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.
Dealing With a Bad Boss
What do bad bosses do? Frequently cited grievances include micromanaging, bullying, avoiding conflict, ducking decisions, stealing credit, shifting blame, hoarding information, failing to listen, setting a poor example, slacking, and not developing staff. Such dysfunctional behavior would make anyone unhappy and unproductive. However, whatever sins your boss commits, managing your relationship with him or her is a critical part of your job. Doing it well is a key indicator of how effective you are….
Make LinkedIn Work for You
LinkedIn serves nearly a billion members – and presents an even greater number of opportunities for those who understand how to leverage the platform’s power. Many people take a passive approach to the platform, simply putting up a profile and waiting for recruiters to contact them or leads to roll in. This is a mistake. If you want LinkedIn to work for you, you must work it yourself. Here are some tips to help optimize your LinkedIn experience….
Media Literacy in the Digital Age
Media literacy has become an essential skill in the digital age, where the internet and various forms of media play a pivotal role in the daily lives of individuals. The ability to critically evaluate content across diverse media platforms empowers individuals to actively navigate the complex landscape of modern information rather than consume it passively. The abundance of sources and the speed at which information spreads online demand that one possesses the skills to distinguish between credible and misleading or biased content….
Don’t Get Scammed!
Employment scams are becoming more common, and job seekers continue to be a target of cunning scammers. If you’re looking for a new job, be alert to these scams by learning what to watch out for to better safeguard yourself against them. Criminals will pose as reputable companies and post fictitious job descriptions on fake websites that look like the real thing. They will then make fraudulent job offers to job seekers. Sometimes, they ask for money, banking details, or other personally identifiable information….
Unemployed Need Not Apply: Insidious Bias in the Hiring Process
We know that the hiring process isn’t always run by rational folks, and many of them can’t help making value judgments about people who are unemployed. There is a prevailing attitude that someone employed must be doing something right – they are “employable” and have been validated by another company. In contrast, a candidate who has been out of work for months or years raises red flags. Laid off? Must not have been that valuable relative to these candidates who are still employed. Health/personal issue/moved? Sounds like they aren’t going to be reliable. Culture fit issue? If they didn’t fit in there, they won’t fit in here either. Contract ended? Must not have been good enough for renewal. Outsourced? Must not be competitive. These are just some reasons I’ve heard hiring managers pass on candidates who are not currently employed….
Job Hopping: Does It Pay Off?
As the dynamics of the job market evolve, so does the perception of job hopping. Historically, job hopping, or frequently changing jobs, was often viewed negatively. It was seen as a sign of instability or a lack of commitment, particularly in the 1970s when it was even branded “Hobo Syndrome.” However, this perception has shifted, and job hopping is now more accepted, especially in certain industries and changing workforce dynamics….
The State of the Gender Pay Gap
Although women have seen gains in education over the last five decades, they continue to face a significant wage gap. Among workers, women outnumber men in the college-educated labor force and are more likely to obtain a graduate degree than men. Even so, women are paid less than men at every education level by an average of 17%….
Women’s History Month: Educational Firsts for American Women
To create an inclusive environment that fosters professional and personal success for all employees, regardless of gender, institutions are taking proactive measures. These measures include providing equal access to resources, facilities, and opportunities, promoting gender-inclusive policies and practices, and actively supporting programs and initiatives that help to break down gender-based barriers. We have come a long way, but much work still needs to be done….
International Women’s Month: The Woman Who Saved America from a Pharmacologic Disaster
In 1960, Dr. Kelsey was a Food and Drug Administration reviewer when the application to begin mass marketing thalidomide in the US landed on her desk. As a reviewer of New Drug Applications (NDA), she was one of three people charged with determining a drug’s safety before it could be made available for public consumption. After a thorough review, she rejected the application for thalidomide because it lacked sufficient evidence of safety through rigorous clinical trials. She found the clinical trials insufficient and reliant on anecdotes and physician testimonials rather than sound scientific study….
International Women’s Month: Women Achieve and Men Take Credit
The Matilda Effect was first described by suffragette Matilda Joslyn Gage, who posited that women in science become overlooked because many of their discoveries and breakthroughs are attributed to men. As it evolved over the last century, the Matilda Effect has come to describe the idea that male experience is representative of general experience, and female experience is women’s experience only. There are many examples of this throughout American history….