Disqus - Latest Comments for DebraWheatman

Re: 3 Ways Unpaid Internships Pay

DebraWheatman — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:15:24 -0000

Greg

This is a great post! Internships are an awesome way to gain exposure, experience; they can definitely be leveraged when applying for full time opportunities to help you stand apart!

Re: Q#296 – Bullied On-the-Job…How Do I Fight Back?

DebraWheatman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:40:31 -0000

It is imperative that you stick up for yourself. Make your point known that you will not tolerate being treated poorly. Oftentimes, people do not like confrontation. If you present your situation in a cogent manner and bring to light your concerns, you will likely get positive results. Allowing someone to humiliate you sends the message that you will tolerate it. If you quickly and firmly establish your ground, you will set the tone that you are deserving of respect and will not settle for less.

Re: T.A.P. Q#92 – What’s the Best Way to Tell Them I Do Have the Experience They Want After the Interview?

DebraWheatman — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:36:58 -0000

Definitely. When you write your thank you note, reiterate your experience and exposure to the budgeting process. Make sure you highlight relevant skills - analysis and a facility for numbers to complement other experiences.

Re: T.A.P. Q#90 – How Do I Find Out if the Start-Up is Financially Stable

DebraWheatman — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:30:51 -0000

Start-up situations come with a lot of risk involved. You can certainly find out information regarding their funding and ask questions regarding short- and long-term goals. This will give you a better sense of where they are headed and how they hope to get there. Since there are no guarantees in life, and this would not be the exception, you will not be able to determine whether your employment will be long-term. However, you can certainly find out about the company's viability for the long-term. In any situation, it is not unusual to ask questions to shed light on these things. This is not insulting, but rather due diligence - that you should definitely conduct.

Re: T.A.P. Q#89 – Job Offer Feels All Wrong – But My Parents Say Take It!

DebraWheatman — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:10:25 -0000

You cannot do things to make your parents happy. If the mere thought of going to a job 'makes you sick' imagine how you will feel once you get there! This is a very important time in your life. Your first job sets the tone for how you feel about the professional world. I say keep looking and identify an opportunity that you feel meets your personal and professional goals. You will be much happier, more inclined to contribute, and demonstrate your ability to deliver. Nothing good can come of taking a job at the urging of others - even one's own parents!! It is far better to wait to identify something that you feel good about than taking a job that makes you want to run 'like a house on fire'.

Re: T.A.P. Q#88 - I Know My Time Is Short…What Do I Tell Potential Employers?

DebraWheatman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:44:28 -0000

Since you know that you will not be able to make a commitment to the company for an extended length of time, I recommend consulting or temping. It takes time for a company to identify, hire, and train new employees. Even if you don't need what would be considered traditional training, the onboarding process still takes time. As a good corporate citizen, you should not pursue a full-time opportunity at this time - especially since you know your tenure there will be short-lived. Consulting will allow you to remain active, and also allow you to reference to those that do engage your services that you will be relocating within the next 14 months.

Re: T.A.P. Q#87 - Is My Job Title the Issue?

DebraWheatman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:30:47 -0000

It might be a good idea to revise you title somewhat so people do not thing you have unrealistic expectations. I would be curious to know how you are conducting your search for the non-profit jobs. Are you fully leveraging your network? Sending a resume or even a lot of resumes to recruiters or applying on line is not the best idea right now. I would speak to people you know - friends of friends, etc. Use the six degrees of separation rule to generate interest in your background. Networking in to an opportunity is a great way to identify and land a new job. I would also recommend joining some groups that are associated with the non-profits that you are pursuing. This will put you directly in front of people that you need to get to know.

Re: T.A.P. Q#86 – Boss Announced Reporting Structure Change Without Telling Me First…What Should I Do?

DebraWheatman — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:21:37 -0000

I don't like the fact that you cannot seem to get anyone to respond to your questions regarding the change that took place. I would remain positive about the change since you are still employed there and now have to report to someone that was formerly a peer. Look at it as an opportunity to engage on a different level with someone else and perhaps learn something new. Perhaps the peer has a lot of knowledge in a particular area that can ultimately help you. However, I would also begin to put feelers out for other opportunities; since you cannot seem to get anyone to respond to your queries, it provides a feeling that there is something that has yet to surface. Quietly begin to explore your opportunities, especially if you feel that things are tenuous internally.

Re: T.A.P. Q#85 – Does My Resume Scream “Too Old for An Internship” to HR?

DebraWheatman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:59:29 -0000

To help you with getting your resume noticed, I suggest removing the years of graduation from the educational experience - hiring managers need to know that you have a degree - not when you got it. You should also consider creating a hybrid resume. What is this you ask? A hybrid resume combines a functional resume with a reverse chronological resume to allow you to capture key achievement (under a heading of the same name) at the top. Make sure that you reference where you achieved the results so the hiring manager isn't puzzled by where you did the work. You can then present your professional experience lower on the page. This format will provide the reader with a strong sense of what you do to deliver results. That's your hook to help you get the interview.

See a sample to help you here: http://cli.gs/BNvMD4

Re: T.A.P. Q#78 – Want Seasonal Job & Hiring Clock Is Ticking…How Do I Make Sure My Resume Gets Looked At?

DebraWheatman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:51:02 -0000

If you can get the name of someone to follow up with that is ideal. You want to be persistent without being annoying. If the company is close by, consider dropping off a hard copy of your resume. Speak to the receptionist - oftentimes they have the inside scoop on a lot of things. Try to follow up via email once every week or ten days to let them know of your ongoing interest.

Re: T.A.P. Q#83 - Honestly, Is There Any Way to Stand Out in A Sea of Candidates?

DebraWheatman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:43:45 -0000

Create a personal branding message on your resume using the SAR method Situation, Action Results of your efforts to generate interest.