arthur36domingo

[arthur36domingo]

Make Friday Your Most Productive Day

Is Friday a super-productive work day? Or are you starting to wonder why you bother coming in at all? For many of us, getting through the day on Friday (especially the afternoon) can be a real struggle.

Who doesn’t get that #FridayFeeling?

Leaving the Office on a Friday GIF from Scrubs GIFs

https://www.tenor.co/embed.js

After a long week of getting stuff done, we’re just ready for the weekend to begin. Staying focused on work can feel impossible, but indulging in a lighter work day can be guilt-inducing when we expect (or others expect) that we’ll get more work done than we actually do.

What if you could truly enjoy your Friday and still have a productive work day where you’re proud of what you accomplished?

Inconceivable? Think again. Here are four simple strategies you can use to make your Fridays more productive and fun.

1 Schedule Your Day Strategically

Has this ever happened to you on a Friday afternoon?You glance at the clock, it’s 4:30, and you still haven’t crossed the most important To Do item off your list.

//giphy.com/embed/3ornka9rAaKRA2Rkac

via GIPHY

Friday is prime time for procrastination, so do what you can to resist this trap. If you’re planning on dipping out early, the last thing you want holding you back are some serious To Do items—or being stuck in a meeting at 4:00 pm.

Instead of drifting into work late, come in early or on time. Schedule your important projects and meetings for the morning when you’re feeling more focused and energetic. Then save the grueling afternoon for tasks that aren’t as important.

When you’re strategic and intentional about your schedule, you can get your most important work done before that Friday Feeling rolls around in the afternoon.

Productive Friday accomplished? Check!

2 Do the Small Stuff You’ve Been Putting Off

If you’re like me, Friday afternoon is the worst time for tasks that require critical thinking. Good thing productivity isn’t just about the big stuff!

Instead of whiling away the hours on Slack or falling down the Internet rabbit hole, why not channel your restless energy for good?

//giphy.com/embed/l2Sqf1Y2g9C3F97kA

via GIPHY

Friday afternoon is the perfect time to check off those pesky little To Dos and get things prepped for next week.

Go ahead and answer the last emails in your inbox. Fill out that report you’ve been putting off. Do the online training you forgot about. Touch base with Patty in marketing about that thing. If your desk looks like a garbage heap, do some tidying up so your workspace feels fresh and organized.

Start thinking about next week. Prep yourself on the project deadlines and meetings you have coming up. Get clear on your top priorities for Monday so you can roll into work ahead of the game.

You’ll feel super productive and better able to enjoy your weekend when you have everything wrapped up and ready to go for next week!

3 Set Realistic Expectations

//giphy.com/embed/TSO02sE48cLQc

via GIPHY

Clear strategies for a more productive Friday are helpful, but you still need to be realistic about how much you can really do. Between the extra distractions (beer hour, anyone?) and lower mental energy, you might be working at a more relaxed pace.

Maybe you have five projects you’d like to cross off your Friday list, but it’s more realistic that you’ll get only three done before you run out of steam.

Setting realistic expectations will help you enjoy what you’re able to accomplish and not beat yourself up over the things you didn’t get done.

4 Give Yourself Permission to Have Fun

//giphy.com/embed/LSNqpYqGRqwrS

via GIPHY

Letting yourself relax a little on a Friday may feel like an easy choice . . . or it may leave you worried that you’re slacking off and should be getting more done.

The reality is this: when you’re tired and distracted, forcing yourself to make sluggish progress or staying late to eke out a little more on a project is not as productive as you think. You’re not doing your best work.

A better option is to accept when you need to take a break. Give yourself permission to relax. It’s okay to leave a little early to unwind with friends or go to a fitness class, take a walk, catch some alone time at a cafe over lunch.

Maybe there’s a coworker you want to connect with or a creative project you love but don’t normally have time for.

After a long week of kicking ass and taking names, sometimes the best thing you can do for your work and for yourself is to take a step back so you can recharge.

Remember, it’s okay if you don’t disrupt the markets, solve world hunger, or write the next Great American Novel. That stuff will be waiting on Monday, but right now it’s Friday—so take a break!

What are your favorite productivity hacks for getting through Fridays? Come share with us in the comments section below!

The post Make Friday Your Most Productive Day appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/have-a-productive-friday/

[arthur36domingo]

“Dear Sir or Madam”—Learn When to Use It and Some Alternatives

How do you know when to use Dear Sir or Madam or something else? When writing a business letter or email, it can be a real challenge to get the salutation right—especially for someone you don’t know or an organization you’ve never worked with. In such situations, you should err on the side of formality, but even then there are good reasons to avoid Dear Sir or Madam. Luckily, there are a number of alternatives for Dear Sir or Madam that will help you remain professional.

Is Dear Sir or Madam Acceptable?

The short answer is yes but only rarely—though of course, not everyone agrees.

Here’s why:

In today’s technologically connected world, there is (almost) no excuse for not knowing whom you are writing to.

Dear Sir or Dear Madam may offend your recipient if you’re unsure of their gender or get it wrong.

If you want to write a better cover letter to a prospective employer or an outstanding business letter to a potential client, you want to stand out, right? Likely you want to show how you are already a great fit for the team. Knowing someone’s name, gender, and what they do is a fundamental way to show your investment.

Dear Sir/Madam Cover Letter vs. Dear Sir/Madam Email

You should avoid using Dear Sir/Madam in emails as well as in cover letters.

Cover letters are notably more formal than emails, but some of the same rules apply, especially if you are writing to someone for the first time. Regardless of format, use a formal tone, while—as stated earlier—investing time in researching whom you are writing to.

Dear Sir/Madam Alternatives

Because you should invest some time trying to find out exactly whom you are writing to, the best alternatives to the highly impersonal Dear Sir or Madam include, in order of preference:

Dear [First Name Last Name],

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. [Last Name],

Dear [First Name], or Hello, [First Name], (informal only. Good if you’ve worked together before or the environment is casual.)

Dear [Name of group or department],

Dear [Job Title],

To Whom It May Concern,

Dear Sir or Dear Madam,

Dear Sir or Madam,

This business writing salutations flow chart will help you understand when to use Dear Sir or Madam and when to use something else.

Dear Sir/Madam vs. To Whom It May Concern

If, after diligent searching online and off, you are unable to learn the the name, role, or gender of your intended recipient, what should you do? In this (rare) situation, you should use Dear Sir or Madam and not To Whom It May Concern.

Though many people use Dear Sir or Madam interchangeably with To Whom It May Concern, there is a notable difference in meaning that employers or companies in certain formal sectors (academia, law, finance, etc.) will be sensitive to.

To Whom It May Concern implies that the information discussed in the letter can go to any relevant party within the organization.

This salutation should be used for general concerns like support requests or feedback.

Dear Sir or Madam implies that you have one specific person in mind for this letter, but do not know their name, title, or gender.

This salutation should be used for communication regarding specific projects, specific concerns, or employment.

How to Use Dear Sir or Madam Correctly

If you must use Dear Sir or Madam or a variant of it, traditionally this salutation is paired with Yours Faithfully, in the signature. Here is a template of a letter or email which uses Dear Sir or Madam correctly.

Dear Sir or Madam, (or Dear Sir, or Dear Madam,)

Letter text centered vertically on page.

Yours Faithfully,

[your signature when possible]

Your first name and last name Your designation

Dear Sir or Madam or Something Else? Take the Poll!

//cdn.playbuzz.com/widget/feed.js

Which salutation do you use for cover letters and emails? How do you know which to use?

The post “Dear Sir or Madam”—Learn When to Use It and Some Alternatives appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/dear-sir-or-madam/

[arthur36domingo]

7 Tips for Writing Follow-up Emails that Get Results

If only the people you emailed would answer every time. Unfortunately, many of your emails are destined to go unanswered. The average email user receives ninety-two emails per day (seventeen of which are likely to be spam) and opens only about one in three. If you want to make yourself heard in a noisy digital world, being able to write a compelling follow-up email is an essential skill.

Although a follow-up about a job application will look quite different from one asking for a charitable donation, here are seven tips that apply no matter what sort of email you’re crafting.

1Take time to create an attention-getting subject line

Half the battle when it comes to getting a response is getting your email opened in the first place. The average open rate for emails is 34 percent. Although the odds are stacked against your lowly digital missive, you can improve them by investing extra time into creating a subject header that’s difficult to ignore. While there are exceptions to every rule, these strategies are known to get results:

Keep it short. Forty percent of emails are opened on mobile. Short subject lines are less likely to get cut off.

Use concise language. Get your inner Hemingway on and don’t waste words. Cut weasel words and filler.

Ask a question. Emails with questions in their subject lines can impel readers to open the message, either to search for the answer or to provide one.

Don’t get salesy. Create interest without resorting to hyperbole. Would you want to open an email you suspected was nothing more than a sales pitch?

Try a headline analyzer. While tools like CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer are meant for article headlines, they work well for checking email subject lines, too.

By the way, it’s important that your subject line reflect your email’s objective, which brings us to our next tip.

2 Know your objective, then stick to the subject

What are you trying to accomplish with your follow-up email? It’s important to have a desired outcome in mind so you can keep your email focused on achieving it. Are you writing to ask for a meeting? Request a status update? Ask a favor? Say thanks? Whatever your goal, everything from your subject line to your message body to your sign-off should help you reach that goal.

Don’t stray off on any tangents before you’ve gotten a response to your email and engaged in a conversation, even if, ultimately, your request will have lots of moving parts.

For instance, let’s say you’re following up on a job application. Your brain may be turning over all sorts of big-picture issues like your salary requirements or availability. But before you can talk about any of those things you have to accomplish just one—get an interview. That means your follow-up email should be laser focused on providing only the information that will convince a potential employer to offer you an interview. Don’t throw in side notes that will muddy the waters.

3 Use the right salutation

When you’re writing a prospective employer to follow up on your application, always use:

Dear [Name],

In fact, in any sort of formal email it’s appropriate to begin with “Dear” rather than “Hi.” “Hey” is arguably the most informal salutation of them all, so save it for when you’re corresponding with someone you know and have a friendly relationship with.

Here’s a tip: When you’re writing a formal business email, it’s traditional to follow “Dear” with a colon rather than a comma.

4 Open with some context

Even if your follow-up email is threaded and contains your original email, it’s still a good practice to include a sentence or two of context.

Dear Bob,

The upcoming mobile app, Awesomest Thing Ever, is in beta. I wrote last week to ask whether you’d like to be one of the first to take it for a test drive.

It’s not necessary to reiterate everything; just highlight what’s crucial. Ask yourself, “What’s the bare minimum my recipient must understand so that the rest of my email makes sense?”

5 Personalize it

Add a personal touch to your emails whenever you can. If you met the recipient at a conference, say so. If you read an article they’ve written, mention your favorite takeaway. If you’ve interviewed with them for a job, reference a highlight from the interview.

