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.
Break free from your PowerPoint addiction
It’s rampant. Insidious. Infectious. Fueled by group think and a desire to appear smart, PowerPoint addiction afflicts nearly every workplace. Sucking up time and resources, this sickness is difficult to treat because many people truly believe that they need slides in order to speak. Common signs of PowerPoint addiction include: You spend countless hours preparing…
Spring Clean Your Job Search
The birds are chirping. The flowers are blooming. The pollen is EVERYWHERE. You know what that means. It means it’s time to reevaluate what you’ve been doing with your job search and prune back the ineffective elements. Some things will need to be cut off completely and tossed into the career compost heap. You want…
Denied for a Job for Unknown Reasons
Dear Deb: I interviewed for a position recently, only to receive an email stating that they went with a candidate who was a “better cultural fit” for the role. I don’t understand what that means, and I would like to reach out to the hiring team for clarification. Is this advised? What is “cultural fit”?…
Maximize your networking capabilities
I have counseled thousands of clients on how to best structure and execute a job search. Invariably, I hear tales of people spending hours staring at their computer screens filling out online applications, only to have those applications disappear into some resume black hole. Most people know that this is not a good use of…
The importance of being gracious
You worked late on a project with another team, and the project manager didn’t even bother to thank you. We have all had the experience of going out of our way for someone only to have our efforts dismissed. Why does it bother us so much? This type of behavior is especially irritating because what…
Illegal? Shady? Both? Neither?
Each year the EEOC closes more than 100,000 cases. However, only 18% of complaints ever resolve in either financial reward or a change in work conditions. Part of the reason for this is due to the indisputable reality that workplace harassment is notoriously difficult to prove, and that the burden of proof rests entirely on…
The real deal on references
If you’re searching for a new job, you know that reference checking is an integral part of the process. Any job seeker should expect that a prospective employer will ask for references and will perform at least a cursory check. But what is involved? Why does a potential employer want to speak with references? What…
Top Ten Career & Work Myths
The workplace is a place of social interaction, complete with power dynamics, cliques, popular kids, and of course, its own mythology. As with any myth, the reason workplace or career myths come to be is due in part to their believability and in part because of their pervasiveness. A concerted effort in critical thinking can…
Top 10 things you must include on your résumé
You’re a self-directed learner who can hit the ground running. You work well both independently and in groups. You are responsible for a variety of tasks. Yawn. Who isn’t? Your résumé is not a point-by-point recapitulation of everything you’ve ever done. It’s a marketing tool that promotes you and your professional accomplishments. Using precious real…
Transferable Skills
Hi Deb: I am a somewhat recent college graduate, having completed my degree in marketing three years ago. While I was going to school, I worked part-time at a local retailer. After I completed my degree, I was promoted to assistant store manager, and have been in that role for about 2 ½ years now.…