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.
Interview Red Flags
Getting a new job can be an exciting and wonderful thing. Sometimes, in our haste to make a jump or to get back into the workforce, we ignore obvious signs that the workplace into which we are entering may be toxic. Here are some red flags that my clients have shared with me over the years. All of these are clear indicators of a potentially toxic culture….
Career Strategies for the New Year
I know that we are all bombarded with “new year, new you” messages everywhere during this final week of December. We all know that New Year's resolutions are notoriously difficult to maintain and that most of them fall by the wayside by mid-February. So I’m not going to advise you to make monumental shifts in your career management strategy. I do want to point out that you are the CEO of your own career, and as such, it’s incumbent upon you to manage your career just as you would any team or project. Here is what I suggest for 2023….
Veterans: Transition Military Experience into a Civilian Job
In the US, we just celebrated Veterans Day. This got me thinking about the challenges former military personnel face when translating their military experience to the civilian job market. Undoubtedly, military experience is valuable. But it can be difficult for a civilian employer to grasp how it can translate into the private sector. It is the jobseeker’s responsibility to convey their qualifications in terms prospective employers will understand….
How to Handle a Rude Interviewer
What is the best way to handle a rude interviewer? The interview process should be a free-flowing discussion between two parties on ways to solve a business problem. Unfortunately, there are many bad managers out there and many, many people who have not received training on how to interview. This behavior does not merely sour candidates on certain companies, but it will impact the company’s brand….
Now Is a Great Time to Look for a New Job!
Informally termed the “September surge,” this time of year means more job openings as companies must use up budgets and close open requisitions before the end of the year. Expect to see more recruiters than ever in your inbox, even if you are not actively looking for a new role. To position yourself to succeed and use the September surge to your advantage, you should take stock of your personal brand, reach out to your network, and create a plan….
A New Reality: Rescinded Job Offers
Despite the “Chicken Little” headlines, the current job market remains the hottest it’s ever been, with more open roles than candidates. However, there are some sectors that are already being hit by economic factors beyond anyone’s control. B2B tech is one such industry, and this is having an impact on hiring. While hiring freezes and layoffs are common responses to high rates of inflation and economic uncertainty, this time around we are seeing the very uncommon practice of hiring companies rescinding offers. Although this is by no means a pervasive practice, going from virtually zero to even a fairly small amount of rescinded offers feels like a huge shift. And of course, it is the rescinded offers that are getting the most attention both in the mainstream media and on LinkedIn….
Counteroffers: Why You Should Not Accept Them
In this candidate’s job market, it is not unusual for people to be juggling multiple job offers at once. It is also not unusual for candidates to be presented with counteroffers when they give notice that they are leaving their current company. While a counteroffer may be tempting at the moment, I advise my clients not to entertain them….
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….
Candidate, Know Thy Worth
One of the more frustrating aspects of searching for a new role is knowing what kind of compensation rate is fair and equitable. This is because there is a culture of secrecy around compensation information in North America. Job seekers are regularly (and incorrectly) counseled not to ask about salary ranges until the very end of the interview process. Some interviewers even regard such questions about remuneration as rude or overbearing, as if people go to work for reasons other than the primary one of providing for themselves and their families….
What Salary Are You Seeking?
Although most of the questions brought up in a job interview are asked to see if you would work well within the company culture, there are practical questions as well. There has long been a prevailing idea that discussing salary is somehow crass, as if the primary reason people work is something other than being able to support their families and pay their bills. In previous years, it was considered bad form for a candidate to inquire about the salary for the position. Thankfully, times are changing….