I was inspired by what you said about Excellent Company’s branding strategy. Not only does your vision closely match my own, but I feel I could learn and grow as a part of your team.

The key is to sound friendly but not smarmy. Personalization shouldn’t involve random name-dropping. It should help establish your connection with the recipient. Don’t force it.

6 Don’t be vague

Your first email might not have gotten a response because you didn’t clearly state its purpose. Your follow-up email affords you a chance to correct that.

Journalists receive a ton of pitch emails daily from PR representatives who want them to cover a story. One of their pet peeves, and the thing most likely to cause them to delete an email, is having no clue what that email is actually about. As Matthew Hughes wrote for The Next Web:

The best pitches I get are the ones where I can understand the product or story after reading just one paragraph. Drop the jargon and the braggadocio – just keep it short and simple.

Whether you’re following up on a pitch or a request for a meeting, be specific and state clearly what you want to happen.

I wish to discuss collaboration perspectives with you.

You’d like to what, now? What does “collaboration perspectives” even mean?

I’d like to write an article for your blog, and I hope you’ll write one for mine in return.

Oooh! Now we get it.

7 Include a call to action

If you want the recipient to respond to your email, in most cases you’re going to have to ask for it. That request is called a call to action.

CTAs are a marketing tool, but they’re important in email follow-ups, as well. They point your recipient toward the next step, which in turn prompts a response. Here are a few examples.

Request a meeting

I’d like to meet for lunch and ask you a few questions about Mega Corp’s email strategy. Would Tuesday at noon work?

Ask for feedback

I know you have great insight to offer when it comes to [topic.] Would you take a few moments to share your feedback?

Solicit a sale, donation, or subscription

Reveal your mystery coupon

Donate by [date] and [Company] will match your donation!

Subscribe today to stay in the loop!

After a job interview

I thought I’d pass along links to the clips I mentioned yesterday. Is there anything else you’d like me to send?

Keeping it simple isn’t always simple

Now that you’ve learned some of the tricks to writing a great follow-up email, you face one more challenge—keeping it short and sweet. (A study by the email app Boomerang showed that emails between seventy-five and one hundred words have the best response rates.)

The more concise your follow-up email, the longer it will probably take you to write it. Crafting emails that stick to the subject, clearly state a purpose, and include a compelling call to action is trickier than it seems. Practice makes perfect! Invest time into fine-tuning your follow-up emails and you’re sure to earn more replies.

The post 7 Tips for Writing Follow-up Emails that Get Results appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/follow-up-email/

[arthur36domingo]

When, Why, and How to Send a Follow-Up Email After a Job Interview

You want this job! It’s a perfect fit for your skills and you know you’d rock it. You send out an impressive résumé and cover letter and you’re thrilled when you’re offered an interview. You rehearse answers to the questions you might be asked, and by the time you meet with the hiring manager, you’re able to dazzle her with your articulate and well-thought-out responses. You leave the interview knowing you’ve nailed it.

Now what?

//giphy.com/embed/3ohzdT2LZbSorXj90A

via GIPHY

The satisfaction of having scored and then given a great interview only lasts for so long before the anxiety of waiting for an answer sets in. Should you just sit by the phone and hope for the best, or should you follow up? In a competitive job market, giving a good interview isn’t always enough. Sending an awesome follow-up email can help you stand out from the crowd. Let’s take a look at a couple of the times when you should send a follow-up, consider why following up is important, and then dig into the nitty gritty of how it’s done.

Thank-You Email After the Interview

The interview thank-you is a time-honored tradition. Although some interviewers don’t find thank-you letters necessary, sending one is still a good idea, especially if it helps you demonstrate why you’re perfect for the position.

How to write it

Most interview thank-you letters say the same thing: thanks for your time, thanks for the opportunity, and hey, I really want this job! In order for yours to get attention, you’re going to have to change it up.

When you return home after your interview, and while it’s all still fresh in your mind, take a few notes. Did you hone in on any topics that seemed particularly important to the interviewer? Was there something she said that made you feel excited about the prospect of working for this company? Jot them down, identify your key takeaway, then reflect it back in your thank-you letter. Here’s an example:

Dear Sarah,

Thanks for the lively chat today. After meeting with you, I’m more excited than ever to continue exploring the content strategies we discussed, ideally as content director at XYZ Company.

In the meantime, I wanted to mention that my recent article on AwesomeSite.com has earned over 48,000 social media shares in the past couple of days. It’s a solid example of the type of credible content you said that XYZ wants to publish.

That article’s success also serves as a reminder to me that I’m ready to jump into my next challenge! I’m eager to take our conversation further.

Sincerely,

Joe Jobseeker

Of course, this is just an example. Your own thank-you email shouldn’t be templated. Show the hiring manager that you’re willing to put in the effort to stand out from the crowd.

It sounds contrary, but the main purpose of your thank-you letter isn’t to express gratitude. Think of your letter as another opportunity to show the interviewer what you have to offer beyond good manners.

Thank-you letters can accomplish other things, such as clearing up a misconception or adding some information the interviewer may need to make a hiring decision. Beyond.com has more advice on writing thank-you letters to suit different circumstances.

Here’s a tip: Handwritten thank-you notes used to be an essential part of Job Etiquette 101, but things have changed. These days, it’s best to consider the company culture. A handwritten note might be just the right touch if you’re applying for a non-profit gig. For a Silicon Valley startup? Not so much.

