Hello Laurie,

Thanks so much for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. 

Your question is not uncommon! Following a diagnosis and treatment, many find they are interested in exploring new opportunities. Now is the time to ask yourself some important questions. What interests you? What type of work do you want to do? What type of remote work ultimately exists within the realm of what you're looking for? 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, including remote positions. Websites such as Glassdoor can also provide insight into company culture, benefits, schedules and more. You can find out more about best practices for conducting research on companies prior to applying in our article on Researching Employers to Help Inform Your Job Search.

Luckily a history of teaching experience typically translates into a ton of transferrable skills that can be applied to many other positions and fields. Explore our article on Cancer as Inspiration for a Career Change and see if any of that resonates. We also have a recording of the Career Change webinar we hosted last month with Career Coach Julie Jansen that goes over the steps and processes for making a successful career change.

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. Additional past 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.

I hope the above resources are helpful as you determine your next steps. We're always happy to chat further if you'd like to reach out! Shoot us an email at cancerandcareers@cew.org to set up a time to speak.

Best,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers