2. Clarify your direction

This is about considering new possibilities and opportunities, understanding what motivates you and what you would like to achieve in the future. So, it’s important to reflect on:

What motivates you to work? 

For example:

• Personal integrity/self-respect 

• Intellectual development/stimulation 

• Helping others 

• Working as part of a team

• Recognition and praise 

• Money/earnings 

• Independence/autonomy 

What would you like to have achieved 2 to 3 years from now?

For example:

• What kind of organisation will you be working and where?

• What sort of work will you be doing? 

• Will you be employed, self-employed/freelance?

• Will you be working full- or part-time?

• What kind of work-life balance will you have achieved?

• What would you have like to have achieved at work or outside of work?

3. Set some goals

Given the achievements you have identified above, what goals do you want to set for yourself? In considering these you should:

1. Think about the results you want to see and by when. Before you set a goal, take a closer look at what you're trying to achieve and whether it is realistic
2. Create SMART goals. These are:

   Specific

   Measurable

   Attainable

   Realistic

   Time-bound

3. Write down your goals to help you understand them better and, if possible, discuss and refine them with people you trust
4. Create an action plan with a timeline
5. Keep track of how you are progressing, note and learn from what has gone well and what has not

4. Plan to achieve your goals

Here are some of the key things you will need to do to achieve your goals:

• Use your network and social media to explore and develop opportunities 

Networking could be a very effective way of finding your next job and these days is almost a necessity. It helps you make a professional approach to prospective employers. Research shows that most people now find work by following up on leads suggested by people they know – friends, family, ex-colleagues, clients or suppliers – rather than by applying for jobs directly. 

You should also review your use of social media. LinkedIn is a networking site for business professionals and is increasingly being used by employers posting jobs and job-seekers posting their CVs.

Regarding other forms of social media, please remember that recruiters are increasingly putting candidates’ names into search engines to check out their profiles. If you decide to share your story online, know that anything you put on the internet could become public and you may be disclosing all this information, including your cancer, to current or future employers.

• Review and refresh your CV

A good CV will double your chances of getting an interview. The time and effort you give to developing your CV is worth the investment. 

You will find various examples of CV layouts on the internet. You should:

• Use organised, concise wording – avoid rambling sentences and paragraphs

• Focus on your achievements, not daily tasks or duties. Write what you did, why it was important, how it is relevant now

• Make sure your spelling and grammar are correct – avoid abbreviations and jargon

• Include your personal contact details and a appropriate email address

• Avoid irrelevant information that does not differentiate you 

• Keep to two pages or less. Avoid extreme typefaces, visual effects and photographs

• Prepare for your interview 

Competency questions are common at most job interviews. They create an objective assessment of a candidate’s experience, and the qualities that make them suitable for the job. Competency-based questions usually start with phrases such as “tell me about a time when you...”, or “can you give me an example of when you...”.

A well-known technique to help you to answer competency-based questions is STAR:

• Situation – set the scene

• Task – describe the purpose

• Action – explain what you did

• Result – share the outcome

Create your own list of STAR examples to prepare yourself for an interview.

Should I disclose my cancer? Explaining gaps in your CV

Disclosing your cancer is a personal decision but there is no legal requirement to tell a prospective employer that you have or have had cancer. 

Although in many countries it is illegal for employers to ask specific questions about your health, it’s not out of the ordinary for them to inquire about a gap in employment. The key here is to be prepared and decide on your answer ahead of time. The best answer is brief, expressed in general terms and focused more on the future rather than on the past.

If you are asked to explain a gap in your CV you might say:

a)    If you don’t want to mention your cancer:

“I went through some personal difficulties that are now resolved and I am keen to return to work.”

OR

“I realised that what I was doing didn’t fulfil me, so I took a step back to think about what would make me happy. I think my skills and values fit better with your organisation.”

b)    If you are willing to disclose your cancer diagnosis:

“I had treatment for cancer. This is now all behind me and I am eager to develop my career.”  

Practice saying this with confidence – after all, you have nothing to be ashamed of!

And finally, four top tips for an interview

1. Be prepared: research the company website so you understand as much as possible about the organisation and the area where you might be working
2. Practice your interview with a friend
3. Be positive – believe in yourself and your abilities. Share your skills and knowledge relevant to the role and the personal qualities that make you a great person to have as part of a team
4. Listen as well as talk: aim to make the interview a discussion with a balance of questions and listening on both sides

Changing your job as a carer once your caring responsibilities have ended – practical guidance 

Introduction

You may have spent the last few months or years juggling work and caring responsibilities, possibly undertaking work that you didn’t really enjoy, but which at least paid the bills.

Now, with your caring responsibilities at an end, you may want to do something different, perhaps more interesting or better paid, or if your loved one has passed away you may need to find a job that accommodates your changed circumstances (e.g., you are now the sole carer for your children).

So where should you start looking, and how? This guidance has been designed for carers looking for a new job or career after their caring role has ended.

What’s different now?

The first step is to look at how your situation and your needs have changed.

For example, you might:

• Have become the (main) breadwinner

• Need to downsize or move house

• Have become a single parent

• Want to move closer to family and/or friends

• Decide to take early retirement and, for example, start travelling more

• Want to look for a less stressful job 

• Want to look for a more fulfilling role

• No longer be under the same financial pressure to earn

• Want to build on your caring role experience and turn this into a new career 

A lot depends on your personal situation in terms of what’s changed and how you see your future. 

Plan for the future

For many people, the biggest challenge they face in considering a career change is inertia. They want to change roles, but they don’t want to risk the security they have in their current job and are worried about what their family and friends will think. The first step can be daunting. It’s when you start to act that things start to change and you can start moving on with your future. 

If circumstances are forcing you to change your job in the short term, there are two things you should consider: 

• It’s best not to resign from your current job before you have a new one, especially if you are the (main) breadwinner

• Can you use your caring skills as ‘transferable skills’ to help you find a new job?

When considering changing your job in the long term, follow the steps as outlined above (either for employees with cancer or carers) to help you find a new role that best fits your changed circumstances.