Email to Check In After No Response

It’s not you, it’s them. Companies these days are taking longer than ever to make hiring decisions. If you expected to hear back, and you’ve made a good impression so far, an email to check in on the hiring process can help you stand out. But there’s a caveat. Just checking in isn’t enough.

How to write it

People making hiring decisions see “just checking in” emails all the time. Many of them add little value to the process. When you write to tell a hiring manager “I’m just checking in,” what she’s hearing is “hurry up, already!” or maybe even “I’m desperate!”

It’s not enough to say “I still want this job.” No one ever scored points by jumping up and down, waving their arms and shouting, “Ooo! Pick me! Pick me!” Just like your thank-you note, your follow-up email needs to add something substantial to the conversation.

Remember those notes you took after your interview? They came in handy for your thank-you letter and they’re going to be helpful now. You identified some key topics and issues that are important to the interviewer and the company. Now, do a little research and demonstrate that you have not only expertise but also a deep interest in those topics. Here’s another example:

Dear Sarah,

When we last chatted, you said that you hoped to make a hiring decision about XYZ’s content director position by this time. We haven’t had a chance to connect again, so I thought I’d expand a bit on our conversation.

Your ideas for creating more shareable content for the XYZ blog are spot on! I noticed Alex Expert echoing your thoughts on his blog a couple of days ago and thought you might like to check it out. Did you notice what he had to say about SEO best practices and Google’s latest algorithm update? There are some opportunities here that I’d love to talk to you about.

I’m confident that my strong writing background and understanding of SEO would make an impact at XYZ, leading to more social shares, pageviews, and engagement. I’d welcome the opportunity to dig in and make some exciting things happen!

Sincerely,

Joe Jobseeker

In this example, Joe isn’t nagging for a response. Instead, he’s adding value to an existing conversation and making himself memorable in the process. He’s treating Mrs. Johnson as someone he values building a business relationship with. Winner!

A Few Tips for Writing Memorable Interview Follow-Ups

It goes without saying that your interview follow-up needs to be as perfect as you can make it if you want to land the position. Although a good follow-up may not help much if your interview didn’t go well or you and the hiring manager didn’t click, a bad one could hurt your chances. Here’s how to avoid any major gaffes:

Proofread, proofread, proofread. Before you hit send, make sure your email is error-free. May we recommend the help of a handy AI communication assistant?

Get some feedback. If possible, have someone with business savvy read your email and give you feedback.

Keep it positive. Use a tool like Tone Analyzer to make sure your email conveys the right emotions. (Just for fun, run our examples through the analyzer!)

Keep it somewhat formal. It’s usually best to begin an email with “Dear Bob” rather than “Hi Bob.” Sign off with “Sincerely.” Use your judgment—rule-breaking startups and companies with laid-back cultures are exceptions to these rules.

Keep it short. Hiring managers get a lot of email. Stick to the subject and try to make an impact with two or three tightly written paragraphs.

Proofread again! Seriously. Did you check that you spelled the hiring manager’s name and the business name correctly? Careless mistakes could cost you the job, so be meticulous.

Have you used any unique follow-up strategies that helped you land a job? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.

The post When, Why, and How to Send a Follow-Up Email After a Job Interview appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/follow-up-email-after-interview/

[arthur36domingo]

Monday Motivation Hack: Take a Break

Ah, motivation. Sometimes you can feel it coursing through your veins, and sometimes it seems as fleeting as snow in the spring. When you feel completely out of motivation, burned out, or exhausted, what do you do?

So far in our Monday Motivation Hack series, we’ve covered things that help you when you’re highly motivated, like to-do lists, morning routines, and mindfulness. But what about those days when getting out of bed seems like a struggle?

These are the days when it’s time to switch gears and do something radical—give yourself a break.

So today, I’m not going to write thousands of words on how to keep motivated. Instead, I’m giving you the space to take a breath, drink some water, and take that break.

If you want to read something while you take a break, consider one of these. If you just want to walk around the block or watch pandas on YouTube, that’s fine, too. You deserve it.

1 How to Take a Break Without Breaking Focus

2 7 Ways to Motivate Yourself When You’re Exhausted

3 How to Stop Procrastinating and Take Control of Your Life

The post Monday Motivation Hack: Take a Break appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/breaks-and-motivation/

[arthur36domingo]

Is Using “As Soon As Possible” Rude?

Your co-worker just sent you a message on Slack:

Bossy McBosserpants

I need the report as soon as possible

What runs through your head? Along with potential anxiety about a looming deadline (looks like you’re eating lunch at your desk again) you may feel annoyance. After all, that demand sounded pretty darn pushy.

//giphy.com/embed/pQQRV5MHXPpqo

via GIPHY

Requests that include “as soon as possible” (or the ubiquitous acronym ASAP) can come across as rude. In fact, Forbes named emails with ASAP in the subject header among the five rudest. The acronym got its start in 1955 as U.S. Army slang, which may be why we sometimes associate it with the mental image of a drill sergeant barking orders.

Whether we view ASAP as rude or demanding depends on intangible factors like the context in which it’s used and your relationship with the person you’re communicating with. Here are a few pros and cons.

The Pros of Using ASAP

It’s a handy code for people you work with frequently. ASAP can be a communication shortcut when it’s known that all parties have the same definition. If both the requester and the “requestee” understand that ASAP means “whenever you get around to it,” for instance, there’s less chance for misunderstandings.

With the right context, it’s a good way to convey urgency. ASAP can serve as a motivator. It works well in titles when you want to show that something can happen quickly (and that quickly is a good thing). E.g., Here’s how to lose 10 pounds ASAP!

The Cons of Using ASAP

It does nothing to help the recipient prioritize. Does your request need to be tended to by the end of the day, the end of the week, or whenever the recipient gets a little spare time? “As soon as possible” doesn’t convey any sort of time frame.

It sounds harsh. “Get those supply requisitions to me ASAP, private! That’s an order!” Do you really want to come across as though you’re asking the person on the receiving end to drop whatever they’re doing and work on your problem?

When overused, it becomes meaningless. When everything needs to be delivered ASAP, nothing is. In fact, ASAP can signify a lack of planning—you don’t really know when you need your request attended to, so you’re leaving it for someone else (namely, the person you made the request of) to sort out.

It’s easily misinterpreted. Let’s say you used “as soon as possible” to express that you needed something from a colleague as soon as they could get around to it. If your colleague interpreted your request as an immediate need, he might have set aside other important tasks to tend to it. He’s likely to feel frustrated when he learns that the need wasn’t top priority.

Alternatives to ASAP

There are a few other ways to express need without resorting to the gruffness or ambiguity of “as soon as possible”. Consider these alternatives:

As soon as possible, or _____. Use this to say that something’s urgent, but can wait until a specific deadline if necessary. “As soon as possible, or no later than end-of-day Friday.”

Promptly. This one can serve as a nudge by suggesting the recipient has been less than prompt. (Be careful, though. It may come across as passive aggressive.)

At your earliest convenience. You need it, but you’re willing to wait until the other person has a chance to tend to it.

Whenever you’re able. Use this soft approach when you really don’t care when your request is tended to.

The best alternative: be specific

When you weigh the pros and cons, there are few good reasons to ask for anything ASAP, and some compelling reasons not to. The best alternative is a simple one—be specific. By taking the time to figure out your priorities, you’ll be helping your colleagues plan their own.

Let’s compare:

Bossy McBosserpants

I need the report as soon as possible

Vs.

Helpful McHelpfulson

Our team’s goal is to finish this project by the end of the month. Could you get the report to me by noon tomorrow?

Which request would you rather receive?

The post Is Using “As Soon As Possible” Rude? appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/as-soon-as-possible/

[arthur36domingo]

How to Address a Letter Clearly

You don’t do this often.

Let’s face it. Putting the date at the top and your signature at the bottom isn’t your jam. Nor is folding pages into crisp thirds to fit inside an envelope. Formal letters just aren’t your specialty.

What little stamped correspondence you’ve handled thus far was mainly kitschy postcards from road trips to Yellowstone anyway, along with birthday cards from your grandma.

But now you’re out in real life, and it’s terrifying. You need a grownup job with a grownup paycheck to pay the bills for your expensive grownup tastes. This means you have to find someone who’s hiring and convince them you’re on their level—capable of speaking their language.

Alas, showing you can step to their game means recognizing some traditions that predate the ubiquity of email. As far as new jobs go, the good news is that this part is a lot easier than learning to tie a respectable half-Windsor or mastering the mysterious art of polite breakroom chitchat.

Let’s start with a rundown of how to properly address your fancy letter in a way that says “Hey, I do this all the time.”

1Start by putting your contact information at the top.

This longstanding rule makes sense: you want the person you’re addressing to readily know who you are, where you’re coming from, and how they can respond to you.

That last bit is especially vital to check because you don’t want to sabotage any possibility of hearing back from someone you took the time to write. The world is full of woeful young job-seekers who realized only too late that there was a typo in the contact information they pasted in while dispatching a wave of applications.

2Next, put the date.

This one’s easy to get right, and embarrassing (or hilarious) to get wrong. What year is it? How long was I asleep?

3After that, put the recipient’s address.

Think of this as one of the rare occasions where you’re essentially telling a near stranger “I know where you are” and it’s seen as a courtesy. Cherish that.

If you’re writing to a company where you already know someone, this part is a layup—just ask them for the details. Otherwise, this step merits a quick search online.

4Next comes the salutation. “Dear” is a fine stock option.

There are a lot of possibilities once you’re ready to say hello: Greetings, Salutations, and trusty old Dear all spring to mind.

You might feel tempted to try to stand out by choosing an exotic option, but it’s risky. You may not want to gamble on a stranger appreciating a Howdy, let alone such a . . . distinct choice as Hail. (Feel free to ignore that last bit if the person you’re writing is truly dedicated to their role at a renaissance festival.)

Often, your best bet is the straightforward route: Dear is widely used for a reason, after all.

And don’t overthink whether it’s awkward to address someone you’ve never met this way. People who aren’t “dear” to each other per se sling the word around all the time in correspondence, even in the midst of tense legal posturing between a presidential campaign and a topflight newspaper. In such fraught circumstances, the word Dear isn’t the part that people are stressing over.

5Know who you’re contacting.

Sometimes this is easy. Again, if you already know someone on the inside of a company where you’re sending a cover letter, for instance, they should be able to help you nail down the specifics fairly painlessly. Otherwise…

6Not to belabor this, but that last item might warrant a little research.

Depending on the relative opacity of the organization you’re writing to, precisely whom you should address may not be obvious. For instance, if you’re a writer applying to even a mid-size publication, you’ll quickly discover the place is crawling with editors—but which one is supposed to read your letter?

