Hi Mary,

Thank you for writing to us and congratulations on being cancer-free! It’s great that you’re taking time to re-evaluate and think critically about what you want to do moving forward. Many cancer patients and survivors say that their experience has served as a catalyst for personal and professional change in their lives, so know that you aren’t alone in wanting to pursue something new.  

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

• Free Resume Review Service: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new
  

• Cancer as Inspiration for Career Changes: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/exploring-your-options/cancer-as-inspiration-for-career-changes
  

• Career Change Webinar recording: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/career-change
  

• Back to Work After Cancer resources: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/back-to-work-after-cancer
  

• Job Search Toolkit (2nd Edition): http://www.cancerandcareers.org/publication_orders/new(features advice on improving resumes, cover letters; interview and networking tips and other useful tools to help you during a job search

• Building an Effective LinkedIn Profile webinar: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/linkedin
  

I also want to mention that CAC offers a Professional Development Micro-Grant program that provides cancer patients and survivors professional development opportunities to build or enhance their skillsets. The application period for 2020 grants is currently open (until November 15^th). For more information and to apply: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/resource/micro-grants

I hope this is helpful. 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

Senior Manager of Programs

Hi Mary,

It is awesome that you are cancer free! Figuring out what you want to do next can be overwhelming and confusing. Nicole sent you some links and one of them is a career change webinar that I gave earlier this year. That is a very detailed explanation of the process to use to decide on what you want to pursue and how to get there. In this post, I will describe a high level explanation of what you can do to get started and unstuck. 

First, it is crucial for you to do a thorough evaluation of yourself including: the skills you have and want to continue learning, any skills you don't have that you may want to learn, industries that interest you, your personality type, as well as the amount of money you want to earn, the type of people you want to work with, your desired lifestyle, etc.

Once you are clear about these things, you can start doing research on jobs, careers and trends, networking with people and having informational conversations. This process should give you some clarity about what appeals to you. While online research is helpful, people are always the best source of information for the things you want to understand and learn about. 

Finally, there are always going to be hurdles in your way to pursuing your next job or career track. Just be sure they are real. For example, some people who think they are too old or that they don't have the right credentials for something. Sometimes this can be true and many times it is not. Just believe in yourself and your talent, experience and values and you will figure it out!

Good luck!

Julie