPH 
Manager of Programs 
Cancer and Careers

Hi Lisa,

Grant writing is an extremely marketable skill in any economic situation. I would do a few things to get started:

1) Develop a one-page bio describing your work experience and education.

2) Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect grantwriting, especially your headline, About, and Skills and Endorsement sections.

3) Sign up for FlexJobs.com because they offer an array of work from home and freelance jobs. 

4) Develop a short list of target NGOs and nonprofits and send a customized brief invitation explaining that you are a freelance grant writer.

5) Join or re-engage with grantwriting associations to meet people and find leads there.

Remember that it will take a bit of time to get traction however if you keep reaching out to people, you will get leads.You will also need to get comfortable with what you would charge should you get an opportunity so you are prepared.

Good luck and please write back if you have additional questions.

Take care,

Julie

Hi, thank you for the advice. I will certainly follow up with all of that. In the meantime I have been hired to work as a grant writer part time and I am taking a grant writing certification course, thanks to a Cancer and Careers micro-grant.

I hope sharing this gives everyone some hope. These are tough times but there are rays of sunshine. You all certainly are just that.
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

What a wonderful update- congratulations on the new position! We're here for you, so please feel free to reach out to us at anytime.

Kind regards,

Nicole

Lisa,

Congratulations! You made my day!

Take care,

Julie