One solution is to just find an all-purpose phone number to dial and ask who the appropriate department head is. Another approach is to poke around on LinkedIn and suss out the correct person that way. Whatever you do, avoid punting with a lazy “Dear Sir or Madam.”

7Mister, Miss, Doctor, Senator, None of the Above

The most common approach here is simple: an old-timey Mr. or Ms.

In addressing a woman you don’t know, Ms. is usually safer than Mrs. It assumes less, and can seem more professional by refraining from drawing the recipient’s marital status into the matter.

It’s worth noting when it comes to honorifics there are differing schools of thought; you might prefer the gender-neutral route, simply putting the subject’s full name.

Also, be on the watch for cases like doctors and PhD holders: many will tell you they worked hard for their credentials and appreciate being recognized as Dr.

You want to make a good impression, after all.

8Put a colon or a comma.

This one’s up to you. While the comma at the end of your salutation does the job just fine, some argue the colon appears more sophisticated.

9If you’re sharing this letter online, consider saving it as a PDF.

It’s hardly a problem if you plan to print your letter out on a sheet of paper, but in 2017, many formal letters end up as files whirling through the ether from one computer to the next, and when they arrive on an alien screen with wonky settings, their formatting is tragically wrecked.

Further, imagine someone printing your letter, wrecked formatting and all, en route to a meeting to discuss it with colleagues. The mortification.

One way to preserve your letter’s tidy address in transit is to save your file as a PDF, so your work arrives legibly intact.

With your letter clearly addressed, you’re well on your way to corresponding like an old-school professional. Grammarly has lots of other tips on how bring your fancy letter in for a landing, too.

The post How to Address a Letter Clearly appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-address-a-letter/

[arthur36domingo]

7 Tips for a Perfect Elevator Pitch

What is the purpose of an interview? Companies conduct them because they want to know about your experience, education, and character. Different interviewers ask different questions, but their underlying query is the same: Who are you? To answer that question effectively and sell your skills, you can use a special tool called an elevator pitch or elevator speech. You are about to learn what a good and bad elevator speech looks like, and how you can write an outstanding one.

What Is An Elevator Pitch? According to Time magazine, an average elevator ride in New York City lasts about 118 seconds. Imagine that you happened to enter an elevator at the same time as a hiring manager for your dream job. Using the New York City average, you have just under two minutes to pitch yourself and land the job of your life. What would you say? What would you do? Would the pressure get to you? Would you freeze in terror? In 118 seconds, you can do yourself in or persuade the manager to bring you on board. You will be a lot more likely to win the person over if you have something prepared. An elevator pitch is a brief statement of who you are and what your best assets are. You never know when opportunity will knock. You might bump into someone influential during your next trip to the grocery store or the gym. You should be ready to deliver one at a moment’s notice.

The Three Principles

Before you write your pitch, you should understand the principles behind it. Sometimes, companies have more than one open position, or they consider more than one applicant for the same post. Therefore, each applicant will have a finite amount of time to shine.

Elevator pitches should be brief. Additionally, interviewers are seeking candidates who will benefit the company and complete job tasks to their satisfaction. If you don’t clearly communicate what you bring to the table, you will fail to impress. Limit your entire speech to two minutes or you may lose the attention of the listener (or arrive at your floor!)

Elevator pitches should clearly state your skills and potential benefit to the company. Use everyday language because jargon varies from office to office.

Finally, companies usually favor ambitious candidates who are open to change and innovation. They don’t want someone who just clocks in, half-heartedly performs job duties, and leaves at the end of the day. When you include a personal goal in your pitch, you demonstrate intellectual curiosity and drive. You indicate that you will grow as the company does.

There you have it: elevator pitches should be succinct and show your personal motivation by including a goal. Now, how do you write one?

Seven Steps to a Perfect Elevator Pitch

Step 1: Grab the person’s attention.

If no one is listening, it doesn’t matter what you say. From the very beginning, you need to engage your audience. You might start with a question. (Make the question rhetorical or short answer unless you want to spend the whole ride listening to the recruiter talk about his fishing trip to Maine.) Or, some people just make a witty statement. You might write this opener first, or you can skip this step until you’ve completed the others. For the sake of continuity, let’s imagine you are a job seeker named Renee who has the good fortune of running into a recruiter in the long line of a busy cafe. Will you land your dream job as a copywriter? In each scenario, try to figure out what’s wrong and right with the statements.

One day, I want to wear one of those nametags you’re wearing. Hi, I’m Renee.

Would you like some candy?

Step 2: Who Are You?

Write one sentence that defines who you are and what you do, Most people define themselves by their jobs for the purpose of networking. However, if you think another detail is both relevant and winning, feel free to lead with it. This sentence is the real answer to the question: Who are you?

I love teaching French, but I have slowly morphed into a freelance writer too.

I started my career as a French teacher. After a few years, I started to take on side jobs. In particular, I began doing some freelance writing for different companies. Now, I write regularly for blogs, although I occasionally do proofreading and French-English translation for individuals.

Step 3: Boil It Down

Distill what you do on a daily basis into a sentence or two. Think of it as your mission statement.

My goal is to increase the readership of every client’s blog. I write each article with the target audience in mind.

As I eat breakfast, I usually proofread the articles from the previous night. Then, I do some volunteer work. After that, I teach a French class. I do most of my writing in the evenings because I am a night owl.

Step 4: Distinguish Yourself

Set yourself apart by explaining how you are unique. Here you can recount how you overcame challenges, implemented new ideas, or otherwise contributed to your company’s success. Don’t forget to consider your audience. What qualities might the potential employer be seeking?

