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.

General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Why Mothers Make Great Employees

In May, we take time to appreciate mothers and motherhood.   However, we tend to relegate motherhood to a place outside the workplace. In fact, mothers take great effort to prove that motherhood will not interfere with what is considered traditional work life. (After all, there is no harder job than being a mother!) Today we’re…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

You Know You Sound Old When….

Have you ever put your “foot in your mouth” at a meeting and wondered what people thought of you?  You want to reverse time and take back those words.  On a resume candidates oftentimes commit a similar faux pas.   Maturity and longevity in the workforce is to be revered.  However, we need to be strategic…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Resumes Lessons from a Can of Soup

Many food companies are savvy enough to know that most shoppers read food labels, despite being short on time. A label with eye-catching key statistics can give that product an edge over another product, especially if that product touts qualities such as low sugar, low calories, and zero trans fat.  Companies are wise to invest…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

User Experience Matters on a Resume

When I pick up my email messages on my phone, I open and answer the short messages.  I save the long ones for later, when I have time.  Who has time for long messages?   Nobody!  The same attitude applies to resume reading.  At some point, your resume will most likely be read on a small…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

A Goof-off Day: Just What This Career Coach Recommends

March 22nd was National Goof-off Day. While the origin is unknown to me, I definitely see the value in such a day.  I don’t mean a day to go skiing, get caught up on household repairs, or take the kids to an amusement park.  My definition of a goof-off day is a day that does…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Men vs. Women: Who is More Competitive at Work?

During my career, I have reported to, worked with, supervised, and competed with both men and women. Having experienced the full spectrum of personality types, I have encountered extremely competitive men and women. The prevailing thought seems to be that men are competitive in the sense that they take greater risks and compete for high-reward…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Overcoming a Bad Performance Review

There are times when an employee nervously enters the performance review anticipating bad news; he has seen the signs.  Other times, employees are completely blind-sided and shocked to receive a poor or below-satisfactory evaluation.  Either way, it stings.  Before you get defensive and catapult a situation from bad to worse, take a deep breath and…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

5 Tips on Improving Your Professional Profile

February is almost over, which means that the end of the first quarter is right around the corner. If you are positioning yourself for a promotion this year or considering a job switch, here are five things you can start doing today to increase your professional profile and make yourself more attractive to new managers…

Read More
General Debra Wheatman General Debra Wheatman

Thank You Letter Help: A Second Chance to Sell Yourself

A thank you letter should be a part of your job search routine.   Erin follows this advice and sends a thank you letter immediately following every interview.  The problem is that her thank you letter is so weak.  She merely thanks the interviewer and she does not take advantage of the chance to pitch herself…

Read More