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.
Ask Deb: What Do I Do About My Boss’s Habit of Blaming Me?
Hi Deb:
We have a new VP who came into our organization about 6 months ago. He is building out a large team, bringing in people from his network, and shaking things up. He is the kind of guy that my grandfather would have said “talks out of both sides of his mouth.” When I’ve tried to bring up these issues, he just talks and talks and talks without saying anything. What do you suggest I do about being constantly thrown under the bus here?….
It’s Graduation Time. What Does Gen Z Want in a Career?
Gen Z-ers want meaningful careers, not just jobs. As an employer, building awareness of what candidates look for in the ideal position is key to connecting with the applicants. If you’ve been out to any campus recruiting events, you’re well aware that as a group, Gen Z is focused on values first and specific roles second. Having a better understanding of the needs and values of these recent grads can help bridge the gap in employer recruiting while improving the chances of making good hiring decisions….
Your Job Description to Plain English Pocket Translation Guide
We put people first. We are a profit-first organization.
Is the scope of this project reasonable? How much money are we going to make on this?
We need motivated team players. We provide no training or guidance so you’ll need to ask your colleagues how to get things done.
The ideal candidate is a skilled multi-tasker. We expect this person to do anything and everything….
Data Literacy: What It Is and Why It’s Important
At this point in history, the Information Age is still in its infancy. The very idea of work and what that means is being challenged and redefined. Work itself is transforming from an outcome or result into a process. As the evolution continues, having a good grasp of data will be vital for survival. Understanding data and turning it into something useful will not just be a “nice to have;” it will be a critical imperative. Without the skills and tools to understand it, data is useless….
I Can’t Fill My Open Positions Because No One Wants to Work!
No one wants to work. I have all these open positions that I am unable to fill. My recruiting team can’t find me any qualified candidates. I know that this is supposedly a “candidate’s market,” but I think that candidates should be storming the gates to interview here. My head recruiter suggested that part of the problem might be that I didn’t bother to do any salary benchmarking, and I’m offering 30% below market for the industry. She can’t be right about that. I used hard data, such as my opinions and feelings, to develop the compensation budgets….
Tales From the Trenches: The 3 Strangest Things I Heard About This Week
I talk to a lot of people, and I hear a lot of stories. They range from boring to bizarre and give me great insight into the human condition. Whenever I hear strange stories, I wonder, “Why would anyone do that?” I don’t ever have the answer, but I find the behavior fascinating. Here are the top 3 strange and inappropriate tales I heard this week….
Dear Hiring Companies, It’s You
Back in June, I wrote you a breakup letter. I told you that it wasn’t you, that it was me. It’s almost a year later, and I think I need to revisit that. Because you see, it really is you, not me. This last year has shown me that you don’t hold all the cards. I’m a key player in this game, and guess what? You need me more than I need you. I figured out that without employees, you hiring companies can’t get anything done. If this last year has taught me anything, it’s that we have more power than we realized….
Gaslighting in the Workplace
Some people are toxic; they become abusive managers, scheming co-workers, and vicious competitors. They manipulate their victims into believing that they are to blame for something or that they are just being “too sensitive.” One of their favorite tools is gaslighting. Gaslighting is a covert form of mental abuse. It involves the abuser creating a false narrative presented to the victim as truth, making the victim question their judgment and perception of reality. Examples of this are “jokes” made at the victim’s expense, telling the victim that something did not happen, or discrediting the victim. Here are some examples of how this translates into the workplace….
Keep Up With the Times, Career Edition
If you watch Miami Vice now, you need to suspend reality to get on board. And that is perfectly okay. As much as we know it would never work in practice, those of us “of a certain age” also understand that it was perfectly reasonable that architect Mike Brady designed a home for his blended family in which six children shared one bathroom. We do not question it. At all.
You may wonder what any of this nostalgia has to do with your career? Glad you asked. Here’s the thing. We can quickly and easily point out elements of the culture that have not stood the test of time, but we are often loath to let go of these when they are endemic to our personal and professional lives. Here are a few examples….
Doing Networking Right
Networking. You know that you should be doing it. But you’re a bit unclear on what it actually is and how you build and manage your network. When I advise clients on the importance of networking, their responses tend to go something like this: Oh yeah, I’ve got a network, but I don’t want to bother anyone until I need something. It is astounding, and I hear this All The Time….