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.
Return to Office Mandates Work Against Working Women
The fact is that the pre-pandemic, primarily in-office working style worked for one segment of the workforce: men. Despite more college-educated women being in the workforce than at any time in history, the share of domestic labor women perform has increased. Domestic labor women perform is worth half a trillion dollars, yet, by design, it has no value in the free market. The system relies on free and cheap domestic labor, most of which women perform, and those in power want to keep the status quo….
Why women at your workplace don’t report
You’ve seen the stories. You’ve followed the #MeToo movement. You’re an ally of women. You understand. Your company has policies, procedures, precedents. No woman at your workplace would feel anything other than complete and total support. Hmm. Okay. Have you vetted this with the women with whom you work? All the policies and procedures,…
Sexist Comments—Your Submissions
I recently asked my social media followers to tell me about times in which they encountered or were the recipients of sexist language and comments in the workplace. As suspected, the archaic sentiments surrounding gender roles and stereotypes are alive and well. Here is a sample of the feedback I received. Shortly after graduating…
Why Women Shouldn’t Earn More Than Men: A Mansplanation
News host Tucker Carlson is afraid. Very afraid. And his feelings are hurt. Why? Because women are empowered. Scary. You see, sometimes women are in high-earning positions. And when they are, according to Mr. Carlson, makes them less desirable to men looking for partners. In Mr. Carlson’s version of reality, the biggest problem in the…
The backlash of #MeToo
Those of us who are old enough will remember that in 1991, Clarence Thomas was confirmed and appointed to the Supreme Court, despite the compelling and riveting testimony of Anita Hill. The all-male Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed him, in the face of credible evidence that he had sexually harassed Ms. Hill. The backlash from this…
Is career advice a form of gaslighting?
I came across an article recently that had a unique take on the kinds of career advice that is typically given to women. The main concept of the article is that women are being sold on the idea that it is up to them to change workplace culture and to make the workplace more encouraging…
You’re not imagining it. Pregnancy discrimination is real.
Sometimes, a firmly held belief I have is validated by an outside source. And usually, this makes me feel vindicated and relieved. But on occasion, a closely held belief is proven to be true, and the result is that I am angry and disgusted. Such was the case when I read this article in the…
I’m returning to work after eight years. What should I put on my resume?
Last week, I discussed the challenges of deciding to remove yourself from the workforce, and how it should be a carefully considered decision. A follow-up to that is another question I get frequently, which goes like this: I’ve been home with my kids for the last eight years, and now I’m ready to go…
Stay or leave? Consider it carefully.
I frequently field questions from new moms who are struggling with the realities of returning to work. They usually go something like this: My daughter just turned three, and I just had my second child. In reviewing our family’s finances, it seems futile for me to return to work when my entire take home…
Getting Back Into The Workforce After a Lengthy Gap
Dear Debra: I started work as an equity sales assistant in 1984 after earning my MBA. After five years, I worked at a large international bank providing sales trading covering until 1999 when I left to raise my daughter. It was too tough taking her to childcare at 6:00 am so I could commute to…