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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.

Doing Networking Right
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Doing Networking Right

Networking. You know that you should be doing it. But you’re a bit unclear on what it actually is and how you build and manage your network. When I advise clients on the importance of networking, their responses tend to go something like this: Oh yeah, I’ve got a network, but I don’t want to bother anyone until I need something. It is astounding, and I hear this All The Time….

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8 Tips for Effectively Networking During the Holiday Season
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8 Tips for Effectively Networking During the Holiday Season

The end of the year is typically filled with parties, gatherings, and social engagements, making it the perfect time for networking. This year, COVID has upended the usual holiday practice of getting together in person and wishing each other well. However, there is still ample opportunity to build and nurture your network. Here are some tips on how to do so effectively….

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Five Easy Things You Can Do to Feel and Appear More Confident
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Five Easy Things You Can Do to Feel and Appear More Confident

Do you struggle with your confidence? Do you feel like an imposter? Do you wonder if the people around you think you don’t know what you’re talking about? Relax. I’ve got you. We all feel this way from time to time, particularly when we are in stressful situations, such as giving a presentation to a large group or expressing an unpopular opinion. Here are five easy tips to help you feel more confident and improve others’ perceptions of you….

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Maximize the impact of your year-end job searching
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Maximize the impact of your year-end job searching

Now that the holiday season is officially upon us, I am thinking about a question I’m frequently asked this time of year. Many readers want to know if they should suspend their job searches until mid-January because, as we all know, lots of typical business processes slow down during this time of year. My answer is always the same, and it’s a resounding, “No!” The end of the year can be one of the best times to look for a new role, and here’s why….

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Five keys to success when searching for a job during the pandemic
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Five keys to success when searching for a job during the pandemic

I have probably received more questions on the topic of conducting a job search in the current climate than I have on anything else in 2020. When the restrictions were first enacted, many people decided to go into a self-imposed holding pattern and shelve their job searches. However, ongoing restrictions and contraction in the job market render this a nonviable option. So how do you search for a job amid the pandemic? Here are five strategies that can help you succeed….

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Embrace different work styles

I’ve previously written about how managers who hire people who remind them of themselves (“mini-me” syndrome) do themselves and their organizations a disservice. Diversity, in all its forms, makes for innovative, creative thought, and improves productivity. A topic related to hiring a mini-me is the common management practice of assuming that there is only…

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End of Year Gift Giving

Hi Deb: I dread the end of the year. There are endless office parties and niceties that, although technically optional, feel mandatory. For example, I am invited to my department’s holiday party, the company-wide holiday party, and another product team’s holiday party. Both my team’s and my product team’s parties require that I bring a…

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The power of Storytelling

One of my favorite works of nonfiction is In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. In this book, Capote tells the story of a senseless and brutal quadruple murder, and the two men who committed the heinous crime. He also examines the moral, ethical, and legal underpinnings of capital punishment. On its surface, this may seem…

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