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.
Bad CEO Behavior Continues: Work from Home Edition
This month’s contender for Worst CEO Behavior is Raul Vargas, CEO of Farmers Insurance Group. Mr. Vargas is the company’s new CEO, and one of his first orders of business was to reverse his predecessor’s stance on remote work. Employees hired as full-time remote employees now have until September to present themselves in the office thrice weekly. What’s driving this decision? Collaboration. And innovation….
Use Resume Metrics to Improve Your Job Search
I have said it many times, but it bears repeating: a resume is a marketing tool. As such, it’s important to understand your audience. Far too many job seekers operate under the assumption that a resume should list the tasks associated with your previous roles. Nothing could be further than the truth. For a resume to be effective, it needs to highlight your achievements. Those achievements should be quantified whenever possible….
How to Manage Office Politics
Office politics are unavoidable; people bring their unique needs, thoughts, fears, and ambitions to work. Despite people’s claims of hating office politics, like the gossip mill, it continues to flourish. Office politics are the unwritten rules that determine who gets what, when, and how — a promotion, a budget for a project-- and who doesn’t. We dislike office politics so much because our fate depends on these unwritten rules. But there are ways that you can successfully navigate office politics….
3 Interview Questions You Must Know How to Answer
Job interviews are stressful. Even in the most friendly, non-confrontational interview setting, it still feels like your education, experience, and even your very character are all being called into question, and if you suffer from interview anxiety, are shy, or get nervous easily, you could come off as unfriendly, inexperienced, and not suitable for the team. The best way to overcome interview jitters is to practice, practice, practice….
Increasing Self-Confidence in the Workplace
One thing that I have learned from my years of working closely with people is that one of the biggest assets, not just in your career but in life, is self-confidence. In particular, developing confidence in the workplace is not easy. It requires work, time, and dedication. If you struggle with gaining confidence in the workplace, here are some tips….
Making the Lateral Move
You have been working hard, tracking your accomplishments, and promoting your brand within your organization — all the right moves to obtaining that promotion you know you deserve. However, instead of receiving the promotion, your boss calls you in for a chat and informs you that they are considering you for a newly opened position – a role within a different part of the organization yet with the same or similar title and pay grade. It would be a lateral move….
Likes, Comments, and Shares
LinkedIn launched in the early 2000s and fundamentally changed how people network. What began as a professional networking site became a social media platform. Whereas people previously only posted or shared updates of a professional nature, such as starting a new position, it has become a place where people come to brain dump. There are now “content creators” who regularly post on LinkedIn. Some of this is helpful, some of it cringey….
What The Sopranos Can Teach Us about Gen Z
Gen Z only knows the world of high-quality, prestige TV. They never experienced the struggle of having nothing to watch but reruns of Gilligan’s Island or mandatory commercials. They expect to be able to watch what they want when they want, and most don’t even use a television, opting to watch on their laptops or phones. They are shaping this into a different world, and a fresh crop will graduate in a few weeks. If your business wants to keep up and attract young talent, you must learn from Hollywood’s mistakes and adapt.
Here’s what Gen Z wants out of work….
Critical Areas of Focus for Job Seekers
During the course of my career, I have counseled thousands of people. Some people seek assistance in writing a resume. Some want help crafting a succinct elevator pitch. Many want advice as to how to move their careers forward and how to achieve their end goal. Almost invariably, I give my clients the same pieces of core advice. Now, I’m going to share that advice, gleaned from many years and my experience with various people, with you….
Crafting the Perfect Elevator Pitch
These days, we toss around the term “elevator pitch” without understanding what that is. Everyone knows they need an elevator pitch when looking for a job. When working on your 30-second pitch, you need to focus on the value you bring to a hiring manager and your ability to solve problems. In those 30 seconds, you want to convey that you are the answer to the problems the hiring manager is dealing with. Most so-called elevator pitches fail—they are too wordy, overly complicated, and not compelling….