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.
Corporate social responsibility. What is it? Why should you care?
Many factors impact the development of a company’s culture. Most notably is its mission, which is something that is driven directly from the CEO. Ostensibly, the mission of any for-profit organization is to make a profit. Lots of companies stop with that. These are the places where there are quarterly layoffs so that the numbers…
Yes, you really do have to do that.
People constantly ask me about what elements and tactics are absolutely necessary to execute an effective and efficient job search. At the same time, employers want to know what they need to do to recruit and retain top talent. Frankly, both employers and candidates need to up their game. They need to respect each other’s…
Improve your messaging to drive better results
We are all in the business of communication. Whether you’re communicating with external customers, internal clients, or prospective employers, you need to be sure that your message is clear, relevant, and compels the action you desire. Here are my top tips for improving your messaging so that you get the results you want. Know your…
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…