Author Archives: Don Whiteside

Are you in the process of writing or updating your resume? If so, you may be wondering whether or not to include a picture of yourself. After all, popular apps such as Canva make creating an attractive, highly graphical resume with your picture super easy. Besides, your friends might have some pretty awesome-looking resumes with their pictures and you want yours to look as good as theirs, right?

However, before clicking the button to add your favorite shot, let’s examine why the photo should—or should not—be included. What’s the point of adding a picture anyway? If it’s just because it looks trendy, then you might want to rethink it. Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have won the genetic lottery and are a physically attractive individual. You might be hoping that including your photo could give you an edge when the resumes are reviewed.

Hold on a moment and look at this issue from an employer’s point of view. After all, that’s who you need to impress. Suppose the unsuspecting employer opens your resume file. Surprise! There’s your color photo staring at them right at the top of the page. That employer now knows—or at least has a clue—as to your race, ethnicity, attractiveness, weight, possible handicap, etc. They cannot unsee your picture. So what’s wrong with that, you might ask? Continue reading →

Are you are considering making a change to your career? Perhaps working for a different employer, upgrading your position, or looking for a new career field altogether? If so, now may be the time! The working world isn’t what it was only a year ago, and some of the changes may be to your advantage.

Do you feel any of the following statements fit your current situation?

• I want a higher-level position, but long-term employees likely hold most of those good jobs.
• I decided that I must change employers in order to achieve my career goals, as opportunities will probably not be available in the near future at my current place of employment.
• I am working toward a new career field, but don’t yet have the strong work experience or credentials employers will most likely demand.

If you agree with any of the above, I suggest that many of the underlying assumptions to those statements may no longer be valid.

What Happened?

To be sure, the pandemic has had tragic results for individuals. Sadly, hundreds of thousands have lost their lives. Many, including myself, have lost friends, relatives, coworkers, or others to COVID. Many small businesses, some family-owned for generations, never recovered and were forced to permanently close. Millions of hard-working people found themselves suddenly unemployed through no fault of their own. The pandemic has truly been a human tragedy in many ways.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the pandemic also turned the working world upside down in many ways. One major impact is that, suddenly, employers cannot find enough employees, whether to fill minimum wage jobs or professional positions. Continue reading →