I finished my treatment 6 weeks ago.(surgery, chemo and radiotherapy) When applying for jobs I feel I have to be honest about why I havent worked since last August. I am not convinced it doesnt go against me!! what is everyone else opinion?
I know what you mean - of course legally no employer is allowed to discruminate against a candidate due to medical history, however I do wonder at the mention of cancer how many employers decided that someone else is better qualified or more suited to the team.
Good luck in your quest to find a new job.
There is no need to write it on the application unless it specifically asks for an explanation for gaps in employment. This may be asked at interview, particularly if you apply for jobs with children and young people and you will have to complete a medical questionairre, . Honesty is the best policy and they cannot hold it against you.
Good luck with the job hunting.
I would agree that I would tend not to mention it unless specifically asked why the gap and then you could play it down by saying your were ill and now completely recovered - no need to go into details. The only people who need to know your health status is Occupational Health and they keep this sort of thing confidential and would only intervene if they thought either you or your clients/patients/colleagues were at risk from your health. If you have made a full recovery, then shouldn’t be any problem. The average person doesnt know a great deal about cancer, the treatments and the survival rates, but the occupational health team do. I never say anything about my health or medical background at interviews.
I found a new job after 14 months signed off, but sadly in my case it didn’t work out as my employer didn’t understand the implications of recovering from cancer. The occupational health people were also at fault I felt because they said the only support I would need was time off for Herceptin treatment and oncology appointments. I ended up with bad confidence issues and I’m now having counselling via my onc clinic.
I’m now retraining, studying part time and self employed working for my OH. I’m happy with this, but wish I hadn’t gone to that job on account of the way it affected me - I think if I had not ended up in that situation I would be getting on with things better from an emotional point of view. I was also not helped by a less than understanding GP who pretty much just gave me sleeping tablets and told me to get on with it.
i went back to work 4 weeks after my treatment (chemo/bilateral mastectomy/radio) finished. initialy i wanted to go back part time but my boss shrugged this off so ended up going back full time. When i was first diagnosed work was very supportive but since i have come back but i get made to feel guilty for having to have time off for appointments. It seems to be that once your back at work and your chemo, surgery and radio are finsihed they expect you to be back to your normal bubbly self. They don’t think that the proteins from your herceptin or the hormones or lack of them have any effect on you not to mention that you are now coming to terms with what has happened.
If i though for one minute that i could get another job i would leave my present one in a flash.
I know you shouldn’t be discriminated but if the compnay that i have worked for, for years doesn’t understand the implications of recovering from cancer, I don’t think that a new company would ever understand. At the end of the day they are businessess and time is money.
Sorry for the moan, i’m at work now and feel as though i’m going to pop. Maybe i need a bit of counciling, who knows hey…
I went back to work in early March doing the equiv of 4 days a week versus 5 before, post mastectomy and one chemo in. My public service employers have been supportive. nearing the end of chemo and i am vvv tired so will need to either cut hours or go sick again - i suppose i am fortunate that they have been understanding but i get 6 months full pay sick leave in any rolling 12 months.
best of luck on job search!
j