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.
The Myth of Meritocracy
The term “meritocracy” has undergone a radical and perhaps tragic linguistic evolution. Coined not as a goal to be achieved but as a warning to be avoided, the concept originated in Michael Young’s 1958 satirical novel, The Rise of Meritocracy. Young’s dystopian vision of a future Britain was organized by a rigid social formula: Intelligence + Effort = Merit. In this world, social status was no longer determined by the circumstances of birth or aristocracy, but by objective metrics like IQ. Yet, this shift did not create a more just society; instead, it created a more arrogant one. Young’s primary thesis was that meritocracy is not a solution to inequality, but a more sophisticated way of justifying it….
The Downfall of Betamax and Why “Best” Is Subjective
Our story begins in the early 1970s, when several electronics companies were experimenting with ways to bring video recording into ordinary households. Before videocassette recorders, consumers had little control over television viewing. Programs could only be watched when they aired unless someone had access to expensive professional recording equipment….
Kairos: Use the Force to Land Your Next Job
The ancient Greeks defined three primary modes of persuasion: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, which focus on the speaker's credibility, the audience's emotions, and logical facts, respectively. Aristotle argued that a truly effective argument does not rely on just one of these pillars, but rather a balanced integration of all three. Beyond these primary modes, the Greeks emphasized Kairos, the opportune moment to deliver a message. While the three primary pillars provide the substance of an argument, Kairos acts as the glue that ensures an argument succeeds by being delivered in the correct context….
Build Your Job Search Toolkit
Searching for a job is often regarded as a reactive activity. It’s something we scramble to do when circumstances change or opportunities arise. The most effective job seekers don’t rely on last-minute effort or improvisation. They approach the process strategically, with a job search toolkit that enables them to act with clarity, confidence, and cohesion. In today’s highly competitive job market, having a carefully curated job search toolkit isn’t an option. It is a requirement….
‘Tis the Season to Stay Professional During Festive Times
The holiday season brings unique energy to the workplace; year-end deadlines collide with celebrations, schedules shift, and teams try to balance festive cheer with professional expectations. It’s a time filled with opportunities for connection, but also with potential for missteps. Whether you work in person, in a hybrid model, or fully remote, practicing strong holiday-season work etiquette helps maintain professionalism, reinforce team spirit, and ensure everyone feels respected during a time that can be both joyful and stressful….
How to Avoid the Heuristic Trap
In a recent blog post, I discussed heuristic traps and how to identify them. We know that heuristic traps occur when your brain says, “This is the obvious choice,” but in reality, the situation is more complex. But how do you avoid falling into a heuristic trap? This requires awareness, structured decision-making, and heightened critical thinking. Knowing what to watch for helps to reduce falling into the common heuristic traps, such as confirmation bias, the sunk cost fallacy, or the halo effect. Here are some practical tips that can help you….
Navigating the Job Search as a Neurodivergent Candidate
Navigating job interviews can be stressful for anyone—but for neurodivergent individuals, the experience may feel especially challenging. From decoding unspoken social cues to managing sensory overload or masking behaviors, neurodivergent individuals face real challenges in the interview process. Traditional interviews often favor neurotypical thinking and behavior, such as rapid responses, ease with social interactions, and comfort with sensory stimuli. Timed coding tests? Great if you want to measure how fast someone can panic. Whiteboard puzzles? Perfect for proving that you remember algorithms and proofs you haven’t needed since college. Rapid-fire questions? Awesome for people whose brains process language more slowly. This creates barriers to hiring for neurodivergent candidates and enables both unconscious and conscious biases in the hiring process….
Don’t Fall into a Heuristic Trap
Heuristics are mental shortcuts that our brains use to make decisions quickly. Rather than carefully analyzing a situation, we rely upon past experiences, core beliefs, and patterns to come to a quick conclusion. These solutions may not be optimal, but given the limited time and information available, they are incredibly useful. People use this sort of intelligent guesswork, trial and error, process of elimination, and experience to solve problems or chart a course of action. In a world that is increasingly complex and overloaded with big data, heuristic methods simplify and accelerate decision-making through shortcuts and good-enough calculations. Without leveraging heuristics, our brains would suffer cognitive overload….
Common Advice to Job Seekers That Misses the Mark: “Just Start Your Own Business”
The idea that an individual can rise from humble beginnings and achieve greatness and success through determination, hard work, and ingenuity is a deeply ingrained component of the American Dream. Anyone can make it here! All you need is the drive, the gumption, the risk appetite! Look at all these entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley! In this precarious job market, a common piece of advice repeated ad nauseam online, in career journals, and at networking meetings is some version of “You should just start your own business.”….
Be Bold, Brash & Audacious and Stay on the Air
When you stay ready, keep showing up, and hold fast to your standards, you position yourself to seize the moment that can change everything. The world may not believe in your vision at first, but conviction paired with audacious execution can turn even the boldest idea into history….