List Cancer or Not?
Save as FavoriteIn March of 2008, I was diagnosed with inoperable stage III NSCLC. Since the completion of my treatment at the end of that same year, I have been NED. Prior to my diagnosis, I founded and ran a hi-tech professional services company located in Redmond, WA. Once diagnosed and given a less than optimal prognosis (physician told one to two years tops), I sold my company to my employees and focused my time and attention on family and friends. During this time, I also co-authored a book titled, "It's an Extraordinary Life - Don't Miss It". Its contents center on specific reflections of life that I felt had the most impact on living life and not missing out on the most important moments. It contains both business and personal experiences. I have been speaking publicly on its contents ever since and seek to use my communication skills, knowledge of the business world, and be a voice to corporations, the healthcare community and / or schools in one aspect or another. Recently there was a job opening for an Outreach Manager with the State of Washington Healthcare Exchange. Based upon the listed requirements/needs for the position, I felt with a combination of running a small business along with walking in cancer's shoes, I was an ideal candidate. It turned out I couldn't even get an interview. Even working every professional connection possible, I wasn't able to get past the HR gate-keeper. My question to you is, what is your recommendation on bringing attention to having had cancer as part of the application process to target jobs? I am not seeking to be defined by my cancer but seeing as how it's part of my life, is it appropriate to call out or leave behind?
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Margot Larson on Mar 9, 2013
Career Coach Comment:
Randall
First let me add further encouragement about your diagnosis. I too was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC stage 3 in 2007. While I progressed to stage 4 in 2010, my current clinical trial has resulted in NED for the past year. We are examples of survivors beating the odds and the daunting prognosis.
I understand your frustration and surprise at not being viewed as a great candidate for the position of Outreach Manager. Let me offer another perspective: as an achiever, a resilient survivor you might have withered away at a government job. I suspect that you might have found the environment stifling and perhaps never able to make inroads you would have desired. Maybe it was the wrong job for you.
As to your question about bringing attention to having had cancer as part of the application process to target jobs – this is risky and would probably not work in your favor in most situations as you still have to deal with forms of discrimination and perhaps ignorant perception. Not all HR professionals and hiring managers are enlightened.
I would recommend, instead, that you focus on promoting the competencies you acquired from your personal and business experiences in both your personal introduction, verbally and in a cover letter. For instance it might include: Resilience, ability to adjust to changing conditions, determination, overcoming obstacles, a focus on goals, resourceful, change agent, effective advocate and perhaps more.
I would also suggest that you might find a better environment, for your talents, in the non-profit world, foundations and special interest (non-governmental) agencies , private advocacy organizations, and perhaps in some healthcare environments. Unfortunately many healthcare positions require advanced degrees even for positions that could be performed effectively by experienced, talented and trained facilitators. Be sure to create a resume or bio that tailors your experience to the targeted position. It’s about translating your experience for the job you want, not the job you’ve had.
I hope this is helpful to you in redirecting your efforts to a next career step that can be very rewarding to you. Build and use your network in identifying the next position.
Margot
