Blog
Debra Wheatman, President of Careers Done Write, provides expert insight to the job search process that puts your career in gear with tips for interviewing, networking, job search strategies and how to create a winning resume and cover letter.
Ask Deb: How to Explain an Employment Gap
It is not unusual for someone to have a career path that is not linear. Breaks in employment happen for reasons that are none of an employer’s business—an illness, caring for a family member, a mental health crisis, or simply a protracted job search. Again, none of these things have anything to do with the job at hand. A break from work does not mean that you suddenly lose all of your valuable skills and can no longer solve problems. This outdated, archaic idea is absurd….
Ask Deb: How Many Rounds Are Too Many?
Dear Deb:
I have been laid off for over 6 months and am beginning to feel a bit hopeless. Compounding my feelings is that I have been getting multiple interviews, yet no offers. The interview processes that I’ve encountered are nothing like anything I’ve seen before in my career.
I recently went through 7—yes 7—rounds of interviews for a role for which I was more than qualified. The first round was with the recruiter. Second round with the hiring manager. Third round with other members of the team. Fourth round was a panel interview for which I had to prepare a presentation. Fifth round was with the hiring manager again. Sixth round was one of the hiring manager’s peers. Seventh was with the CEO, who did not know who I was or why we were meeting and thought I was already hired….
Ask Deb: I Don’t Want Another Executive Position
I was recently laid off from my executive role at a major financial services firm. What I would like to do is to take my true passion—which is woodworking—and share it with the world. I don’t need to make huge profits. I just want to go to my workshop and create beautiful and functional things. I was thinking that my niche might be in making custom-sized cutting boards out of native species of wood.
Ask Deb: At a Crossroads of a Ph.D. Journey: Seeking Direction and Purpose
Hi Deb:
You recently helped me with my C.V., for which I am immensely thankful. As I prepare to defend my dissertation, I feel I’m at a crossroads. I’ve always struggled with low self-confidence. After spending the last 8 years in graduate school and finally completing my Ph.D. in chemical engineering, I am at a loss as to what I can do with my life….
Ask Deb: How Do I Learn to Embrace Conflict?
A strategy of conflict avoidance will not serve you, your employees, your clients, or your partners well. If you actively avoid confrontation, you must reassess and reframe your thinking. Rather than seeing conflict or disagreement as an assault on your values, consider it an opportunity to put your values into practice….
Ask Deb: What if I Don’t Want a Promotion to Management?
I don’t want to be a manager or director. I enjoy being an individual contributor. I like my work, I’m good at it, and I’m not interested in the additional responsibilities that come with taking on a management role. How do I let my manager know that I don’t want to be promoted or lead people?….
Great Interview Process, No Offer
What happened? I don’t get it. They contacted me, seemed so excited about me, and abruptly cut me off without any real explanation. I am so very discouraged and disappointed….
I Apologized to the Boss Who Fired Me
Last week, one of my readers reached out to me inquiring about whether or not she should apologize to the boss who fired her over two decades ago. After providing my advice, I received the following update from her….
Ask Deb: Should I apologize to my former boss?
Almost 20 years ago, I was terminated from my job for performance issues. And I absolutely should have been. I had no idea about the stress I had put on my boss, how much of her time I took up, and the truly awkward position in which I put her. She really didn’t want to fire me; I gave her no choice. In the intervening years, I’ve had to manage people’s performance issues, and I now know what it’s like to be on the other side of that desk. I feel like I owe my former manager an apology, an explanation, and an expression of gratitude for what she ultimately did for me. I have been giving this a lot of thought lately. Would I be out of line if I reached out to her now and told her the full story?….
Ask Deb: Should I Take This Job?
Hi Deb:
I’ve been at my current company for 4 years. I was not actively looking to leave, but I was contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIN about a job at a competitor of ours. Long story short, I went through the interview process and now have an offer in hand. The compensation package includes a base salary that would be a 30% increase. However, there are several things about this company that give me pause.
I think I have the answer to my dilemma—I’m leaning toward declining--but I wanted to run it by you before I made a decision….