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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.
Résumé Help: Is That “Other Information” Overkill?
Recently I saw a woman walk into a store with excessive accessories. Maybe it was the red rose clip in her hair, or it could have been the 1980s-style bangles and matching chandelier earrings. It was a sight to behold. If she had stopped with the earrings, she would have looked terrific. Under the barrage…
Should I interview when I am sick?
Dear Deb, I have a terrible cough…the kind that once it starts, it does not stop for a couple of minutes. I also am so congested that I feel and look disgusting. I have an interview for the perfect job tomorrow afternoon. Should I cancel? Will they think I am a wimp? I really want…
4.4 Ways to Explain You Were Let Go From Last Job
Careers Done Write is pleased to have Elaine Hirsch as our guest poster. Elaine Hirsch is kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education to technology to public policy, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead. Losing a job, like any major life event, can involve…
How to Dress for an Interview
Dear Deb, I am applying for a position as a cashier at a sporting goods store. All the workers wear khakis and a logo golf shirt. Should I wear khakis and a golf shirt to the interview? I would feel out of place in a suit. Plus, I would have to buy or borrow at…
Is Your Résumé Up to Speed?
In most situations, your résumé will be read on a screen. It could be a 17-inch screen and it could be a 2-inch screen. Hiring managers and recruiters will make instantaneous decisions about which résumé they would like to save for consideration and which to delete. The time allocated to make that decision is significantly…
Résumé Help: Uncovering Achievements
In today’s example, we are reviewing a résumé that could be improved by adding achievements. In this example, the candidate listed many of his job functions. We dug a little deeper to show the scope of his responsibilities and how his functions improved business operations. We have discussed this topic in other blogs. However, in…
Looking for a Job after a Long Absence from the Work Force
Dear Deb: I went to work as a secretary for an insurance company right out of high school in 1978 and was with that same company for 20 years. I quit in 1998, when my husband and I could afford for me to stay home. I did not work, but spent time on my church…
Résumé Help: Don’t Bury the Lead
Your résumé should be constructed and written so that it showcases your relevant skills, knowledge, and achievements. If you scan a great résumé, those items should be apparent and memorable. That is not the case with Natalie’s résumé. One thing that I retained from a high school journalism class was this: “Don’t bury the lead.” …
I have a few questions before starting a new job
Hi Deb, I received a job offer. However, I had a few questions before starting. I have written three times with various questions. Each time I write it takes the director of the department more than a week to reply. Now I am not sure I want to work for a company that takes so…