Did you tell your employer you had cancer in the interview?

Vicki26

Hi, I am thinking of looking for a new job. And i don't know how to say why I stopped working last year. I quit my job when I was diagnosis, and now I feel I am ok and ready to work part time or maybe full time. But I am worry when I go to interview, the employer ask me why i quited my job. I don't know if i tell them I had cancer, and wonder how they will think of me.  How long do you guys start working after all the treatment and how did you say to the employer? Please share your stories. Thanks!

Claire_in_Seattle

Hi Vicki....

You could say that you had some "work and family issues" where you needed additional time to devote to keeping your life on track.  This is technically true, so you wouldn't be lying.  You also have to tell them that they are now resolved, and you are confident that you can devote all your energy to a FT/PT position.

I do consulting work and was upfront with everyone.  So I ended up doing a Skype interview when I was down for the count with Taxol.  I made the team, but actual work is dependent on contracts and a fit for my skills.

I have worked throughout treatment as didn't want to have to rebuild at the end.  I won't need to.

The other general thing you could say is that the job wasn't a good fit for you at the time, and then the economy tanked.  So now that things are picking up, you are looking to get back into the workforce.

I wouldn't share the cancer thing either.  I do have a friend who had bypass surgery, and later looked for jobs.  It never came up in the interviews, and no one was the wiser.  Good luck.

Vicki26

HI Claire, thank you for your opinion. "work and family issues" is a good idea. I would say that if i have change for interview. Thank you!

GryffinSong

This is such an interesting issue. I'm so totally "out" about my cancer, that I can't imagine keeping it to myself or misleading an employer about it. If they didn't ask, I might not bring it up at an interview. But to mislead them or lie can come back to bite you later. If/when they find out you've been fighting cancer and didn't mention it, that's one thing. But to find out that you misled them about it might damage their trust in you.

That's my opinion. I wouldn't want to work for any company that I had to lie to to get a job.

Edited to add: It's probably illegal for them to refuse to hire you based on medical history. It might be illegal for them to ask, too. But it is legal for them to ask why you didn't work during that time. Me, I'd be honest if they asked.

Edited to add more: Guess I can't stop thinking about this one! LOL If they ask, and you decide to tell, I'd stress how you completed treatment and are doing very well, and so on. Don't just leave them with the "cancer" word without lightening it somehow. Tricky, I know. But when I talk with people I can be so upbeat about the whole thing, and about how great I feel now that they're all smiles by the time I'm done. And no subterfuge required.

Hugs and good luck!!!

Titan

My SIL is brac 1...her son refuses to have the test because he is afraid that he may not get hired in a job due to his mom's history...Employers CANNOT discriminate in that way at all

I have a review coming up soon..I'm glad to have this information,.I love my boss and my company..but there is no way, now how, that my bout with cancer should be involved with this at all...I worked through chemo and rads and didn't miss a beat..there should be no repercussions at all...I'm just glad for the info..I really don't think it will come up at all..but at least I know now that it shouldn't be mentioned at all

Claire_in_Seattle

Dear Gryffin,

They can always find a "candidate that is better suited to our requirements" even though not hiring you based on the fact you had cancer is illegal.  "Work and family" does include medical issues so you wouldn't be lying.

Having said this, I would gradually "come clean" but after I had scored a couple of major wins.  And then I would downplay the whole experience.

Titan.....having been on the other side, it still comes down to performance.  Major plus that you came to work, but the question still is your contribution to the team.  I wouldn't necessarily give you an unsatisfactory review (provided that your work history had been great up to this point and you hadn't created havoc by being there) but I would let you know that while I understood your issues, my assessment is that you just weren't able to contribute the way you normally do.  I would add that I expect great things now that you are past treatment.

I realize I am taking a very hard line on this...but I am in the same position myself.  I do consulting work, and I screwed something up a couple of months ago.  So even though in the midst of AC, and really not feeling well one day, I spent two hours on the phone with my client to get it all straightened out.  We did it, and it was a major win.

I was shaking with fatigue as I crashed into bed.  But I had to be there for her.

So I guess I am trying to say two things;

1. Until you get the position, keep it zipped about having had BC.  And then only tell as needed.  (I do have to mention it at some point if recent and you are a new employee, but only after you establish yourself as an integral member of the team.)
2. Performance counts.....that is, while I wouldn't give you an unsatisfactory review, I wouldn't give you an outstanding one either based on the fact you showed up.  I would of course, if your work was just stellar regardless of whether you had BC.

The final thing I would say is that in 5 years time, none of this will matter for most of us.  We will have moved on and our stellar performance will speak for itself. - Claire

Note: I have deliberately stayed away from policy as wanted to portray the "real world" here.  I have even managed people who ultimately couldn't do the job.  I am very, very sorry about what happened, but you have to be able to contribute.  This affects hiring decisions (can the person really do the job?) as well as my assessment of their performance.

Claire_in_Seattle

Titan....the son is a different story than in the above case.  He does not have any sort of disability.  I am wondering if he is using this as an excuse for not getting considered for certain positions.  It would be a new one, but I have seen this pattern before.

I wouldn't hire him either, but for bad judgment and for making excuses for himself....not because of the BRAC 1.  I want people working for me who will take charge and get the job done, not telling me why they can't do it.

I am sure that this is what comes out in interviews.  Tell him to "man up and get tested".  He needs to; it will do him good in more ways than one.

cheranthia

No, I did not tell. I freelanced some while in treatment, but I had to cut back pretty drastically on the assignments I took on. When I regained my energy, I decided to go for a regular 9-5 corporate position, but I did not want cancer to play any part in my getting or not getting a job. It had dictated enough of my life already and I didn't want to give it any more power. Once I got the job and got to know my boss and coworkers, I decided to "out" myself. By then, everyone was very supportive. Not telling is not the same as lying. We have the right to choose what we reveal about our personal lives.