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.
Wear a Suit in a Skype Interview?
Hi Debra, If I have a job interview on Skype on a Sat. morning, do I really need to wear a suit? Could I just wear a nice shirt? It seems very phony to get up at 8am on a Sat. and put on a suit. This is for a programming position. Even when I…
Mastering the Interview Part 4: The Final Round
You received news that you are a finalist for the position you have been coveting for months. All that work and preparation has been worthwhile. Now the heat is on. It’s you and possibly one or two finalists. The final round is different from previous rounds of interviews. In this round, the hiring committee (or…
Mastering the Interview Part 3: Face to Face Interview
Your résumé survived the screening, you made it through the Skype interview, and now you have a face-to-face interview. You think to yourself, “This should be easy, I know that I am qualified.” If it’s so easy, then why is the face-to-face interview such a nerve-racking experience? In part three of the Master the Interview series,…
Résumé Help: Skip the Rudimentary Skills
Today’s candidate, Madison, is a manager with more than 15 years of experience directing teams and leading national initiatives. Before I got to know Madison personally, I read her résumé. It does not depict her accomplishments or the special skills she offers her target employer. Because her issue is so common, we’re reviewing part of…
Mastering the Interview Part 2: Skype & Distance Interviewing
In today’s environment, your next job opportunity may be downtown or around the world. The market is rich with candidates and employers have the luxury of interviewing a variety of candidates before making a decision. The barriers to identifying dozens of candidates from Peoria to Punjab have been torn down via distance interviewing campaigns. In…
GPA on a Resume?
Dear Debra: I had a 3.95 GPA for my undergraduate degree in Economics, but only a 3.3 GPA for MBA. I read that recent graduates should show GPAs, but only if they are high. What do I do if one is high and one is on the low end? Both are from the same school,…
Mastering the Interview Part 1: Crafting & Delivering Your Message
The interview is your chance, perhaps your one chance, to communicate your message. It is critical that you craft and deliver a perfect message! To get another perspective on the subject of interviewing, I interviewed CNN veteran and media consultant, Bella Shaw. She shared terrific advice for our Careers Done Write Master the Interview series. …
Résumé Help: Is It Alright to Include All of Your History?
This candidate takes us all the way back to 1972. Remember 1972? The big news in 1971 was Watergate. It is also the year of the first hand-held calculator, which weighed almost as much as a modern tennis racquet and cost nearly $400! With that image in mind, does it make sense for a candidate to…
Time off for Teacher Conference?
Dear Debra: My child has parent-teacher conferences twice a year. The other two managers never ask for time off for their kids’ events or conferences. I am so conflicted because I just got this job two months ago. Thanks! Carrie Dear Carrie: These conferences are important. In fact, some states have laws in connection with…
Real Millionaire Survivor Sharks of Beverly Hills
Years ago when CBS’s Survivor was still in its infancy, I recall hearing an outlandish prediction that there would be half a dozen cable channels devoted to reality programming. That outlandish prediction has become reality. Many of these shows reveal the underbelly of society. Outrageous behavior, back-stabbing, and deception are at the forefront of these shows,…