How to address chemo at job interview

Last time I was out of work for 2 1/2 years. I was concerned about the interviewer questioning the extended time without work. I was told it was not acceptable to say I was renovating the home and spending time with family. Well, I'm coming up on a year out of work this time around. This time I have a better excuse, I've been undergoing chemo for the last 6 months. I thought this would be an acceptable excuse, but my wife feels it may appear as 'damaged goods' or the potential employer may have concern of a relapse. Fact is, I had a very non-aggressive form of cancer that, if left untreated, would not have shown any real symptoms for 10 to 20 years, so even a relapse would be of little to no consequence to a future employer. Any suggestions how to address this issue during an interview? I don't care what the legalities are. Fact is, employers will ask what they want, I'd rather have an answer that would give me the best chance to be hired rather than quibble over the legalities of their question.

First of all, I hope your treatment is successful and you get back to full health. That's paramount.

As to how to address the gap, I don't think I'd mention it in a cover letter. There are too many people vying for jobs, and prospective employers will use any reason they want to cull you.

I suppose in an interview you can volunteer that you had some medical treatment but that you're now able to work. Or you could just say you've been looking for work tirelessly but haven't been hired. They can't legally ask you any questions about your health. The problem is, again, that prospective employers can use any reason to cull you from consideration. I would hope that if they thought you were the best candidate that they'd hire you, but they are being excessively stringent out there these days.

I wish I could help more. I imagine others will tell you not to bring up your health situation. You have to try to explain the gap in some way without disqualifying yourself.

Still, I hope you get your health back.

The Hoofer in Blackstone, Massachusetts said: Last time I was out of work for 2 1/2 years. I was concerned about the interviewer questioning the extended time without work. I was told it was not acceptable to say I was renovating the home and spending time with family. Well, I'm coming up on a year out of work this time around. This time I have a better excuse, I've been undergoing chemo for the last 6 months. I thought this would be an acceptable excuse, but my wife feels it may appear as 'damaged goods' or the potential employer may have concern of a relapse. Fact is, I had a very non-aggressive form of cancer that, if left untreated, would not have shown any real symptoms for 10 to 20 years, so even a relapse would be of little to no consequence to a future employer. Any suggestions how to address this issue during an interview? I don't care what the legalities are. Fact is, employers will ask what they want, I'd rather have an answer that would give me the best chance to be hired rather than quibble over the legalities of their question.

Don't mention chemo. Companies are in no way altruistic. They hire for their needs not yours and you would appear to be looking for an insurance plan instead of a job.

Come up with something else.

Bluetea is probably correct. If you were to mention it, I wouldn't say anything beyond "medical treatment" that was successful.

I don't know if an insurance plan with a new employer would even cover any future chemo or cancer treatment, as it's a pre-existing condition. Depends on some other factors.

Parafreegal in Chicago, Illinois said: Bluetea is probably correct. If you were to mention it, I wouldn't say anything beyond "medical treatment" that was successful.

I don't know if an insurance plan with a new employer would even cover any future chemo or cancer treatment, as it's a pre-existing condition. Depends on some other factors.

My sister was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. She was employed when that happened but she was doomed to that job until she retired.

A new insurance plan at another company "could" have excluded her from coverage as it was pre-existing. Its another reason why its difficult to find work after 50. You enter into a high risk group.

Your wife is correct. You would appear as "damaged goods" and employers would think you're looking for insurance. They would think you're asking to be pitied. This market is brutal right now. People without any health problems are covering up long unemployment gaps because employers are cruelly weeding them out. I feel bad for you but you're under no obligation to disclose your health conditions to them. Most insurance plans don't cover pre-existing conditions. Mentioning anything medical in an interview would automatically disqualify you, no matter "how it sounds" or is supposed to sound. Employers unfortunately don't care, plain and simple. Make up some other reason that would sound plausible and somebody could back you up on, if that "reference" was called. Use traveling out of the state or country, or something else that at least can't be disproven - if you can't back it up.

