Hi Doodle200

Being cancer free is something to celebrate after all you've been through. Getting back into work is very difficult after having had cancer. There is often reluctance from employers to take on someone who has had cancer in case it recurs and they have to foot the bill via sick pay. Also employers seem reluctant to take on anyone who has been out of the job market "too long". Brians suggestion on making your own work is a good one, if you held a senior position, you must have some saleable skills, that with a bit of marketing, you could contract out to interested companies. Don't just write off job agencies either, many employers only use agencies so that they can get rid of an unsuitable employee easily, good employees are often kept on and eventually given contracts direct with the company. Paying the ageny a recruiting fee. The government jobcentres are not a very good route to decent paid work as employers often shun them due to frequently being sent totally unsuitable candidates.

You say you have been trying off and on over the past year to obtain work. In the current jobs market you need to give this full time attention. First pay someone to draft a professional looking CV for you. Put your profile on websites like linkedin, look for networking groups in your local area, join them and go to their breakfast meetings etc and introduce yourself. You need to be applying for at least 2 jobs per day and attend every interview, even if you know you have no chance, it will let you improve your interview skills. One of my sons was recently out of work, it took 147 job applications over three months to land a job!.

Like you I have made a big dent in my savings over the last couple of years and was ineligible for any  benefits, I continue to work part time, when I'm up to it, in my small business as I feel its important for my mental wellbeing (and I need the money). All the best in getting back to a normal life and landing that sought after job. Kim

Hi Doodle200

Being cancer free is something to celebrate after all you've been through. Getting back into work is very difficult after having had cancer. There is often reluctance from employers to take on someone who has had cancer in case it recurs and they have to foot the bill via sick pay. Also employers seem reluctant to take on anyone who has been out of the job market "too long". Brians suggestion on making your own work is a good one, if you held a senior position, you must have some saleable skills, that with a bit of marketing, you could contract out to interested companies. Don't just write off job agencies either, many employers only use agencies so that they can get rid of an unsuitable employee easily, good employees are often kept on and eventually given contracts direct with the company. Paying the ageny a recruiting fee. The government jobcentres are not a very good route to decent paid work as employers often shun them due to frequently being sent totally unsuitable candidates.

You say you have been trying off and on over the past year to obtain work. In the current jobs market you need to give this full time attention. First pay someone to draft a professional looking CV for you. Put your profile on websites like linkedin, look for networking groups in your local area, join them and go to their breakfast meetings etc and introduce yourself. You need to be applying for at least 2 jobs per day and attend every interview, even if you know you have no chance, it will let you improve your interview skills. One of my sons was recently out of work, it took 147 job applications over three months to land a job!.

Like you I have made a big dent in my savings over the last couple of years and was ineligible for any  benefits, I continue to work part time, when I'm up to it, in my small business as I feel its important for my mental wellbeing (and I need the money). All the best in getting back to a normal life and landing that sought after job. Kim

Dear Kim

Thank you very much for your long and most informative email.  Its a bit different for myself in terms of job skills.  I am a PhD with 26 years of experience and two post doctorates.  The job market for me is not open to scientists with my level of experience, without having the added burden of cancer.  I have already had a 'professional' write up a so called decent cv for me, needless to say it didn't work.  As regards the agencies again, they don't work for someone in my position.  As regards your son, he is I am sure in a much younger age bracket than myself and employers are always keen to hire younger people, a fact of life nothing to to with having cancer.

I know you want to help and I very much appreciate your advice, believe me.  However I restate I am probably in about 1% of the population, and in that small number probably about 0.005 of that small statistic who unfortunately will get cancer.  The best advice I have had has been from Woodworm, that is to start my own business.   As a matter of interest why didn't you give your son a job?

Hi Doodle200

Apologies for the post re "teaching your granny how to suck eggs." I didn't mean it to appear condescending. I can really appreciate your situation being in the market for a job where there are few to go around. As regards my son I did give him work whilst he applied for suitable jobs, however like you his qualifications include a PhD, so his talents would be wasted working with me, plus first rule of business apart from "credit control - get the money in" is don't employ family members or friends. The difficulty he found in getting work is that Global Companies operating in the UK have moved 10s thousands of science based jobs to China and India where salaries are a fraction of European levels. I am surprised that someone of your calibre would ask a question on this forum like "is there an agency or register" to help you get work, that is why I replied. Wishing you all the best in getting back to work.

Dear Kim

Don't be too surprised I, like you mentioned am willing to try every avenue.