Are you living with chronic illness and looking for a job?  No doubt, chronic illness makes many things more difficult and looking for a job is rarely uplifting.  Do you notice that you're feeling stale and sluggish?  This might be the time to consider "sharpening" your approach.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Behave like you have a job. When you're unemployed,  and particularly living with illness, it's easy to get into a rut --- sleeping late and not having a schedule.  Maybe once you were someone who didn't need a plan or to work by a clock. But illness and unemployment can mangle even our strongest traits.  Create a daily schedule that you can meet and that gives you the framework you need in to focus on your job goals.
2. Continually re-examine your resume and your online presence with fresh eyes to see that they match the person you are now.  Chronic illness often means that you're more limited.   But for sure there are things you can do that add value to a job.  Maybe you're still that go-to, team player.  Or maybe you're independent and a self starter.  Take the time on a routine basis to examine how you're presenting yourself.  Be sure the focus is squarely on what you can do rather than what you can't.
3. Take risks. Chronic illness makes even the strongest among us afraid and vulnerable.  We know that our worst fears can happen.  Often we're more dependent on others to get things done. But you can't find a job that will lead to a sense of success if you're wrapped in fear.  Ask yourself how you can push your boundaries and stretch a little further.
4. Find support with your efforts. I can't tell you the number of people who have told me they can't spend money on career help because of their illness.  I understand the fear and even guilt in putting money toward a job search or developing your career when you fear that illness will prevent you from ever getting what you want.  I know I felt that way for too long a time.  But if doing it alone isn't working, ask yourself if you're worth the investment.  You have to believe that before anyone else will.
5. Make your knife sharpening a daily routine.  I use high quality Japanese knives because I'm a serious cook and I know that I have to take care of my tools.  The knives I use require  careful and precise sharpening before each use.  I have to pay attention to what I'm doing or I'll ruin the blade. If I'm inconsistent, I'll forget when I did it last and my expensive knives will become dull and useless.  How can you keep your mind, your skills and your networking that sharp?

We have to work with what we've got -- and what we don't have.  What are you doing to maximize your tools?

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Building on her experience living with chronic illnesses, including multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis, Rosalind Joffe founded the executive career coaching practice, cicoach.com. Dedicated to helping others with chronic illness develop the skills they need to succeed in their careers, Rosalind firmly believes that living with chronic illness does not preclude living a full and successful life.

Sue (my client, name and details changed) was having a bad time in a crohn's disease "flare".  For the first time, she couldn't get to work reliably.  Luckily,  she had a job that could be done "virtually" and company policy allowed this.   After a a few weeks of struggling to get to the office, she told her boss about her health problems and switched to working at home 4 out of 5 days each week.  Her boss sent out an email saying she wasn't feeling well and would be back in the office when she was better.

After a few months,  the "flare" calmed down  and Sue returned to her regular office schedule.  She wasn't worried.  Her work output had stayed the same and her lack of physical presence hadn't made any  difference in team performance.

But the people on her team had changed dramatically.  Back in the office, she felt cut off and isolated from everyone.  She'd never felt like an 'outcast' before and now she felt stuck and even paranoid.

Instead of feeling relieved to be back in the office, Sue was increasingly worried that she'd get sick  and need to work at home again.   For the first time in her career, she felt unmotivated and resentful at work.

She sought out her closest friend on the team, Dave, to see if she could learn what was really going on.

Dave told her.  He said that before she went "virtual",  she'd been tense and withdrawn for weeks, sometimes making mistakes but never acknowledging it. Then one day she stopped showing up, without an explanation from her.  Dave said that when she came into the office each week, she seemed preoccupied and even a little angry.   They knew she was sick but they resented her.  She was getting the "special treatment" by working at home but she was still being difficult with them.  When she finally returned,  people were angry that she hadn't bothered to explain what had happened.  And she didn't seem to notice that she had been acting differently.

Sue felt relieved to know all this.  But she was deeply angry and hurt because she didn't think she should have to explain herself.  She felt her health was a private matter and they should understand that.

What do you think?

(For my thoughts on talking about illness, check out my Career Thrive Guidebook series).

If you believe someone would enjoy and benefit from this post, please share it. Just click on the + Share button and you will see lots of options for sharing it with friends including email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Thanks!