Hi D H.,

Thanks for writing to us. It’s exciting that you’re considering embarking on a new career path, but your concerns are valid. We’ve heard many cancer patients and survivors say that their experience has served as a catalyst for change in their lives and really want to find a job that is more personally and professionally rewarding. But of course, it's essential to weigh all of the factors that come along with making such an important decision, so it’s smart that you’re evaluating and thinking critically about your next steps.

I’ve reached out to our career coaches to get further insight into your situation, but in the meantime, the following resources might be helpful:

• Article on cancer as an inspiration for career change: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/exploring-your-options/cancer-as-inspiration-for-career-changes 
  

• Finding Meaningful Work: http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/looking-for-work/exploring-your-options/finding-meaningful-work
  

• 2019 Career Change Webinar: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/videos/bwc/career-change
  

• Job Search Toolkit: https://www.cancerandcareers.org/publication_orders/new (features advice on improving resumes, cover letters; interview and networking tips and other useful tools to help you during a job search

A coach will be in touch soon!

Kind regards,

Nicole Franklin, MPH

Senior Manager of Programs

Cancer and Careers

Oh, D. H.,

I feel the angst you are feeling. Your analytical side is waring with your dreams of a different future.  Change, any transition really, that is worth making will stir up conflicting emotions, especially in people like you who are so self-aware and are logical thinkers. The great news is that you have worked hard and developed a new career path using all the strengths from your long time profession. That is an amazing feat and one that opens all kinds of possibilities for you. Congratulations on taking all the steps necessary to make a dream a reality.

Decisions are more fluid than they may feel.  Keep in mind that no step in the job search process is irrevocable, and each step can bring you closer to the information you need to make the call on what is right for you at this moment. Let's break your decision down into a few manageable parts.

First: Your financial concerns are real. Does a new position teaching at the HS Level provide enough income for your daily living expenses and extras that add a quality of life?  What sort of long term financial benefits are offered. (i.e. pensions, 401K, health insurance, disability insurances) and when would one be vested in those benefits? It will also be important for you to check on the availability of your costly prescription meds through any new insurance before making a final decision on any offer.  Most of these questions can be answered after the initial interview process proceeds to the next step, but by researching and networking, talking with people in the districts where you apply, you may be able to find out some of this information ahead of time.

Next: Are you reasonably certain that teaching will be more satisfying?  What characteristics of the day-to-day job would bring you joy? What differences in your current role and a teaching role appeal to you? Have you done student teaching so that you have experienced it first hand on a regular basis, or have you trained for the profession but not experienced it yet first-hand? Teaching has its challenges, too, as you so clearly stated in your note to us, so I assume you have explored this thoroughly. It might be helpful for you to create a table of plusses and minuses about lifestyle, day-to-day tasks, etc, and rank them: ) Better, Worse than my current role?)

Finally: You may never really know if a job is right for you until you land an offer and have to make a decision. Going through the interview process will shed much more light on the decision for you. Interviewing does not commit you to say, "Yes." It just allows both sides to check out the fit, suitability and culture and environment.  All these things are confusing in the abstract, but generally can be determined in face-to-face interaction or several interactions over time.

In other words, all this will become clearer to you as you step into the search deeper. By exploring, you are allowing that analytical side of you to find confirmation of what you believe to be true or to determine that you may not want to make the move after all.  

Trust your instincts and your rational thought process. It has gotten you this far. It won't fail you now. And no one step is a game changer...each step just brings you more information so that the picture will become clearer.

As current neuroscientists like Srini Pillay of Harvard Medical School confirm, all change is viewed by our brains as risky at first, even the positive changes we may undertake.  So,  order to be successful in making a change, the "switch costs" must make sense to you. You just need more information to know which side of the equation the teaching role falls on... then to choose what you instinctively will know is best.

I would love to hear back from you as your search progresses. With your drive and sharp intellect, I have no doubt you will make a successful choice.

My very best,

Kathy Flora, Career Coach