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.
How to Choose a Trade School
Hi Deb, What are the best schools to train for a career in vocational nursing? I live in New Hampshire, but am open to anything in the region. Thanks! Maddie Dear Maddie: Congratulations on your decision to continue your education and increase your job skills. There are many reputable institutions in the Northeast that offer…
Do You Need a Summary Paragraph on Your Resume?
I received this question this week from a client who has not updated her resume since 2001. As a general rule, you should include a summary paragraph on your resume. This summary area is a great way to showcase, by way of example, what you have done in the past that will serve as an…
Resume Help: Don’t Let a Font Reveal Your Age
Take a look at Dr. McFarland’s resume (CV is the more accurate term for this type of resume.) She used a front from the Courier family, the likes of which were used on early typewriters. When one sees this one is reminded of telegraphs from the early 1900s and documents typed on typewriters by…
Determining a Career Goal
Dear Deb: I will earn my Bachelor of Business Administration in six months (with honors). I chose that degree because it would give me many options. The truth is that I just don’t know what I want to do. I’ve talked to advisors who told me to “Follow my bliss,” whatever that is. I like…
Questions to Ask when Networking
When you meet someone new who could potentially point you in the right direction toward a new job or opportunity, you have to ask the right questions to maximize your time and the value of the meeting. You should think carefully about the purpose of your meeting is – is it to ask for a…
Resume Help: More Accomplishments, Less Attributes
Today we are looking at a portion of Mark’s resume. He’s an accomplished executive at a pharmaceutical company, leading an international staff and managing products that generate millions of dollars over the product’s lifespan. In Mark’s first draft, he squandered valuable space to communicate his attributes. He also starts many of his bulleted points…
How to Show Multiple Career Goals on LinkedIn
Dear Deb: I have been unemployed for 9 months. My severance pay ended last month. At this point, I am open to almost any possibility. I was a Project Manager I have worked in the past as a Systems Administrator, Analyst, and Development (but my development skills have diminished). I enjoyed leading projects and coordinating…
Brand Names Add Credibility and Weight to Your Resume
A common component of the critiques I provide often include discussion around highlighting ‘brand’ names that are sometimes buried or otherwise obscured by poor formatting and / or composition. I recently reviewed a document submitted by a mid-career professional who attended Columbia University’s Teacher’s College; she failed to mention this anywhere on her first page…
Resume Help: Formatting Your Professional Experience
Today we are reviewing the professional experience section of a resume for a financial manager, Andrew. Andrew’s resume is very similar to many resumes. He provided a list of his routine job functions. In some cases he simply listed two-word phrases to describe a function. He also has a few formatting issues to clean-up to…
Ask Deb: Looking for a Job Out of Town
Dear Deb: How can I go about finding a job in a different state when I don't have the money to frequently travel for interviews & I financially support a family Looking to Relocate Dear Looking: Thanks for writing. You should try to set up a number of interviews so you maximize your travel time.…