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.
An Open Letter to Gen Z and Those Who Employ Them
Dear GenZ:
I see you in the headlines. They’re saying that you’re “challenging” and “difficult” to work with. They say you’re lazy and don’t take direction well. You lack work ethic, and you have attitudes, And you’re getting fired at a rate higher than your counterparts from other generations....
What Companies Get Wrong When It Comes to DEI
Ask any CEO about DEI, and they will inevitably say that DEI is a key business imperative. But make no mistake, companies do not implement DEI programs out of altruism. Businesses started caring a lot more about diversity after a series of high-profile lawsuits rocked the financial industry. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Morgan Stanley shelled out $54 million—and Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch more than $100 million each—to settle sex discrimination claims. In 2007, Morgan was back at the table, facing a new class action, which cost the company $46 million. In 2013, Bank of America Merrill Lynch settled a race discrimination suit for $160 million. Cases like these brought Merrill’s total 15-year payout to nearly half a billion dollars. In short, CEOs care about DEI because not caring costs them – big time….
Why Employee Surveillance Backfires
Last week, Wells Fargo fired several staff members after claiming they were faking keyboard activity to make it appear like they were working when they were not. The bank said that its staff had either been fired or resigned “after review of allegations involving simulation of keyboard activity creating impression of active work,” according to the BBC….
Working 9-5: Is It Outmoded in the 21st Century?
Many American workers live for their weekends. This is the time that they spend with their families, catch up on errands, and just relax. The practice of taking a day of rest is a centuries-old concept. In the pre-industrial era, workers would typically have off one day per week to observe the Sabbath. In agrarian settings, people worked as much as they needed to survive, hunting, gathering, and farming—probably averaging less than 40 hours per week. This pattern changed in the 18th century with the Industrial Revolution….
This Protracted Job Search Is Embarrassing!
Searching for a job takes a toll on your psyche. You question your self-worth. Remove these thoughts from your psyche. The irony of these shameful thoughts is that they discount that unemployment is highly likely for millions of people….
How Women’s Work Became a Man’s World
Would it surprise you to learn that women once dominated the entire field of computer science? Modern computing grew from the need for ballistics calculations during World War II. At that time, “computer” was a job title—people who performed the sets of calculations. Men who may have otherwise taken these jobs were busy with the war effort. Plus, the work wasn’t regarded as “intellectual.” It was seen as repetitive and focused. So women were hired for their mathematical abilities while the men who designed and created the machines took most of the credit for the work….
What The Sopranos Can Teach Us about Gen Z
Gen Z only knows the world of high-quality, prestige TV. They never experienced the struggle of having nothing to watch but reruns of Gilligan’s Island or mandatory commercials. They expect to be able to watch what they want when they want, and most don’t even use a television, opting to watch on their laptops or phones. They are shaping this into a different world, and a fresh crop will graduate in a few weeks. If your business wants to keep up and attract young talent, you must learn from Hollywood’s mistakes and adapt.
Here’s what Gen Z wants out of work….
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….
Imposter Syndrome: It Puts You There Where Things Are Hollow
What do an Academy Award-winning actor, an iconic musician, a Nobel laureate, and a Supreme Court justice have in common? Each of them has struggled with imposter syndrome. That can’t be true. Can it? ….
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….