Hi Ellen,

Thanks so much for posting your question. I have passed your post along to one of our career coaches who will respond soon. In the meantime, I’d like to point you towards some of our resources that you might find helpful as you organize your job search.

It’s common to feel overwhelmed by the stress of looking for a job that will fit your lifestyle and restrictions while still providing you the independence you are seeking. Figuring out where to start can often be the hardest part of the process! Flexible schedules, a low-stress work environment, and a slower pace may feel like a tall order, but by identifying your needs and what you’re looking for, you’ll be narrowing down your search naturally. Our articles focused on Exploring Your Options include helpful articles focused on Finding Meaningful Work, Flexible Work, and what Job-Hunting After Cancer Treatment looks like.  

Now is the time to ask yourself some important questions. What interests you? What type of work do you want to do? Would a remote job provide a better pace? Or would you prefer to spend working hours outside of the house and with other people? As you answer some of these questions, you’ll gradually get a better sense of direction and be better prepared to prioritize your needs and wants. The answers to these questions also put you in a better position to look for and apply to relevant and fulfilling jobs. This question and answer process can involve some research. Utilizing job boards to better understand the types of jobs that are available and combing through job descriptions, can help identify what you do, and sometimes even more helpful, what you don’t want to do. FlexJobs is a great resource for those seeking jobs that are more flexible in nature, whether they’re remote positions, part-time, or seasonal. Websites such as Glassdoor can also provide insight into company culture, benefits, schedules and more.

Networking is a great tool during the job search as it not only can connect you with those that can help you get a job, but can assist in forming relationships with employees that you can provide a glimpse of what it’s really like to work there. Our recently held webinars on Networking and Building an Effective LinkedIn Profile,  can be viewed in our Video Archive, and both offer concrete steps to improving your networking skills both online, and off.

You mention that you are in the “disabled category”. A past or current diagnosis of cancer may afford you protections in the workplace, both when you’re looking for a job and once you are hired,. The legal and financial section of our website has a number of articles providing general information on various laws and protections that are available to those who qualify, so I would encourage you to explore what protections might be available to you.

Finally, I’d encourage you to take advantage of our free job searching tools and services. CAC’s Job Search Toolkit provides a ton of advice and information on the many aspects of the job search – from resumes to cover letters to interviewing. Additionally, our Resume Review Service offers a free review and critique of your resume to help format it in a way that is most appropriate for the types of jobs you are looking for. Sometimes this can be a great first step in feeling refreshed and ready for the job search.

I hope that some of these resources listed will provide you with a good starting point for gathering the information to identify where to start and what steps to take. If you have any further questions, would like clarifications on anything, or want any additional information, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at cancerandcareers@cew.org.

Warm regards,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Senior Manager of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Hi Ellen,

Nicole shared a ton of great resources with you, and I would just review one at a time and pull out the info or tips that resonate most for you.

When trying to find work that is a fit for your needs and situation, it is key to first understand who you are, what your skills are that you still want to use, your personality type, your values, your interests, etc. before focusing on looking for a job. As you have demonstrated, you can work in diverse jobs however now it is time for you to find work that is satisfying to you in addition to fulfilling your need to work less and avoid stress as much as possible. There are assessments available in career books (including mine titled I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work). I strongly suggest you start here and once you know these things about yourself, you can start looking at industries, companies, and job postings and make the connection from your skills and interests and the external information.

Try not to worry as much about how many hours you want to work and put your energy into getting to know yourself so that you can describe yourself to others comfortably. These days, most logistical elements of jobs are negotiable thanks to COVID. 

Please write back if you have additional questions.

Take care,

Julie