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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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Résumé Help: Modernize Your Résumé

Clara’s résumé is very outdated.  The problem with an outdated résumé is that it brands you as someone who is not knowledgeable about how business is done in today’s world.  This could lead to a perception that you are not technically current or adaptable.  To avoid this negative image, modernize your résumé.  Here are the…

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Personality Traits on a Résumé?

Dear Deb:  I want to add the results of my recent personality tests to my résumé because they were very positive and show my leadership ability. My top five indicators are: Activator, Positivity, Learner, Communication, and Winning Others Over.  Where can I put this on my résumé?  Would I create a special section with the…

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The Science Behind Your Résumé

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to your résumé.  The trick is to be sure the most impactful parts of your résumé are viewed and absorbed by the recruiter or hiring manager.  Other than mind control, (which is not an option) how can you direct the reader’s eyes to particular places…

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Résumé Help: The Classic Undersell

The purpose of your résumé is to “get your foot in the door” of a potential employer.  If you save your best selling points for the interview, you will likely not have an interview.  You’ve got to come out with your strong selling points in the résumé so you can earn the interview invitation.  Today’s…

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Listing Military Training on your Resume

Dear Deb:  Should I list all of my military training?  I have about a half page of courses and training programs that I completed.  I feel this training would compensate for my lack of a college degree.  Most of my training is military readiness, combat conditioning, and radio operations.  I have been out of the…

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Photo Study - A Survey of LinkedIn Profiles

The Careers Done Write team conducted an informal study of LinkedIn profile photos. They analyzed 200 profiles and categorized the photos. Of the 200, a little more than half (112) uploaded a quality headshot photo. 27 did not upload a photo.  Three uploaded a cartoon image. The remainder fell in the following categories:  photo of…

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What Career is Right for You? Courtesy of Our Friends at Rasmussen College

Thank you to our friends at Rasmussen College for providing us with an interactive chart based on the latest BLS outlook data. The chart is a career finder tool that provides viewers with what occupations are "worth choosing" based on potential salary, competition, and market scalability. You must click on the image to engage the…

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Résumé Help: Tell Us Why We Should Hire YOU

When I first scanned this résumé, I thought that the formatting was the biggest issue.  (We’ll address that in a separate blog post.)  After I got past the formatting issues, I read the résumé carefully.  The candidate did a poor job of showcasing her unique value.  She included a couple of strong facts.  The rest…

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Three Signs That You Are on the Job Search Ferris Wheel

Have you lost control of your job search?   Are you stuck on a Ferris wheel, going round and round, and not getting anywhere?   If you have been searching for months without a job offer, it is time to evaluate your job search strategy and performance.  Either you are not doing something that you should be…

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Newman! Dealing with Difficult People

The ultimate example of a difficult person is the character Newman from the TV sitcom, “Seinfeld.” If you are a fan of the show, like me, you can imagine an exasperated Jerry, saying, “Newman!” In 2010, the character Newman was named on "TV.com's Top 10: The Most Annoying TV Neighbors."  You probably have a Newman…

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