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.
Delta Airlines Dictates Guidelines for Candidates’ Underwear and Other Stupid Things
I was astounded to come across this article about Delta Airlines’ new guidelines for candidates’ grooming, hair, jewelry, and clothing—and its specific requirements for candidates’ undergarments. According to the memo, those interviewed for flight attendant roles should not wear athletic shoes and must wear heels, slingbacks, or closed-toe flats instead. Candidates must wear “appropriate” underwear that is not visible. Dresses and skirts must be knee-length or lower. Hair and eyelashes must be “natural looking,” fingernails must be “neutral,” (no neon colors, airbrushed, or long fingernails are permitted,” tattoos must be covered either with clothing or waterproof makeup, and only two earrings per ear are allowed. Whew. Interestingly, the only appearance edict specific to male flight attendants is that they must wear collared button-down shirts and ties....
Hustle Culture: Cultural Hegemony in Action
In the early 20th century, Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci was dissatisfied with the failures of the revolution in European countries and sought to explain why the revolution wasn’t taking place in these advanced capitalist countries. He developed the concept of cultural hegemony as an explanation. This concept posits that through the institutions of society—schools, media, religious organizations—the ruling class enforces its moral, political, and social values onto the rest of society. Through hegemony, the apparatus of the state keeps its subjects repressed and suppresses revolution and dissent without the use of violence or force.
#TLDR: The group that maintains control over the institutions controls the rest of society....
Lipstick, ChatGPT, and Your Social Media Brand
Two weeks ago, I posted a blog about lipstick. This post was a test, a test to determine whether or not those responding to my article actually read it before commenting! It would appear that most do not. This is a problem for you and your brand....
Labor & Labor Day
On May 3, 1886, unarmed strikers clashed with police at Chicago’s McCormick Reaper Works factory. The deaths of six workers became a call for direct action, and a public rally was called for the following day to be held in Haymarket Square. Again, the police and the strikers clashed, but this time, a bomb was thrown, resulting in the death of seven police officers and multiple other injuries. The police, uncertain about the source of the bomb, fired into the crowd, killing four of the demonstrators....
Throwing Shade
In the world of cosmetic preparations, lipstick probably has the most intriguing and varied history. The earliest known use of colored cosmetics was in Mesopotamia 5000 years ago, where precious and semi-precious gems were ground and applied to lips and eyelids. In Ancient Egypt, much of the population used cosmetics for beauty enhancement and to protect themselves from the sun and desert wind. Lipstick became part of ancient women’s daily routines....
Conducting a Long-Distance Job Search
The decision to relocate to a new city is exciting but can also be fraught with stress. Moving can be overwhelming in its own right. Conducting a long-distance job search can add to that pressure. Whether you’re moving for a spouse/life partner’s job, to be closer to family, or simply to live somewhere different, some tactics and practices can make the long-distance job search more effective and less daunting....
Dr. Fox and the Magic of Engaging Public Speakers
In the early 70s, a group of PhD and medical students at USC attended a lecture entitled “Mathematical Game Theory and its Application to Physician Education.” A preeminent scientist gave some of them the lecture. Dr. Fox lectured to others.
Dr. Fox was introduced as an authority who authored books on the subject. There was a problem, however: Dr. Fox was a fraud. He was no expert. He was an actor named Myron Fox, hired by a team of researchers to determine which is more important to most people—substance or delivery?….
What Companies Get Wrong When It Comes to DEI
Ask any CEO about DEI, and they will inevitably say that DEI is a key business imperative. But make no mistake, companies do not implement DEI programs out of altruism. Businesses started caring a lot more about diversity after a series of high-profile lawsuits rocked the financial industry. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Morgan Stanley shelled out $54 million—and Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch more than $100 million each—to settle sex discrimination claims. In 2007, Morgan was back at the table, facing a new class action, which cost the company $46 million. In 2013, Bank of America Merrill Lynch settled a race discrimination suit for $160 million. Cases like these brought Merrill’s total 15-year payout to nearly half a billion dollars. In short, CEOs care about DEI because not caring costs them – big time….
Ask Deb: Should I Work for Free to Receive an Offer?
I have been in the workforce for decades, and this is not my first time looking for a job. This week, I was asked to work for free in advance of an offer. I don’t mean that they want me to do a project or make a presentation. They want me to spend three days working with the team. I would have to be completely accessible on Slack and responsive to emails during this time….
The Bear and the Big, Bad Boss
It’s been a little less than a month since the third season of The Bear was released on Hulu to a warm ovation. For many, it hits too close to home. Carmy, we feel your pain. Everyone has that one toxic boss or workplace from your past that you wish you could forget. In Carmy’s case, it was David Fields, the abusive chef from New York. Carmy describes him as “very probably mentally ill. Dead inside. Cold. Never turns it off. Accomplishes more by 10 a.m. than most people do in a lifetime.” In an Emmy-worthy scene, Carmy finally has the chance to tell David how he feels….