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.

Job Hopping: Does It Pay Off?
Job Market Trends Debra Wheatman Job Market Trends Debra Wheatman

Job Hopping: Does It Pay Off?

As the dynamics of the job market evolve, so does the perception of job hopping. Historically, job hopping, or frequently changing jobs, was often viewed negatively. It was seen as a sign of instability or a lack of commitment, particularly in the 1970s when it was even branded “Hobo Syndrome.” However, this perception has shifted, and job hopping is now more accepted, especially in certain industries and changing workforce dynamics….

Read More
The State of the Gender Pay Gap
Job Market Trends Debra Wheatman Job Market Trends Debra Wheatman

The State of the Gender Pay Gap

Although women have seen gains in education over the last five decades, they continue to face a significant wage gap. Among workers, women outnumber men in the college-educated labor force and are more likely to obtain a graduate degree than men. Even so, women are paid less than men at every education level by an average of 17%….

Read More
Women’s History Month: Educational Firsts for American Women
General James Wrona General James Wrona

Women’s History Month: Educational Firsts for American Women

To create an inclusive environment that fosters professional and personal success for all employees, regardless of gender, institutions are taking proactive measures. These measures include providing equal access to resources, facilities, and opportunities, promoting gender-inclusive policies and practices, and actively supporting programs and initiatives that help to break down gender-based barriers. We have come a long way, but much work still needs to be done….

Read More
International Women’s Month: The Woman Who Saved America from a Pharmacologic Disaster
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

International Women’s Month: The Woman Who Saved America from a Pharmacologic Disaster

In 1960, Dr. Kelsey was a Food and Drug Administration reviewer when the application to begin mass marketing thalidomide in the US landed on her desk. As a reviewer of New Drug Applications (NDA), she was one of three people charged with determining a drug’s safety before it could be made available for public consumption. After a thorough review, she rejected the application for thalidomide because it lacked sufficient evidence of safety through rigorous clinical trials. She found the clinical trials insufficient and reliant on anecdotes and physician testimonials rather than sound scientific study….

Read More
International Women’s Month: Women Achieve and Men Take Credit
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

International Women’s Month: Women Achieve and Men Take Credit

The Matilda Effect was first described by suffragette Matilda Joslyn Gage, who posited that women in science become overlooked because many of their discoveries and breakthroughs are attributed to men. As it evolved over the last century, the Matilda Effect has come to describe the idea that male experience is representative of general experience, and female experience is women’s experience only. There are many examples of this throughout American history….

Read More
Black History Month: The Economic Powerhouse That Was Black Wall Street
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Black History Month: The Economic Powerhouse That Was Black Wall Street

In early 1921, the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to one of the most affluent African American communities in the United States. More than 70 businesses, mostly owned by Black Americans, lined up in just the 100 block of Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa. This single block was home to four hotels, two newspapers, eight doctors, seven barbers, nine restaurants, and a half-dozen professional offices of real estate agents, dentists, and lawyers. The economic success of Black entrepreneurs in Greenwood added to the striking image of Tulsa as America’s Black Wall Street….

Read More
The Vital Role of Black Entrepreneurship in US History
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

The Vital Role of Black Entrepreneurship in US History

Black-owned businesses have a long and rich history in the United States. But today, minority-owned businesses have a harder time getting access to capital and, therefore, have higher rates of failure compared to white-owned businesses. The plight of minority businesses in the US is finally being recognized and addressed. In 2024, the federal government put $30B into a Small Business Opportunity Fund for minority-owned businesses. In the wake of social protests in 2020, companies like Citi and JPMorgan Chase pledged millions of dollars in funding to uplift Black and Hispanic-owned businesses. These actions are the first steps on a long road to equitable opportunity for all businesses….

Read More
Why DEI Matters for Everyone
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Why DEI Matters for Everyone

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are on the chopping block, which should concern everyone. One by one, DEI programs at some of the country’s biggest companies began falling apart in 2024, and efforts to reverse DEI initiatives are ramping up in 2025. Major companies, including Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, Ford, Toyota, Meta, and Amazon, heeded the calls and dialed back their DEI programs, particularly after social media-driven campaigns by conservative influencers. This means ending racial training programs for staff and evaluations designed to boost supplier diversity and withdrawing from the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index….

Read More
New Challenges for Civil Servants
Job Market Trends Debra Wheatman Job Market Trends Debra Wheatman

New Challenges for Civil Servants

On January 28, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent nearly all of its 3 million employees an email offering deferred resignations and warning that they may be laid off or reassigned if they choose to stay. The goal is to cut 75% of the federal workforce to improve government efficiency. The offer is available to all federal workers except for postal and military service members and “those in positions related to immigration enforcement and national security.” This attempt to cut federal workers regardless of their titles has sparked alarm for its potential impact on the range of services these agencies provide….

Read More