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.
It’s no longer “job hopping”
It is no secret that the employee/employer relationship has radically changed over the last three decades. Gone are the days of remaining with one employer for your entire career. That has been replaced by the reality of quarterly layoffs, and cuts in pay and benefits. I’ve previously discussed why you need to reframe your thinking…
The Case for Helping Out a Coworker
I recently received the following email: My team consists of myself and a peer, a coordinator, and our manager. My peer has recently returned to work after the birth of her first child. She was out for two months, and during that time, I took charge of her major projects and made sure the work…
Stop Worrying So Much About the Posted Job Description
You get a call from a recruiter, and he tells you about a position with a great company. The role sounds exciting, and, from his description at least, seems like something you’d be interested in pursuing. He sends over the job description for you to review, and you are crestfallen. They say that the candidate…
Not Sure What the Boss is Asking?
Dear Deb: I just started a new job. This is a big step up for me in terms of responsibility and pay. One of the things my new boss is asking me to provide is a monthly status report. I’m not sure what I should include, or what format it should be in. Should I…
Avoid LinkedIn Scams
LinkedIn is a great tool, and one which has fundamentally changed the way people network, sell, recruit, and look for jobs. But, with almost 450 million members sharing personal and professional details, there is, inevitably, a certain amount of fraud. If you have more than a few hundred LinkedIn connections, you have probably gotten a…
Getting Feedback When You Didn’t Get the Job
For candidates, the most frustrating thing about the interview process is that it seems to be entirely one-sided. Although we can encourage candidates to look at the interview as a two-way street, and to use the interview to vet the employer, the reality is that the mechanics and power dynamics of the interview do make…
Should I Hire a Personal Marketing Firm?
Dear Deb: I was laid off about a year ago, and have been involved in a full time, active job search since then. I’ve been researching companies and responding to job postings. While I’ve had a number of first, and even a few second interviews, I still have not secured a job offer. Today I…
Get Up and Out of Your Cubicle!
The days of aspiring to the corner office are on their way out. Cubicles have been a common office fixture for the last 30 years, and are not going away anytime soon. More and more companies are getting rid of the traditional offices, and are going for more open workspaces, with the assumption that this…
Four Things That Can Destroy Your Brand
You know that one of my favorite topics is personal branding, and how it is imperative that you have a strong one. Building a personal brand takes time, effort, and consistency. It is an ongoing process that requires nurturing. But all of your work can be destroyed relatively quickly and easily by making these mistakes.…
The Role of Trust in the Hiring Process
Trust is the foundation of all human connections, and it governs all interactions we have with one another. The capacity for trust is not equal; some people trust more easily than others, some people are more trustworthy than others, and some are better at gauging trustworthiness than others. For as much as we may like…