Hi Jackie,

Thanks so much for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. I'm so sorry to hear of the sequence of events in the last few years. Congratulations on completing treatment, though! It's totally understandable that you have financial concerns and are feeling discouraged with the job searching process. It can often feel like a job in itself to look for work. 

With that said, hope is not lost and by taking some proactive steps, your job search can improve! We have a number of tools and resources to help with the job search. A resume gap is certainly something to be prepared to address but it is not necessarily a deal breaker for the majority of employers. Please take a look at the below resources to get some ideas for how you plan to approach the job search and to create a plan of action for yourself:

• Our Balancing Work & Cancer Webinar Series covers a ton of topics relevant to the job search. In particular I would recommend checking out the following recordings in our Video Archive: Job Search, Career Change, Work Transition: Strategies for Looking Ahead, Networking, Enhancing Your Skills: Prepping for Success
  


• Take advantage of our free Resume Review Service - you can submit your resume and a volunteer career coach will offer insight and critiques based on your concerns and needs. 


• Networking is such a big part of getting a new job - especially as you mentioned competing with hundreds of other applicants when applying online. Learn best tips and techniques for getting the most out of networking in the Networking section of our website.


• Sometimes it's about really narrowing down what you need but also what you want to be doing. Take a look at the articles on our website on our Exploring Your Options page.


• Our Job Search Tool Kit publication is a great place to brainstorm on the many aspects of job searching after cancer, including information and guidance on resume and cover letter writing, networking, interviewing, and more! It is free for order in hard copy or download.

I hope the above resources prove helpful for you. I know it can feel defeating, but the job search is a process and it can take time to find the right position. If you feel you need further help or resources, please don't hesitate to reach out to us either at cancerandcareers@cew.org or 646-929-8032.

We wish you the best of luck and hope you are able to find a job that works best for you and your family.

Sincerely,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers