How to Follow Up After a Job Interview

How to Follow Up After a Job InterviewIf you think a job interview truly ends with the firm handshake and well be in touch at the end, think again. You still have one mora crucial step the thank you note to everyone who interviewed you. Not only is it a nice touch, it canbe seen as an essential one to the hiring manager you just left. They may be secretly testing your follow-up skills. And even if theyre not, its better to send a note right away (the same day) so you dont have to think about it again. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here is a sample thank you note you can use to craft your own.SEE ALSO4 Google Searches to Boost Interview Successparte 1 The OpenerThis part is crucial because you dont want to be too formal or too casual. Dear Sir or Madam is too formal and can feel off-putting and generic to someone you just met and (ideally) clicked with. Dear partie or Hello person work well as your opening greeting.Part 2 The Thank YouK eep it simple. Theres no need to go into lines of flowery prose about how your one-hour interview changed your life and how you will never, ever forget the interviewer as long as you live. The basic declarative statement works here as your first point Thank you for taking the time to interview me today.Part 3 The CallbackAfter the initial thank you, its good to offer some specific points from the interview itself, so your note doesnt feel like a generic template where you just plugged in a new name at the top. I especially enjoyed talking about the companys perspective on clowns. I look forward to hearing more about the clown outreach program.Part 4 The Self PlugFind a way to re-emphasize how you would be a good fit for the role. As we discussed, due to my extensive experience with rodeos, Im excited about the prospect of finding new and more effective ways to manage the clown performances.Part 5 The FutureHeres where you show the interviewer that youre looking ahead to the next par t, but also that youre willing to keep a dialogue open. Definitely include that youre looking forward to hearing from them, but also offer any additional information they may need. If theres any other information I can provide to help you make your decision, please dont hesitate to let me know. I can be reached by email (firstname.lastnamerespectablemailclient.com) anytime.Part 6 The CloserAfter that, youre on to the easiest part the closing greeting. Dont go flowery or personal. No Forever yours, or With greatest thanks. Just a straightforward, friendly Best wishes, or Thanks again will do. And even if you found yourself in a joking kind of banter with the interviewer, resist the urge to go overly casual. You may have hit it off, but theyre not your friends (yet)theyre the people evaluating your professional skills and behavior.Breezy and professional are the way to go in the thank you note. Its not the time to rehash the entire interview or go over 43 bullet points you didnt manag e to cover in person. And the most important factor of all speed. Standard archaic dating rules dont apply here you dont wait for the other person to call first, and you dont wait three days for a reply. Write an email the same dayor even right after you leave the appointment. Again, your promptness will likely be noted, and it means you wont have this lingering on your to-do list.If the interview was very formal or you got a formal vibe from the interviewer, consider following up with a brief thank-you card via snail mail, as well. Manners are always a welcome part of a professional package, and your awesome communication/follow-up skills could make all the difference.

How to Be a Better Working Parent Than Your Own Parents

How to Be a Better Working Parent Than Yur Own Parents Maybe you grew up with overworked, overwhelmed and thus distant parents parents who struggled with finding a balance between work and home life. Or maybe you grew up in a toxic family with abusive or not-so-nurturing parents. And now that you have children of yur own, you want to be sure youre a positive working parent, despite not being raised by one. Its not easy, but tzu siche are steps you can take to do the best you can.Mothering brings many joys while simultaneously being one of the most challenging roles we will undertake in our lifetime, says TheresaGil, psychotherapist, psychology professor, and trainer who works with women, children and families dealing with recovery from child abuse and trauma. Gil is also the author of Women Who Were Sexually Abused as Children Mothering, Resilience, and Protecting the Next Generation. Mothering comprises multiple responsibilities including developing and nurturing the physical, inte llectual and spiritual growth of our children. Our childrens needs are forever changing, and each stage of development will test our skills, knowledge and parenting experiences.Gil adds that, today, 75 percent of mothers in the United States are employed outside the home, which adds to a womans responsibilities and means having to find a balance, which she says can be daunting. Add to that the constant pressure society places on women and standards to which women are held with regards to both being parents and professionals, and the result is a whole lof ot mom-shaming and, hence, working mom guilt.In fact, one in four working moms are so overwhelmed with achieving a work-life harmony that they cry alone at least once a week, according to a 2014 Care.com survey. The important thing to remember is that doing your best looks different for everyone theres no one right way to be a positive working parent.We spoke with Gil to come up with four strategies to promote overall well-being an d life satisfaction, so you can be your best self, whatever that looks like.1. Be Gentle with YourselfIt is important that we practice self-care and be gentle with ourselves by taking time to rest, restore and re-energize, Gil says. We can departure by reflecting on the activities and experiences that bring us joy. If we enjoy being creative, whether it derives from music, dance or art, then we must incorporate these activities in our life. If we enjoy the outdoors, then make sure you take some time to go for a walk and to be in nature. Studies have shown that nature and creative activities help to de-stress the body, contributes to relaxation and restore balance in our lives.If youre looking for other ways to take care of yourself, check out this list of ideas curated by working moms themselves it spans everything from taking time to do some yoga to journaling, painting and cooking.2. Monitor Self-TalkSome of our negative self-talk have their origins in childhood and past negative experiences, says Gil. Negative self-talk can be so ingrained that we are not consciously aware of the inner dialogue that many of us engage in. Negative self-talk impacts how we view ourselves, controls our feelings and behaviors, and the choices we make. We should take the necessary time to engage in learning about our negative internal dialogue and to find out where the messages come from are the messages from family, parents, friends and/or teachers? Although our negative messages may have originated from others, eventually we internalize the messages and take them as our own.Gil says that becoming conscious of that negative internal dialogue is a step toward making changes to it and, ultimately, replacing it with more realistic appraisals of ourselves. That said, because our brains are wired to remember negative experiences, it takes a conscious effort to change those thought patterns.Journaling is one way to take time for ourselves and self-reflect, she advises. It helps us to get in touch with our feelings and thoughts on a deeper level and, thus, helps us to gain insight and alter the negativity that interferes with our relationships with our children and functioning at work.3. Build Positive and Affirming SupportsAs children, we do not have choices about the adults and significant people that care for us some people are born into toxic families where there was or is minimal nurturing or displays of spontaneous affection, Gil says. However, as adults, we can control who we engage with. The people that surround us influence how we landsee ourselves. If we currently have negative and unsupportive people in our lives, these people will continue to perpetuate the negative thoughts we have internalized about ourselves, re-enact our childhood rejections and maintain our negative life experiences.As adults, Gil adds that we both can and should choose to surround ourselves with kind, capable and supportive people who take an interest in our lives and show u s genuine care.Cultivating healthy relationships and having supportive people in our lives will help build our resilience and will ultimately foster our ability to rest, restore our energies and revitalize our relationships, she says.4. Create Structure and a Predictable LifestyleStructuring our day to day life and making a schedule is important to creating stability, predictability and consistency, Gil adds. Creating and incorporating a structure and routine helps us to manage time better and helps to alleviate anxiety that comes from a lack of predictability and multiple responsibilities. Having a daily routine might include having a bedtime or a regular waking hour. It helps to bring balance into our lives, Gil says, which can alleviate stress for the entire family.In summary, negative people, chaotic and unpredictable lives, and negative self-talk act as continuous stressors, she says. In contrast, positive supports, structure and routines, being kind to ourselves, and positive affirmations uplift us to be our best selves. In order to be more effective in our roles as mothers and in the workplace, we need to take care of ourselves and increase our support systems. When we take care of ourselves, and afford ourselves the time to relax, rest and rejuvenate, we will have the energy to be available and more present both at home and work.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog,HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram Facebook.