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: Why Was I Rejected for a Low-Paying Retail Job?
The company I worked for was acquired by a larger company in the same industry, and I, along with many of my colleagues, was summarily laid off. A few weeks ago, I decided that I needed to do something, and for the sake of my sanity, I had to get out of my house more frequently than my daily walk with the dog or my trip to the mailbox. I applied to be a stocker at my local Trader Joe’s. I thought my experience in managing inventory and improving processes would make me a good candidate. I spoke with the store manager, who told me to apply online. I applied online. A week later, I got a typical rejection email about hiring candidates with better qualifications. I have gone from managing contracts valued at 7 figures to being unable to secure a retail job! What is going on with this job market?….
Should I Go to HR?
I have an issue with my manager right now. He is verbally abusive to me and my coworkers. I have documented instances of his abuse, and I want to go to HR, but I am afraid that he will retaliate against me if he knows that I reported him. How can I ensure that what I say to HR remains confidential?….
Ask Deb: Must I Attend the Team Building Event?
Everyone hates team-building exercises. They are universally reviled by people at all levels of the organization. Who wants to spend three days with coworkers while not doing any actual work? Team-building exercises are pointless because they suggest that if your team members spent more time doing silly things and solving group problems together, climbing trees, and rolling around on the floor, they would work more effectively together the rest of the time. There is absolutely zero research that supports this belief. Employees work to get a job done and, more importantly, to get paid, not to play inane games with coworkers….
Ask Deb: Should I Work for Free to Receive an Offer?
I have been in the workforce for decades, and this is not my first time looking for a job. This week, I was asked to work for free in advance of an offer. I don’t mean that they want me to do a project or make a presentation. They want me to spend three days working with the team. I would have to be completely accessible on Slack and responsive to emails during this time….
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?….