Returning to Tech After Treatment – Where to Start in the U.S.
Alemtsehay M. on September 1, 2025
I have done Chemo, Surgery, and radiation, and I am currently on Tamoxifen and Zoladex. I have 10+ years of IT professional experience in software development, cybersecurity, and IT project coordinator in Ethiopia. I recently moved to the U.S. What steps would you recommend to rebuild my career here? Should I start with an entry-level IT support position? I am currently taking the Google IT Support Certification from Coursera.
1 Comment
Nicole Jarvis, LMSW
Oct 6, 2025
Cancer and Careers Staff Comment:
Hello Alemtsehay,
I am so sorry for the delay, this did not show up in our alerts!
It sounds like the certificate you are working on is an excellent start! I would recommend working to ensure you have a decent network in the U.S. since you recently moved. So that could look like putting in the time to refine your LinkedIn profile, while also exploring companies you might be interested in and reaching out to any one who has a job that you might be interested in learning more about and/or any mutual connections you are able to identify. This can also be helpful as you are looking at profiles of those in positions of interest, to get a sense of their path and what types of education/certifications that have. The networking process can feel like a slog but it is 100% worth the effort. The likelihood of getting a job as a result of networking, versus generally applying, is much greater. We have a number of resources on networking and how to best approach the process without getting burnt out or defeated.
We also offer a free resume review service in case you feel like you need to tailor your resume to meet the specific standards of American companies. I encourage you to also take a look at some of the recordings of our Balancing Work & Cancer webinars, as there are some topics that I believe would be beneifical, such as:
We also have our annual virtual West Coast Conference on Work & Cancer taking place on Saturday, Octoiber 25 if you are interested in joining - we will be discussing many aspects of the job search as well. The conference is free to attend and open to anyone interested. You can register here!
I think the above is a good place to start. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you would like additional resources or have any questions. You can also feel free to reach out to cancerandcareers@cew.org to set up a phone call to speak.
Good luck!
Warmly,
Nicole Jarvis, LMSW
Assistant Director of Programs
Cancer and Careers
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