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.
A Day in the Life of a Senior Finance Manager (within a Global Investment Bank)
An attractive alternative to the hard-charging, pressure-filled investment banking path (M&A, Corporate Finance Advisory, Sales & Trading) is a career in finance management within that same investment bank. Roles that roll up to the Chief Financial Officer function can be equally fulfilling and challenging, and will not require a pound of flesh in addition to…
Resume Help: Why Some Non-Traditional Techniques Don’t Work
Today we are looking a non-traditional resume sent to us by Kelvin. It is non-traditional but not in a good way; it is not creative or edgy. Kelvin’s first mistake was using an obscure software application to create his resume. Upon opening the file, I found spacing issues that make it tough to read. That…
How to Deliver Application
Dear Deb: I am applying for a sales position. The posting says to apply online or in person. It is at a national bookseller. I am looking for a second job to supplement my primary job as a network administrator. There are rumors that my company is downsizing so I am trying to earn extra…
6 Ways to Strengthen your Resume for the Holiday Season
It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of October and year-end is drawing ever closer with each passing minute, hour, and day. With the New Year comes fresh opportunity, especially for those of you potentially seeking a career switch or advancement with your current employer. Here are six ways to strengthen your…
Resume Help: Key Words Are Great, But You Better Back Them Up!
Today’s candidate wrote me asking if I could help him identify more key words to put in his resume. Kendell was concerned that his resume did not contain the right key words and that’s why he was not getting invited to interviews. He shared a few postings representative of his target job. Honestly, he had…
Reference Letter vs. Letter of Recommendation
Dear Deb: What is the difference between a reference letter and a letter of recommendation? I want to be sure I use the correct term when asking my former manager to write a letter on my behalf. Does it have to do with the type of job you hold? I am an customer service representative.…
3 Questions to Ask During an Informational Interview
Informational interviews are risk-free opportunities to learn about and network with a company of interest. If made available to you an informational interview is a great way to learn about a company and begin to develop a relationship that could lead to something later. During the informational interview here are three questions we highly recommend…
Resume Help: Three Steps to a Better Profile
Ben is a real estate construction executive who has led numerous high-profile projects, many valued more than $340 million, and includes shopping centers and resorts in California and Hawaii. Unfortunately, the beginning of his resume does not adequately present his value and the prestige of his accomplishments. Ben needs a resume profile makeover. Ben decided…
Numbers on a Résumé
Dear Deb: On my résumé, I want to show that I have 24 years of experience in event marketing. Do I write “24” or “twenty-four?” Thanks! Margo Dear Margo, Great question! On a résumé, we use the numbers. So, it would be “5” instead of “five” and “14” instead of “fourteen.” That is because résumés…
3 Popular Resume Writing Clichés to Avoid
Selecting the appropriate adjectives to describe your best self in your resume can be a daunting challenge. For the professional resume writers and career coaches on our team, doing this task on behalf of our clients can be even tougher. Below are 4 of the most common resume writing clichés we see, and our suggestions…