Hi Laura,

Thanks for reaching out to Cancer and Careers. I'm sorry to hear that you will be laid off from your job, that's a lot to deal with on top of being in active treatment. I understand your concern about your hairloss and the way that may be perceived during an interview. There's no hard and set rule against wearing something like a headscarf or hat during an interview. If you're able to present yourself professionally with what you're wearing and how you put your full outfit together, it shouldn't be a major issue. It's unlikely they will ask you about it, and while there is always the possibility that an employer may be a bit wary of hiring a survivor, if you are able to highlight your skills, experience, and potential, you can divert their attention to what's most important: your ability to get the job done. If you interview at a place in which this is an immediate no for them, then perhaps that's a sign that it wouldn't have been the most supportive environment to work in any how. 

With that said, it's not an bligation that you disclose your diagnosis to a potential employer, and they legally are not supposed to ask. We tend to encourage those with a diagnosis to put a lot of thought into the decision around disclosing or not. We have a number of resources that may help you come to a decision that is best for you, in your specific situation. I encourage you to take a look through and use these to guide you towards what you want to do:

• Our article on Managing Disclosure When Looking for a Job
  


• The recordings of our Disclosure, Privacy & Online Brand and Communicating Effectively webinars


• Our blog post on Disclosure in the Workplace: When is it Appropriate?
  


• Though you may not need them, it’s always a good idea to understand the laws that can provide protection in the workplace – for a general overview, take a look at our article on Your Legal Rights in the Workplace: Cancer and the ADA, FMLA, Etc.
  

At the end of the day, the best you can do is present yourself as a professional candidate who can do the job. While we can't always guarantee how potential employers perceive us, the energy you put into showing your experience and skillset can pay off in the end.

If you would like to speak further about this, feel free to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org to schedule a time to chat with a member of the CAC staff.

Good luck!

Warm regards,

Nicole Jarvis, LMSW

Assistant Director of Programs

Cancer and Careers