At first, I was intimidated by my lack of formal writing credentials. I began to consistently strive to improve my skills by learning from the corrections my editor made. I can see how my constant self-evaluation has paid off in more accurate and understandable articles.

I’ve been told that I am a good writer.

Step 5: Tell Them What to Do

In your next sentences, identify what you want the listener to do. Be specific about what you want to happen next. You don’t have to limit yourself to an interview. Why not ask to take a tour of the company or attend the next employee social event?

I’d love for you to review one of my writing samples. Here’s a business card with a link to my online portfolio. Would you be willing to share your contact information?

Well, it was great talking with you. Maybe I’ll bump into you again one day!

Step 6: Organize

Write a brief summary of your speech, using bullet points or a short outline. Arrange your sentences logically and proofread them. Read it over to make sure everything makes sense.

Step 7: Act It Out

Roleplay with an honest friend. Ask her to critique not only what you say, but also your eye contact and body language. Do you seem confident? Are you speaking too fast or too slow? Your delivery will be a key component of your elevator pitch’s success or failure. And don’t memorize your script; the last thing you want to do is sound like a robot.

A chance meeting is a golden opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer. But don’t leave what you say up to chance. Practice your pitch beforehand and remember your key selling points. You could land an interview or even a job. At the very least, you will leave a good impression, distinguish yourself from the pack of interviewees, and perhaps get your resume on file.

A FOX show, aptly titled Elevator Pitch, allows entrepreneurs a few minutes of airtime to pitch their business. Get inspired by watching a couple of success stories, and then get writing!

The post 7 Tips for a Perfect Elevator Pitch appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/interview-elevator-pitch/

[arthur36domingo]

“Are You the Jedi Master or the Sith Lord of Your Office?” Quiz

There is a light and dark side to the balance of office life. Which way do you lean? Find out whether you’re an Office Jedi or Sith with our fun quiz!

//cdn.playbuzz.com/widget/feed.js

What do you think, did we get it right? Share your reactions in the comments.

The post “Are You the Jedi Master or the Sith Lord of Your Office?” Quiz appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/jedi-or-sith-at-work-quiz/

[arthur36domingo]

Sneaky, Nerdy Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day

Star Wars Day is a unique gift to both Star Wars fans and wordplay fans, giving us the opportunity to wish friend and foe alike, “May the Fourth be with you.”

Even if you live here on Earth and not in a galaxy far, far away, there are still ways to make sure that the Force is strong with you this May the Fourth. Maybe you incorporate subtle references into your day at the office, or change your speech habits. Maybe you just throw a #StarWarsDay into your preferred social media venue. And there are always lightsaber battles.

To get you on your way, here are thirty-one ways to feel the Force flowing through you this #StarWarsDay.

1 Show up to work as Darth Vader. Or, if you’re not the boss and don’t want to appear insubordinate, a stormtrooper. Those bucketheads fit right in in the workplace.

2 Don’t have a helmet handy? Try a slightly more subtle costume. For example: black vest over a white shirt, tan jacket with khakis, khakis and white v-neck, or brown bathrobe.

3 Insert a random, irreverent gif into a work email. For example:

Cats with lightsabers

Bears with lightsabers

Disco-dancing Chewbacca

4 Put blue food coloring in your milk. It may not be from a Bantha, but even Jedi need their calcium.

5 Get Han Solo legos and freeze them in ice cubes for a carbonite cocktail. If you’re ready for commitment, you can even buy an ice cube tray with that scoundrel’s outline already built in. Just don’t let Boba Fett get to him first.

6 Other drink ideas: there’s the Hoth Toddy, the Qui-Gon Jinn and Tonic, the Dark and Stormy Trooper, and more. And don’t imbibe them without first getting the perfect cups.

7 Listen to John Williams’ score to boost your mood while you sit at the computer. Need a bigger boost? Listen to Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes play the Cantina song on loop for ten hours. Repeat as needed.

8 Try not to speak English for a full day. Some alternate language ideas:

“Utinni!” (Jawaese for “Wow”)

“Wee now kong bantha poodoo.” (Huttese for “Now you’re bantha fodder.”)

“Huuguughghg raaaaaahhgh huuguughghg uughguughhhghghghhhgh huuguughghg huurh aarrragghuuhw.” (Shyriiwook for “That was a scintillating presentation.” Get your own Wookiee translations here.)

9 Still not satisfied with a subtle costume? Check out some of the cosplay creations from the Star Wars Celebration a few weeks back. You never know—Salacious Crumb just might be a major help in the office.

10 Everyone likes the gal or guy who brings food to work. Especially pastries. Especially sticky buns shaped like Princess Leia’s hair.

11 Work “I have a bad feeling about this” into casual conversation. Or, if things get really rough, “it’s a trap!”

12 You never know where in the galaxy you might have a secret father, sister, or other relative, so get your DNA tested with 23andMe. If you find any new relatives, make sure you reveal your relationship after having a brutal Force battle and cutting off their favorite limb.

13 Ride a tauntaun to work. Snow lizards not native to your habitat? No problem. Take a broomstick, an alpaca mask, and some ram horns, stick them all together, and you’ve got your transport. Just remember: they smell bad on the outside, but the inside is worse.

14 If someone gets on your bad side, diss them good with one of these classic Star Wars insults:

Slimy piece of worm-ridden filth

Nearsighted scrap pile

Walking carpet

Mindless philosopher

Overweight glob of grease

Slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler

Fuzzball

Scoundrel

Goldenrod

Scum

Malfunctioning little twerp

Stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder

15 If you want to get out of doing something, say “But I was going to Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!”

