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.
Protecting Your Brand during a Resignation
Before you shout the good news from the rooftop and bid your boss a not-so-kind farewell, consider these suggestions for your resignation. When you resign, remember that the health of your brand is at stake. Manage your resignation thoughtfully and professionally to protect your personal brand. 1. Think about how much notice you should give.…
How Your Employer’s Brand Affects Your Brand
Your personal brand is comprised of many things. Some aspects of your brand change and develop over time. However, some aspects of your brand stick with you for many years. Examples of lasting brand aspects that define you include your education and your employers. Particularly for the ten years following your association with a certain…
Be a Branding Superstar in Five Steps
Have you jumped on the “brand wagon” yet? Perhaps the very thought of creating a brand strategy is overwhelming. It does not have to be. Branding should be a natural part of your everyday life. To integrate branding into your life, make a conscious decision about your behavior. Ask yourself these questions: Is this activity…
The LinkedIn Headline: Your Brand in 120 Words or Less
Most parts of your LinkedIn profile are fairly straight-forward. Complete this, select that, edit thoughtfully, and you are on your way to a new LinkedIn profile. The stumbling block for many is the headline. You have 120 characters to brand yourself, get located through keywords, and attract the reader to explore the rest of your…
Branding Strategies for the Unemployed
It is easier to get a job when you have a job. This is true in most cases. Naturally, the demand for a candidate increases when they are considered valued or sought-after by other companies. In Hollywood, the idea is to work on hot projects, associate with other in-demand players, and stay in the media. …
Branding Challenge: 4 Ways to Boost Your Brand after a Career Break
Extended career breaks are more common than you may think. However, if you are the one seeking to return to work after a long break, you may feel like you are the first to face this challenge. The most common concern for candidates planning to re-enter the workforce is that their brand is damaged, and…
Branding Tips: Can Your Email & Phone Numbers Tarnish Your Brand?
Yes, the email address that you choose and how you display your phone numbers on your resume and webpages reveal a lot about who you are. It also contributes to your brand. Your brand is how others perceive you. If your email and phone number suggest that you are outdated or not a serious professional,…
Branding for the Not-So-Average Person
Recently a client asked me, “Why do I need a brand? I am just an average person. It’s not like I am an executive, celebrity, or an entrepreneur.” My answer was, “That is exactly why you need to think about your personal brand.” Do you want to be perceived as average? No; you want to…
Avatars: Separating the Good, the Bad, and the Downright Scary
An avatar is a digital photo or graphic image used to represent you online. It may be your profile photo on LinkedIn or an image on your blog. The purpose of the avatar is to help those in the virtual world connect with you when they are viewing your profile, reading your blog, or visiting…
Personal Brand Makeover: Kicking It Old School
Whether you consciously develop it or not, you have a personal brand. Your boss, clients, co-workers, and anyone else with whom you interact have an impression of you. You can’t control someone’s perception of you. What you can control is the image you present, such as your appearance, communication style, interactions with others, online presence,…