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.
Top 10 things you must include on your résumé
You’re a self-directed learner who can hit the ground running. You work well both independently and in groups. You are responsible for a variety of tasks. Yawn. Who isn’t? Your résumé is not a point-by-point recapitulation of everything you’ve ever done. It’s a marketing tool that promotes you and your professional accomplishments. Using precious real…
Harness the power of persuasion
You probably know someone who seems to have the innate ability to make you see things from their perspective. When you talk with them, they immediately put you at ease, and you find yourself agreeing with what they’re saying. People like this are eminently persuasive. We tend to think of persuasion as a skill that…
Top Resume Turn-offs
I talk with lots of job seekers. I speak with lots of hiring managers. And I see lots of resumes. And I see lots of major turn-offs. Your resume, if it is being read by an actual human, is likely to be scanned for a mere six seconds. That means that you have very little…
Here’s what to avoid if you want to be taken seriously at work.
You want to be taken seriously by your managers, peers, and clients. But are you doing everything you can to ensure that you are? It’s possible that some things you do are undermining your credibility. Brands are collective. They’re built on the sum of experiences. While your big accomplishments are notable, it’s the little things…
Soft skills—what are they and why should you care?
Soft skills are also known as “people skills.” These are the character traits that set you apart from the masses. They are what make you an awesome employee and person, outside of your technical job skills. For job seekers, soft skills are often what make or break the deal. That’s why it’s important that you…
Create a project plan for your career
You’ve heard the adage that failing to plan is planning to fail. You also know that a good plan is one that allows for flexibility and changing priorities, deadlines, and budgets. You probably work off of a multitude of project plans in your job and at home. But do you have a project plan for…
Confident or Competent?
We all know that there is a difference between confidence and competence. After all, confidence is when someone knows that she is particularly adept at something, whereas competence is when she objectively possesses that acumen. It is easy enough to understand the distinction, but, in practice, we often conflate the two. Confident people tend to…
Marketing Yourself in Your Job Search
I recently received this question via email: How do I set up my resume and LinkedIn profile for the NEXT job I want? If I'm a "Manager," I'm not that interested in jobs with the title "Manager" in them. But how do I ensure people searching for Senior Managers, or Directors find me if my…
Your Career Hierarchy of Needs
Famed psychologist and researcher Abraham Maslow is best known for his theory of motivation, which is based on the idea that people also have strong cognitive reasons to perform various actions. In his well-known hierarchy of needs, Maslow presents different motivations at different levels. This is often represented as a pyramid. First, people are motivated…
How much notice am I required to give?
Dear Deb: I started a new job about nine months ago. Not to get into too many details, but suffice it to say that it’s horrible. My boss here is a micromanager to the extreme. In addition, the role is not at all what I was lead to believe it would be. I left my…