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.
What you need to know when you’re considering the impact of the vaccine mandate
Unless you’ve been in an information vacuum for the last two weeks, you’ve undoubtedly heard that the Biden administration is going to require that employers that employ more than 100 people ensure that their employees are either vaccinated for COVID-19 or are undergoing weekly testing. This announcement has met with mixed reviews. On one side, this could be a meaningful way to mitigate the spread and mutation of the virus under whose control we’ve been living for the last (almost) 2 years. On the other side, there are concerns about employer and government overreach and bodily autonomy….
Should we discuss salary and compensation with our peers and colleagues?
This is a very interesting topic and one which has been garnering more attention recently. My short answer to the question is yes; we should start bringing salary transparency to the forefront of the narrative….
Work anywhere, but at what cost?
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge long-held assumptions and redefine the very idea of what work is. Ultimately, this pandemic has revealed that much of which we regarded as “business as usual” was, in actuality, little more than micromanagement….
Avoid these mistakes and up your game when you interview
You’ve heard it before, but let me repeat it: what you say is not nearly as important as how you say it. Once a conversation is over, most people don’t remember what was said, but rather how they feel about that conversation and what kind of impression it left. With this being the case, when you are interviewing, you must focus on your non-verbal communication even more than the words that come out of your mouth. Here are some common areas for improvement when you’re meeting with prospective employers, colleagues, and clients….
Optimize remote working and make it work for everyone
I have written previously about how employees can make remote working arrangements work to their advantage and do so effectively. Now that remote working is the norm, it’s time to revisit the topic and offer advice for both employees and managers….
Improve your job search and productivity with focus
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make when looking for a new role is to spend their time randomly chasing down every lead they can find. They will spend hours scouring LinkedIn and other job boards for every opportunity that meshes with their experience and submit applications online into the black hole. They put forth significant time and effort, yet they reap minimal results….
Ask Deb: What do you think about double-dipping?
I’ve been “double-dipping” for nearly 8 months now. I have two full-time salaries, two comprehensive benefits packages, and two bosses. At first, it wasn’t difficult to maintain the two roles, but the further I get into the second role, the more unwieldy it’s becoming. There are pros and cons to this situation, but I’m feeling overwhelmed. What would you advise?….
Lessons from the Governor on Crisis Management
Unless you’ve been living in an information void this week, you have heard that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has resigned amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment. This is not at all unexpected, as members of his party, advocacy groups, and, apparently, even his brother had been encouraging him to do so. This is a scene we’ve witnessed many times. A person in power is accused of something unsavory or illegal, and they resign before severe consequences ensue. In this regard, the Cuomo news is not particularly unusual. After all, sexual harassment is rampant in the United States. It’s more well known in some industries, such as tech, pharma, and finance, but it’s everywhere, and no one is surprised that politics and government are rife with it. Aside from following this soap opera with rapt attention, there are a few things we can learn from this—things we know already but need to be reminded of—about how to conduct yourself and your business in a time of crisis and bad PR….
The First 90 Days—How to Succeed in this Critical Period
The first 3 months of a new job are crucial. They set the tone of your tenure, and the relationships you make during this critical period will be integral to your future success. Whether you are working onsite in an office, completely remote, or a combination of the two, there are some common and relatively easy ways you can make those first 90 days work in your favor. Of course, this requires planning on your part. What you don’t want to do is go into a new job cold, without clearly defined objectives for what you want to get out of the new role, both professionally and personally. You need to craft a strategy that will put you on the path to succeeding in your new position. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that you rock your first 90 days….
Ask Deb: Deciding between two job offers
Hi Deb:
I find myself in the enviable position of entertaining two very good offers from two very different hiring companies. One is a large, well-known company that is making an entrée into a niche market. The other is a relatively new company that’s been around for 3 years that deals exclusively with this same market. I have a wealth of experience in the industry to which each of them is trying to sell their solutions, and both of these companies pursued me rather aggressively. The money on the offers is pretty similar. I really like BOTH companies, and I’m confused as to who I pick between the two of them. What do you advise?….