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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.

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Deciding on a Career as a Prosecutor, beyond a Reasonable Doubt

This month blogs, news reports, and cable talk shows are full of courtroom drama.  Several of these high-profile cases provide us with better entertainment that any reality show could.  The Jodi Arias murder trial, O.J. Simpson’s hearing, and the sentencing of Kermit Gosnell are examples of court room dramas that have captivated the nation.  What…

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Résumé Help: Improving the Readability of Your Résumé

It is common sense that if someone can’t easily read your résumé, your résumé is not benefitting you.  You may have adequate white space and a properly-sized font.  That is important.  It is also important to structure and format your résumé so that it facilitates a quick read.  View the sample résumé below.  I have…

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Font of Wisdom

No topic seems to stir the pot on our blog as the font choice for a résumé!  Seriously, we discuss some heavy topics regarding careers, including unemployment policies, recovering from a lay-off, and discrimination in the workplace. Yet, there is a persistent interest in the topic of font selection.  Perhaps the reason is because focusing…

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Résumé Help: Out of the Running before She Started

Today’s résumé example demonstrates the importance of the beginning of a résumé.   As a reader scans your résumé, he may eliminate you after finding one mistake.  Even if she let’s one goof slide, as the errors and poor writing continues, he must eliminate you in favor of a candidate with stronger writing and presentation skills.  You are…

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Is being underpaid synonymous with being under-appreciated?

Dear Deb, During the 8 years I've been employed with my current company, my responsibilities have increased dramatically to the point where I am basically doing more managerial type work than production type work.  The work I do warrants at least an additional $8K - $10K per year in earnings. For the past 3 years…

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How to “Come Out” in the Workplace

On Monday, Sports Illustrated posted an article on its website in which Jason Collins shares, "I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."  I thought, really?  It is difficult to believe this is a milestone just achieved in 2013. Some say that America and many parts of the world have made significant progress…

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Résumé Help: Y2K…Why Bother?

  What is the lesson here?  In the words of a Janet Jackson (a pop diva from Glen’s heyday), “What have you done for me lately?”   Employers are interested in a candidate’s most recent ten years. Because of this, candidates should only show their most recent ten to fifteen years of relevant work history.  By…

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Looking for proof? It is there!

As Americans, countless times we sing the Star Spangled Banner. Sometimes we might stumble over the words; none the less, these words are a love song to our nation.  The particular words that create the most beautiful imagery for me are “And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the…

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Following Up After an Interview

Dear Deb: How long should I wait before sending a hiring manager a follow-up email after an interview?  It was a first interview and I met with the HR manager and the customer service manager in the same day.  Also, whom do I write to? Thanks, Carly P. Dear Carly, Great question!  Most candidate do…

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What is a Professional Résumé?

What is a professional résumé? There are several critical fundamentals to a professional résumé.  If a candidate misses the mark on any of the fundamentals, it can diminish the results of the candidate’s job search campaign. The fundamentals are résumé structure, content, effective language, sophisticated style, and accuracy.  Résumé Structure The backbone of your résumé includes…

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