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.
Office culture in a post-pandemic world
Before the pandemic, one frequently voiced concern that what many employees had was a desire for greater flexibility. The remote working mandate in effect for most corporate jobs for the last year has given people a taste of that flexibility, and they do not want to go back to the Way It Was. There are numerous studies and a plethora of data supporting this; the bottom line is that work, as we knew it in the “before times,” will never return to what it used to be….
What’s in a name? Pretty much everything.
Names have significance. They have power. They are an incredibly important part of one’s identity; they have personal, cultural, and historical connections. They give us a sense of who we are, and they identify us to others….
Talent – where have all the good people gone?
The most pressing challenge for any organization that wishes to remain competitive is access to the right talent with skills and experiences critical to achieving aggressive goals. The cost of a poor hiring decision can be significant—sometimes even exceeding the compensation for the role. This is part of why companies have become increasingly cautious (and bureaucratic and byzantine) in their hiring decisions. I speak with hundreds of people who sit on both sides of the hiring desk in my work. What I can say without hesitation is that there is an enormous disconnect between candidate and hiring company expectations. One of the most frequent complaints from candidates is that the hiring process is broken. Simultaneously, the most frequent complaint of hiring managers is the “skills gap”—a fundamental mismatch between the skills that employers rely upon in their employees and the skills that job seekers possess….
Performance art in hiring
Hiring is an inherently imperfect process. Employers want to make sure that they make hiring decisions based on skill, competency, and the elusive cultural fit. One of the tactics commonly used by hiring companies to assess the quality and ability of a candidate is to ask candidates to do sample work. This came into vogue about 20 years ago, and from what I hear from my clients, it’s increasing in popularity….
Culture or cult?
An organization's culture is a key factor that job seekers must consider when pursuing a new role. After all, a company’s culture seeps into every aspect of employees' jobs, attitudes, and behaviors. Culture should be a big deal to candidates and employers. When it’s done right, a company’s culture can redefine its brand and make it an employer of choice. Done wrong, culture can repel talent and advance toxic workplace behavior….
Overhaul your job search in 2021
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal, as attested to by celebrations worldwide and the return of annual blooms. It marks a noticeable change in the earth’s position relative to the sun and is seen as an opportunity for new beginnings. With that said, spring is an apt time to overhaul your job search and career management strategies. So, if you’ve been doing the same thing and getting the same results, it’s time to try a new approach….
Taking a “workation”? Here are some things to consider.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we think about corporate jobs and is even challenging the very idea of what “work” is. Even the most resistant managers now admit that remote work has no negative impact on productivity. Most corporate jobs can be successfully performed from locations other than a cubicle. As location-agnostic work arrangements become more of a norm, work and personal life will be even more inextricable. Yes, you can work anywhere. But should you? ….
Translating jargon into plain English
As linguists know, language is, by its nature, constantly evolving. Language is also supposed to be communicative and cohesive. However, we all know that corporate lingo is an entity unto itself and that quite often, this particular lexicon does little to provide clarity, direction, or, quite frankly, sense. That is why I am providing my readers with this condensed translation guide, organized by corporate context….
RERUN: Considerations if you are returning to a former employer
It is undeniable that the entire culture of work has dramatically changed over the past 35 years. Until the 1980s, it was not uncommon for someone to graduate, go to work at a company, and work in a succession of roles of increasing scope for 40+ years until retirement from the same company. This is all but unheard of today. “Job hopping”—the practice of staying with an employer for a short period and then moving on—is no longer something that arouses suspicion on the part of employers. It is simply the way it is and the way that younger generations approach their careers….
Feel the Burn(out)
For many, what was initially a “woot woot!” moment has become a case of burnout resulting from the collision of remote work, homeschooling, and professional uncertainty….