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.
I Apologized to the Boss Who Fired Me
Last week, one of my readers reached out to me inquiring about whether or not she should apologize to the boss who fired her over two decades ago. After providing my advice, I received the following update from her….
Ask Deb: Should I apologize to my former boss?
Almost 20 years ago, I was terminated from my job for performance issues. And I absolutely should have been. I had no idea about the stress I had put on my boss, how much of her time I took up, and the truly awkward position in which I put her. She really didn’t want to fire me; I gave her no choice. In the intervening years, I’ve had to manage people’s performance issues, and I now know what it’s like to be on the other side of that desk. I feel like I owe my former manager an apology, an explanation, and an expression of gratitude for what she ultimately did for me. I have been giving this a lot of thought lately. Would I be out of line if I reached out to her now and told her the full story?….
Ask Deb: Should I Take This Job?
Hi Deb:
I’ve been at my current company for 4 years. I was not actively looking to leave, but I was contacted by a recruiter on LinkedIN about a job at a competitor of ours. Long story short, I went through the interview process and now have an offer in hand. The compensation package includes a base salary that would be a 30% increase. However, there are several things about this company that give me pause.
I think I have the answer to my dilemma—I’m leaning toward declining--but I wanted to run it by you before I made a decision….
Ask Deb: What Do I Do About My Boss’s Habit of Blaming Me?
Hi Deb:
We have a new VP who came into our organization about 6 months ago. He is building out a large team, bringing in people from his network, and shaking things up. He is the kind of guy that my grandfather would have said “talks out of both sides of his mouth.” When I’ve tried to bring up these issues, he just talks and talks and talks without saying anything. What do you suggest I do about being constantly thrown under the bus here?….
Ask Deb: How to Handle a Rude (and Bizarre) Interviewer
Hi Deb:
I need some advice about a situation that recently occurred. I’ve been interviewing here and there but not actively looking. A few weeks ago, a recruiter contacted me about a role with a company that is regarded as a leader in my industry. I responded and met with the recruiter, the hiring manager, and two people on the team. They were all great, and I was psyched to learn more, so when the recruiter asked me to do a video interview with another stakeholder, I said sure. This person would be the internal client for the role for which I was interviewing.
To say this was a weird experience is to make a gross understatement….
Ask Deb: What should I do when people interrupt me in meetings?
Hi Deb:
I love working remotely. I really do. But one thing I’ve noticed during the last 2 years is that there are more meetings than ever before. And with those meetings come more interruptions than I have ever experienced in my career. I have tried asking people not to interrupt me and to allow me to speak, but it continues. In fact, it’s getting worse. Do you have any tactics that are effective in stopping interruptions?
Thanks,
Alicia….
Ask Deb: What do you think about double-dipping?
I’ve been “double-dipping” for nearly 8 months now. I have two full-time salaries, two comprehensive benefits packages, and two bosses. At first, it wasn’t difficult to maintain the two roles, but the further I get into the second role, the more unwieldy it’s becoming. There are pros and cons to this situation, but I’m feeling overwhelmed. What would you advise?….
Ask Deb: Deciding between two job offers
Hi Deb:
I find myself in the enviable position of entertaining two very good offers from two very different hiring companies. One is a large, well-known company that is making an entrée into a niche market. The other is a relatively new company that’s been around for 3 years that deals exclusively with this same market. I have a wealth of experience in the industry to which each of them is trying to sell their solutions, and both of these companies pursued me rather aggressively. The money on the offers is pretty similar. I really like BOTH companies, and I’m confused as to who I pick between the two of them. What do you advise?….
Ask Deb: Should I go back to school?
Hi Deb:
I was laid off from my job of the last five years. It has been over 10 months, and I still do not have a full-time role. I’m beginning to think that maybe I should go back to school for my law degree….
What should I delete from my resume?
I spend a lot of time telling clients and followers about what they should be doing. Maybe I’m not expending enough effort advising them on what not to do. That changes today….