• A senior millennium manager says she was unemployed For 432 days and submitted 108 requests to no avail after spending a leave to focus on cancer treatment – that is, although there is more than a decade from experience and even the former Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, listed as a business owner in her CV.

Emmy McLeland was only 31 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the second stage, or gas canal cancer, on March 14, 2024.

Although employers today are promoting their comprehensive favor, including cancer support groups – MCCLELAND says the diagnosis has killed her career prospects and that she is asked to work for free.

“I had a forced exit from my career to focus on cancer treatment, and it turned out that re -entering the technology world with experience as a great leader is the most difficult professional obstacle that I can reach.” Last week on LinkedIn.

“Within 4 months, I submitted 108 applications, and 9 interviews were conducted, and reached 3 stages of tasks, and she did not succeed in everyone,” I continued. “Stopping my career to fight for my life is something that I did not expect to do in 31 years. It seems to go out into space without a rope, after a decade of hard work.”

Before diagnosed, McLeland climbed companies to the roles of senior management, via major TV channels such as Channel 4 and technology emerging companies – including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Euan Blair in Multiverse, First Edtech Unicorn in the United Kingdom.

But now she is facing the fact that the work world is re -joined after taking a professional break to focus on overcoming intense chemotherapy and then surgery to remove the mass – as advised by an oncologist.

“I don’t think I realized how difficult luck. “It was either to do this cancer treatment and get the best possible results, or die.”

“Now that I am here, I am shocked how difficult it is.”

Request for free to the graduates to get “usual to work again”

Although there are 14 years of experience, including 5 years of high leadership in 4 countries and 3 continents, she forced her career to start her career again, and she is expected to apply for unpaid training similar to graduate studies.

An old colleague recently communicated with McLeland for her startup.

“I was like, this is amazing and then came in the conversation that they had no money to pay me.” “They put it as” to return you on your feet and make you accustomed to working again. “

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Even since publishing about the struggle to find work after cancer, McLeland says more unpaid “opportunities” may put its way.

Recently, the founder of the Games Studio has communicated with a possible offer.

“He used to say it was an opportunity, but I will not receive their salaries immediately – and that no one is working in his favor, and it is dedicated to the people who just left Uni and need more experience at work.” “Therefore, it is an unpaid training period.”

“I got a contract with experience with internationally recognized brands, and I have now returned as I started telling me that I should work for free.”

To talk to your health journey – or not

Since the disclosure of her diagnosis LinkedIn Last week, the publication became viral, with thousands of likes and potential leadership of the new action.

“I created opportunities for myself, because I said I need help,” says McLelaland.

“I have at least four or five people who came to me and say,” We are actually renting this role at the present time. “I am checking this, and I go back to them and go,” Yes, I applied for this month and refused within a few days. “

“It is incredible for me that I am able to get the human reaction to LinkedIn, as they see me as a possible candidate.” “But if I will go through their operation and application, this is a reduction.”

Although she is open to her health journey she has created positive conversations and a possible movement in her career on this occasion, this is not always the case: McLeland, who has been hunting jobs since Christmas, says that she previously wrote similar posts and took her after it negatively affected her job opportunities.

At other times, she was going through the application, just to be rejected after being honest about her requirements for mixed action and other amendments about her new needs.

“I think cancer is a very diverse huge thing,” she says.

“But I have recruits telling me that in reality, people will only distinguish and it is better not to talk about it until you are already signing a contract – then reveal whether you need any support because from a technical point of view, the cancer is classified as a disability.”

This is why she hesitates to recommend others to navigate cancer and labor market for copying.

“The only important thing is to reach the other side of this treatment,” says McLeland. “The only thing on the side of work of things is to stay in contact with your network – this does not mean that everyone tells what you do in diagnosing your cancer, but there are people in your network who really want to see you succeed, and these people will come for you if you ask for help.”

“There were times in the treatment of cancer when I couldn’t read, I could not focus on my eyes. I was a little I was. There are really nightmare experiences in a situation that allows you to work – and I don’t try to intimidate anyone by saying these things, but it is not about it if it wasn’t what you want to do,” she added.

“It is only about keeping your support network close, both in your personal life, but also in your career, knowing who these people are and knowing who we click on the shoulder and feel comfortable when seeking help.”

This story was originally shown on Fortune.com

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2025-03-26 13:31:00