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.
Resume Help: Better to Anticipate Than to Assume
When you are on the hunt for a new job, it is always better to anticipate than to assume. The ability to anticipate needs, industry shifts, problems, and when it is time to instigate change is an excellent quality. On the flipside, the habit of making assumptions can cost you a job. This applies to…
Does Experience as a Mom Count?
Dear Deb: I took off 8 years to care for my son who had a serious illness. He’s much better now. I want and need to get back to work. While caring for my son, I became an advocate for my son and other children with seizure disorders. If it were not for my fighting,…
Tricky Interview Questions: Are You a Risk Taker?
Perhaps the one interview question that reveals a candidate’s true nature more than any other is the frequent question: “Do you consider yourself a risk-taker?” There is an adage: No risk; no reward. That is true in many situations. However, risky behavior is perilous and uncertain by definition. So, what is the “right” answer to…
Handling Skill Gaps
Dear Deb: I am applying for jobs in clinical informatics. It requires a combination of technology and clinical experience. What should I say on my resume or cover letter about a gap in my technical expertise? In other words, the job posting indicates a requirement for QuadraMed QCPR. I have no experience with that particular…
Conflict Between Work Events and Family Events
Dear Deb: I am required to attend an annual corporate golf trip. All of the management team will be there, including many from home office and our top clients from the pharm side of business (my clients). It’s basically a time to really connect on a deeper, more personal level with clients. The only problem…
Resumes Lessons from a Can of Soup
Many food companies are savvy enough to know that most shoppers read food labels, despite being short on time. A label with eye-catching key statistics can give that product an edge over another product, especially if that product touts qualities such as low sugar, low calories, and zero trans fat. Companies are wise to invest…
Resume Help: The Wrong Way to Handle a Career Break
Marlo is quite self-conscious about her eight-year career break. Like many parents, especially mothers, she took a hiatus to raise her two children. When her children were of school age, she decided to return to work. She is so worried about showing that she was filling her time with worthy pursuits (other than raising her…
Finding Temporary Work
Dear Deb: My husband will be off work four months due to a hiatus at his production company. It’s the nature of the entertainment business. They are highly compensated when they are in production and that makes up for the down time that happens every two or three years. Here’s my dilemma. We have healthcare…
User Experience Matters on a Resume
When I pick up my email messages on my phone, I open and answer the short messages. I save the long ones for later, when I have time. Who has time for long messages? Nobody! The same attitude applies to resume reading. At some point, your resume will most likely be read on a small…
Telling Co-Workers You're Leaving Your Job
Dear Debra: I just gave a two-week notice to my supervisor. She asked that I wait one week before telling anyone, including my co-workers, clients, and vendors. That’s fine. Many of my co-workers are in the other branches, but we interact frequently online and by phone. What’s the best way to say, “good-bye” to my…