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.
Personal Branding—an Exercise in Content Marketing
Having a personal brand is not optional. Perhaps you think you don’t have a personal brand, but you do. And if you don’t know what your brand is, your brand is neither strong nor polished. Having a strong personal brand is critical to managing your career, and you want to be sure that you are…
How Can I Create a Stand Out Presentation for an Interview?
Dear Deb: I have a third interview coming up, and as a part of the process, the hiring team has asked me to put together a presentation on how I would craft a digital marketing strategy for one of their products. I want to show them I know what I’m talking about, but I’m having…
Personal Branding—What Is It and How Do I Do It?
I get questions all the time about what exactly is a personal brand, and what it is to have a personal brand. There is certainly a lot of confusion out there about this, so this week’s blog is devoted to bringing about not only a better understanding of what personal branding is but why you…
Explaining the Reason for Leaving a Job
Dear Debra: In my first job, nearly 8 years ago, I was fired for excessive absences. I was having a tough time with attendance because my baby had frequent ear aches, ultimately requiring a minor surgery. The job I held after that (now for 7 years), I have performed well. I am starting a job…
When Interviewers Get It Wrong
After my last blog post, I was flooded with comments and emails bemoaning the current state of interviewing. Many people reached out to me to point out that there is just as much, if not more, bad behavior on the part of the interviewers as there is on the part of those being interviewed. In…
Asking a Potential Employer About Paid Training
Dear Debra: Is it appropriate to ask an employer about paid training and certification sponsorship during a job interview? In my industry certifications are very expensive and the only way I can get them quickly is for my employer to sponsor me. Thank you, Carson Dear Carson: Sponsorship of professional development is an important part…
Ten Things that Have Nothing to do with Your Background and Experience, But Will Cost You the Job
People write to me all the time, seeking advice in securing their next position. Typical advice is to research the company, research the hiring manager, and above all, practice your interviewing skills. All of this, while important, comprises only 20% of the total challenge. In other words, your content is 20%, and your presentation is…
Handling Conflicting Resume Advice
Dear Debra: It seems like every person that reviews my resume gives me new advice. I’ve gone through about five major overhauls. One said, “Lose the summary.” A former manager told me I must present my 16 years of project management history on one page. Then there are the endless comments about font, all bullets,…
You Really Did Learn Everything You Need to Know about Effective Business Writing from Your English Teacher
Remember when you were in school, and your English teacher assigned an essay? Everyone groaned and complained. Maybe some people opined that writing a five paragraph essay was a waste of time and not something that you’d ever have to do out in the “real world.” Then you got out into that “real world” and…
What to Wear for an Interview
Dear Deb: Is it alright to wear the same suit to a second interview, one week after the first interview? Thank you, Marcus Dear Marcus: Yes, that is fine. If your suit is a solid neutral color (blue, grey, black, dark brown), it is unlikely that the interviewers will recall the color. For the second…