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.
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….
Be an Ally to the Unemployed in Your Life
Unemployment can be one of the most stressful and isolating experiences a person goes through. It affects not only finances but also self-esteem, mental health, and relationships. The current job market is rough. Every day, I hear from clients who have been ghosted after multiple rounds of interviews, who have been asked to do free spec work as part of the interview process, and who have encountered an astounding lack of respect for their time and effort. Looking for a job when you are unemployed can be an exhausting, soul-sucking experience. Suppose you want to support the people in your life who are currently navigating unemployment. In that case, there are some ground rules you should follow so that you will be perceived as helpful and empathetic, rather than clueless and insensitive….
Hey Gen X, What’s Your Plan?
Despite being known for adaptability and a pragmatic approach to life, many Gen Xers find themselves woefully underprepared for retirement, with average savings falling far short of the recommended amount for a comfortable post-work life. Raised as “latchkey kids” and witnesses to significant societal changes, we Gen Xers developed a strong sense of self-reliance and a value for work-life balance. However, these traits have not translated into financial security for many. That means that many of my fellow Xers will need to work longer than they probably want to. If you are a Gen Xer on the hunt for a new job, you know how daunting that challenge can be. Your experience is valuable, but at the same time, ageism is a very real issue. Here are some tips to help you compete in today’s ever-changing job market….
Dealing With a Bad Boss
What do bad bosses do? Frequently cited grievances include micromanaging, bullying, avoiding conflict, ducking decisions, stealing credit, shifting blame, hoarding information, failing to listen, setting a poor example, slacking, and not developing staff. Such dysfunctional behavior would make anyone unhappy and unproductive. However, whatever sins your boss commits, managing your relationship with him or her is a critical part of your job. Doing it well is a key indicator of how effective you are….