Grant013 in Flushing, New York said: Your wife is correct. You would appear as "damaged goods" and employers would think you're looking for insurance. They would think you're asking to be pitied. This market is brutal right now. People without any health problems are covering up long unemployment gaps because employers are cruelly weeding them out. I feel bad for you but you're under no obligation to disclose your health conditions to them. Most insurance plans don't cover pre-existing conditions. Mentioning anything medical in an interview would automatically disqualify you, no matter "how it sounds" or is supposed to sound. Employers unfortunately don't care, plain and simple. Make up some other reason that would sound plausible and somebody could back you up on, if that "reference" was called. Use traveling out of the state or country, or something else that at least can't be disproven - if you can't back it up.

I agree 100%. Another thing that I learned the hard way; avoid Fortune 500 cmpanies like the plague. They don't look kindly on gaps of any kind. Stick with smaller companies. They are a lot more forgiving.

My last employer would not touch you if "the gap" was over 2 years. Didn't matter what the "story" was.

Be honest with them. Tell them the truth.

Bluetea in Texas said: I agree 100%. Another thing that I learned the hard way; avoid Fortune 500 cmpanies like the plague. They don't look kindly on gaps of any kind. Stick with smaller companies. They are a lot more forgiving.

My last employer would not touch you if "the gap" was over 2 years. Didn't matter what the "story" was.

Fortune500 companies are the plague. They're evil, most of them. There should be a law that prevents companies from becoming "Fortune500". Watch the documentary The Inside Job and the movie Margin Call and you will hopefully understand. Early in my previous career of paralegal in the early 90s I worked as a "temp" for some of these evildoers, as well as handling private legal documents that the attorneys used to "absolve" these white collar criminals in court. Keep in mind, many of them are directly responsible for this financial collapse, which is permanent. Those that did not directly scheme to defraud billions of innocent people, were guilty by association and collusion.They only care about the BOTTOM LINE. Unlimited Profit = Unlimited Greed.

You can try your strategy of being honest with smaller companies, I agree. Will it work? Maybe. But in this economy, probably not. Again, this is my opinion only. You have to do what you think is best.

Grant013 in Jamaica, New York said: Fortune500 companies are the plague. They're evil, most of them. There should be a law that prevents companies from becoming "Fortune500". Watch the documentary The Inside Job and the movie Margin Call and you will hopefully understand. Early in my previous career of paralegal in the early 90s I worked as a "temp" for some of these evildoers, as well as handling private legal documents that the attorneys used to "absolve" these white collar criminals in court. Keep in mind, many of them are directly responsible for this financial collapse, which is permanent. Those that did not directly scheme to defraud billions of innocent people, were guilty by association and collusion.They only care about the BOTTOM LINE. Unlimited Profit = Unlimited Greed.

You can try your strategy of being honest with smaller companies, I agree. Will it work? Maybe. But in this economy, probably not. Again, this is my opinion only. You have to do what you think is best.

The Fortune 500s are the law. Read "The Looting of America" by Les Leopold. If what Leopold says is true, we should just be called USa Inc.

I hate to sound like a tin foil hat conspiracist but these multi-nationals are actually running the show now. The politicians are nothing more than sock puppets.

Well, thank you for the replies. I didn't expect so much advice so quickly. I have to say that I'm convinced to keep that info to myself and simply lump myself in with all the other job seekers struggling to find work. As for the all the conspiracy theorists, I'm not sure what I believe. I tend to agree with much of what's said, but I have a different approach. Bitching and whining about the situation does no good. Frequently, our attitudes towards issues such as this can come through in our personalities and can actually have a negative effect on how others view us. That can be a detriment to the job seeker. Unless there is something constructive that I can do to help the situation (which I don't believe there is) then I accept the hand that's dealt me and try to make the best of it. It sucks, but what else is there? For me, it's faith. The Good Lord carried my family and I through the previous stretch of unemployment, he'll do it again. Remember how He clothes the flowers and feeds the birds, how much more important am I to Him than these?!