tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post3220972654185626614..comments2024-03-27T21:23:40.339-04:00Comments on Chemjobber: Ask CJ: how to handle medical leave in a CV or cover letter? Chemjobberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932113680515602275noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-80509121384773691372017-03-22T20:31:02.810-04:002017-03-22T20:31:02.810-04:00I was in a similar situation. Don't bring it u...I was in a similar situation. Don't bring it up unless asked. Even then, just say you had some health problems, but that you're better now (if you are).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-4499077138483342542017-03-22T14:11:24.242-04:002017-03-22T14:11:24.242-04:00I definitely agree with this - using only years is...I definitely agree with this - using only years is a great way of hiding a gap, and no one cares which month any of your positions started in.<br /><br />Another trick I use - if I'm filling out an online form that requires specific dates, my MS was officially awarded in a May graduation ceremony, even though I had left months before that. Use this to your advantage if you have a gap between mastering out and starting your first job.KTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-15323605116384620852017-03-22T12:58:04.637-04:002017-03-22T12:58:04.637-04:00On the CV (or any other correspondence for that ma...On the CV (or any other correspondence for that matter), list only the completion year (or month/year if necessary) of the degree. If questioned - answer them truthfully. My experience (industry) - nobody cares when you finished, they care that you finished. Your mileage may vary, of course.Harry Elstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16091371872387480309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-37524475727639880532017-03-22T12:03:00.642-04:002017-03-22T12:03:00.642-04:00Anon, depending on if you were on TA or RA, you ei...Anon, depending on if you were on TA or RA, you either got state employee health insurance or more basic health insurance, respectively. As you can imagine, state employee coverage was significantly better and, of course, I was not a TA.<br /><br />I also found I was being double-billed for a lot of things or charged by doctors who 'interpreted' data and if I called to question/complain about a lot of these things, I got the bill reduced ten-fold in most instances. I am still buried under medical and credit card debt from this event and I doubt I will ever dig out, but still don't regret not holding a PhD title. After reading that professor's longreads article, I should have filed for bankruptcy right after grad school/before starting work.DFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-51174601357193103392017-03-22T11:35:27.294-04:002017-03-22T11:35:27.294-04:00My wife had Aflac supplemental cancer insurance, a...My wife had Aflac supplemental cancer insurance, and when she was diagnosed with a cancer that required surgery and radiation, she not only had no medical bills, Aflac cut her a check for $12 K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-52597397333200709932017-03-22T11:18:32.466-04:002017-03-22T11:18:32.466-04:00NP Even if you have awesome health insurance, medi...NP Even if you have awesome health insurance, medical bills for cancer treatment are going to be a big burden when you are making <30K. It's pretty much not doable unless your parents can help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-56684188631112500102017-03-22T10:10:14.585-04:002017-03-22T10:10:14.585-04:00Thanks for clarifying. But it also sounds like yo...Thanks for clarifying. But it also sounds like your university health insurance was inadequate if your medical bills were stacking up. Of course I had zero health insurance when I was in grad school 35+ years ago, and a simple traffic accident could have left me destitute. Since then I've seen more than one hospital bill with preinsurance charges in the neighborhood of what it costs to buy a house in some markets, followed by "you pay $0". It really bugs me that graduate students don't have comparable coverage. In fact, if it was possible to add grad students to faculty/staff insurance plans, it should reduce premiums by adding a younger, healthier demographic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-83345448709140637822017-03-22T09:34:06.297-04:002017-03-22T09:34:06.297-04:00DF here (the person who emailed CJ); I think both ...DF here (the person who emailed CJ); I think both myself and my advisor were on the same page of me leaving only because of the pile of medical bills stacking and the poor grad student pay rate. My advisor was not trying to remove me and suggested the same options you presented, however, in the interest of me, he also suggested just leaving... I do not regret it and, in hindsight, wish I just would have left with 'simply' a masters after 2ish years, but going for a PhD is always a gamble regardless.DFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-38823687422910072042017-03-22T07:54:59.416-04:002017-03-22T07:54:59.416-04:00The student should have been able to obtain protec...The student should have been able to obtain protection and support through the university disability office to remain in school instead of being effectively terminated with a masters. In actual practice many departments try to turn a blind eye to state and federal rights of disabled scientists.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-21501692283278280332017-03-21T12:32:18.899-04:002017-03-21T12:32:18.899-04:00An interesting issue. As long as the rest of the ...An interesting issue. As long as the rest of the CV is good (specifically, # publications) extra long time in grad school shouldn't an issue that needs to be addressed in cover letter, though were I interviewing someone in this situation I'd definitely ask "what took so long"? Having a serious illness would for sure be an acceptable reason.biotechtoreadornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-35348225745350577232017-03-21T10:34:20.399-04:002017-03-21T10:34:20.399-04:00I agree that could be a good area for the former s...I agree that could be a good area for the former supervisor to address, especially with positive wording (overcoming challenges, perseverance etc). In addition on the CV/resume if the medical leave was an actual chunk of time (a year for example) perhaps that could be reflected in the date range(s) for the master's degree (June 2013-August 2014, Sept. 2015-Sept. 2017) or something in that vein?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-84695622341840597832017-03-21T09:08:52.235-04:002017-03-21T09:08:52.235-04:00I probably wouldn't put this in the cover lett...I probably wouldn't put this in the cover letter or resume (feels too much like an excuse), but if it comes up, that's the perfect opportunity for the phrase "health issues that have since been resolved." A true reason that most people will understand, but not angling for sympathy or raising concerns that your health will keep you from doing the job.<br /><br />If you have a good relationship with your former advisor, this is the perfect sort of thing for them to address very briefly in their reference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com