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.
Is Your Team Quietly Screaming? Unmasking the Abilene Paradox in Your Workplace
We hear and engage in fallacies every day. They often form the keystones of our arguments. These logical fallacies are leaps of logic that lead us to an unsupported conclusion. People may unintentionally commit a logical fallacy due to poor reasoning or intentionally to manipulate others. Common logical fallacies include the red herring, ad hominem, causation/correlation, straw man, and the anecdotal evidence fallacy. However, there is one particularly insidious fallacy that we want to take extra care to avoid, and that is the one known as the Abilene Paradox….
Uncovering the Hidden Job Market
It is a known fact that searching for a job online is not a good use of a job seeker’s time. To track down the most job leads — leading to the most interview and job offer opportunities — job-seekers must go beyond online job boards and search engines and attack the hidden job market. As much as 80 percent of all job openings are filled through (direct and indirect) referrals, not through job postings….
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
During the Second World War, women proved they could do “men’s” work and do it well. With men away to serve in the military and demands for war materials increasing, manufacturing jobs opened up to women and upped their earning power. Yet, women’s employment was only encouraged as long as the war was on. Once the war was over, federal and civilian policies replaced women workers with men….
What to Expect from the Job Market in 2024
Despite the challenges presented by recent global events, hiring trends for 2024 indicate a renewed sense of optimism. Research from MIT’s Sloan School of Management shows that 39% of hiring leaders said they plan to increase their financial commitment toward hiring in 2024, and 70% of surveyed U.S. job seekers were somewhat or very confident about their prospects of finding new jobs. Here is what to expect from the job market as we enter 2024….
Not getting interviews? This could be why!
You’ve been filling out applications and sending resumes for weeks, maybe months, but you don’t get a response. You’ve fine-tuned your resume, but still, no bites. What’s going on? It could be a combination of factors, some within and some outside your control. A content creator posted on LinkedIn that he would not interview anyone with a Yahoo, Hotmail, or AOL email address because, to him, it’s a “red flag.” He did not elaborate on what precisely these email domains might portend. Another hiring manager posted that he asks his recruiters to only source currently employed candidates, which is dumb. Several other managers and recruiters also jumped into the comments to tell him that. Here are some more reasons you may not be getting interviews….
Think Your Boss is Bad? Wait Until You Hear About ‘Mr. Jones’
In my 20 years as a career coach, I’ve talked to thousands of people and have heard countless stories about bad bosses, irritating coworkers, and overly demanding customers. While I never assume that any story I hear is the most shocking, I am always shocked at the bad behavior of people in general. This week, I received an email from a client describing her boss’s behavior….
The Blindness of Job Seekers: Navigating Challenges in the Modern Job Market
In the novel “Blindness” by José Saramago, an epidemic of sudden and unexplained blindness descends upon a city, leaving its inhabitants struggling to survive in a world of darkness. This harrowing tale of social breakdown and human nature resonates with the struggles of modern-day job seekers navigating the competitive and uncertain job market. Just like the characters in the book, job seekers face various challenges and uncertainties, and understanding these parallels can shed light on the importance of resilience and adaptability in the pursuit of meaningful employment….
It’s not you. It’s the market.
If you’ve been searching for a new role this year, you might be wondering if there’s something wrong with you or your job search strategies. You’re doing everything you think you should be—networking, customizing your resumes and cover letters, practicing your responses to common interview questions, and improving your narrative—but you’re not getting any offers. Maybe you’re not even getting any requests for interviews. I’m here to tell you that it’s not you. It’s them….
I Heard It Through the Grapevine: Part 2
As I promised you last week, this is a follow-up to what I hear on “the street,” but this time, the stuff that’s not so good. Here we go….
Now Is a Great Time to Look for a New Job!
Informally termed the “September surge,” this time of year means more job openings as companies must use up budgets and close open requisitions before the end of the year. Expect to see more recruiters than ever in your inbox, even if you are not actively looking for a new role. To position yourself to succeed and use the September surge to your advantage, you should take stock of your personal brand, reach out to your network, and create a plan….