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.
Five Top Reasons to Leave Your Current Employer
We all know that it is very unlikely that anyone is going to stay with the same company for 40 years, collect a watch and a pension, and then go off into a blissful, stress-free retirement. Those days are over, and in the new era of work, it is incumbent upon the individual to take…
Four Things You Need in Order to Evaluate an Offer
Congratulations! You’ve been offered a new position! It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and anticipation of a new venture, but don’t make the mistake of immediate acceptance. Any new offer needs to be evaluated critically, on a number of different factors. Here’s what you need to assess your offer: A written, contingent…
Should You Study the Humanities?
There was recently an article in the Washington Post about college students whose parents forbid them from majoring in liberal arts disciplines. Although it is easy to write this off as overzealous helicopter parenting, it is indicative of a trend over the last thirty years. Undergraduates are eschewing liberal arts degrees in favor of degrees…
Stop letting employers bully you
It is no secret that the hiring process is broken. Badly broken. Considering the financial impact hiring has to a company’s bottom line, it is astounding that many, if not most, employers don’t take it seriously. From forcing applicants to comply with non-intuitive ATS programs, to failing to follow up with candidates, it would seem…
Why Sometimes You Need Censorship
The media’s ability to cover the Vietnam War without censorship was unlike anything that came before or has happened since. The unprecedented access of journalists to officers meant that, for the only time in American history, the American public had an unedited view into the daily life of war. However, this unfettered freedom came at…
Interview with Paysa
Hey, Careers Done Write followers! I have been doing this a long time and the work is its own reward. However, it is great to be recognized by others that seek career advice! Check out the "Expert Interview" I provided to Paysa.com and while you are there, feel free to explore the other great content…
Ten Things You Should Never Do in a Job Interview
I devote much of my writing to advising my readers on what they should be doing in their job search, but today, I’m going to tell you what you should avoid. This is a partial list, and in no particular order, but a good starting point. Take a phone interview while you are driving. This…
How to Determine the ROI of Going to Grad School
MBA. PhD. DDS. MFA. There are many different three-letter abbreviations you might focus on when you think about grad school. But there is one abbreviation that all grad-level scholars should think about: ROI. ROI, or return on investment, tells you just how much profit you will truly make from your grad degree, once long-term earnings…
Getting your resume past the ATS
The abyss. The black hole. The Great Emptiness. These are just some of the terms I’ve heard for applicant tracking systems (ATS). They are not unwarranted. Many, if not most companies use ATS software to automate their recruiting processes by scanning the applications for keywords and then assigning a score to them. Only those profiles…
Should I hire a career coach?
This is a question I field all the time. My answer is fairly simple—you should hire a career coach when and if you feel stagnated and unable to move forward to reach your career goals. Think of it as a clogged pipe. You could try Drano. You could try snaking the drain yourself. Either or…