16 Change all your passwords to THX1138.

17 Refer to anyone subordinate to you as “Padawan,” and call your superiors “Master,” “Lord,” or (preferably) “Grand Moff.” If you call your boss “Emperor,” just prepare for the repercussions.

18 Set the Imperial March as your ringtone.

19 You can have a lightsaber battle with any number of everyday objects. For example:

Highlighters

Rulers

Pencils

Bananas

Rolled-up yoga mats

Actual lightsabers. Maybe, just maybe, that’s in the realm of possibility.

20 Find (or become) a mentor. Star Wars is all about making connections with people (or aliens), learning how to forge your own path, and occasionally lifting rocks with your mind while you’re upside down. If you’re picking a mentee, just make sure you do a quick midichlorian count first.

21 Drape a brown sheet around yourself and pick up trash on the side of the road. Bonus if you can find droid bits in a sandlot.

22 Feeling unproductive? Blame it on having a bad motivator.

23 If you’re a Star Wars someplace where it’s cold, build a snow fort. Not everyone gets to celebrate Star Wars Day on Hoth.

24 Read How Star Wars Conquered the Universe. It’s a history of the franchise, an encyclopedia of the Star Wars galaxy, and a fan’s dream come true.

25 Try your hand—and your telekinesis—at “vadering.” (If you’re in the workplace, maybe make sure you get consent first).

26 Watch the fan-made version of A New Hope, a YouTube masterpiece that breaks the original movie into thirty-second chunks and features hundreds of artistic approaches to retelling the story. Between the trash-can R2-D2s, glued-on Obi-Wan beards, and fan-created animations, it’s pretty much a new art form.

27 Start (or continue) your countdown to Episode VIII. As of May 4, it’s 224 days until December 15.

28 On a similar note, watch the trailer for The Last Jedi. A few hundred times. Dissect every moment. Post your predictions on fan boards. Check your countdown: rats, it’s still 224.

29 Change your email auto-signature to MTFBWY.

30 Tough project at work? Let Yoda inspire you: “Do, or do not. There is no try.”

31 May the Fourth not enough for you? In some circles, tomorrow is known as Revenge of the Fifth. It’s an opportunity to join the dark side and celebrate all the Sith Lords doing their best to exploit the power of the Force for their own gain. Just don’t be seduced by the dark side. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Plus, May 6 is just a normal day.

Star Wars Day may happen only once a year, but remember: the Fourth will be with you. Always.

The post Sneaky, Nerdy Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/star-wars-day-at-work/

[arthur36domingo]

This Is Why You Should Check Your Email in the Morning

Do not check your email! Plenty of people with fancy credentials will tell you to avoid your email at all costs in the morning. Time management consultant Julie Morgenstern wrote a whole book about it. She told The Huffington Post that if you give in to the temptation, “you will never recover.” Personal development writer Sid Savara gives seven reasons not to check it. For starters, the requests in your email aren’t on your agenda of “things to do” yet. If you add them to your plate, you will be distracted from the important things already on your to-do list. Do you want to lose the bliss that accompanies ignorance? On the other hand, just as many experts will tell you to check your email at the beginning of the day. Here’s what they have to say.

Why you should check email

Get it out of the way

The biggest reason to check your email in the morning is simply to get it out of the way. Lifehacker reports the personal experience of Harvard Business Review contributor Dorie Clark: “Pushing email correspondence to the end of the day, I found that I consistently avoided answering certain messages because they required hard choices that my brain found taxing. I realized that if I finally wanted to vanquish those messages straggling at the bottom of my inbox, what I needed most wasn’t simply time to respond; it was the willpower and discernment to make good judgments and respond accordingly.” She recommends setting aside twenty-minute periods throughout the day to handle email correspondence.

Train others to respect your time

Has anyone ever called you or sent you a message asking if you got their email that they sent five minutes ago? In today’s world of technology, people want things fast. But isn’t patience a virtue? When you don’t reply instantly, you might irritate others at first. However, when they receive a thoughtful reply, they might learn to appreciate your diligence. If your custom is to reply to emails in the morning, you can respond within twenty-four hours. That’s a reasonable time frame that gives you time to answer properly. Eventually, your frequent contacts will become familiar with your routine. They will see that you are too busy to be at their beck and call, but you will get back to them in due time. For real emergencies, they can call you on the telephone.

Give yourself time to cope

If you read your emails early, you have time to react. If you wait too late for an urgent email, you might miss an opportunity or not have enough time to meet a deadline. A morning review of emails prevents you from holding up others. If someone needs your reply to progress, you can help out your team productivity by doing your part as soon as possible.

You can avoid “email pressure”

According to an article in The Guardian, London researchers from Future Work Centre reported that workers feel pressured from constant streams of demanding emails. Employees who receive emails on their mobile devices via apps are even more stressed. In Germany, the problem became so concerning that the minister of employment began entertaining “anti-stress” legislation to prohibit companies from contacting employees outside of business hours in non-emergency situations. Though checking email at the beginning and end of the day had the strongest correlation with email stress, the report suggested turning off automatic notifications of new messages. If you check your account in the morning, handle the most important messages right away, and then close the app, you might find that you stay on top of your emails without feeling overwhelmed. Interestingly, personality also influenced how pressured people felt. What a psychologist and a science writer found out about the effects of willpower may surprise you.

Willpower is finite

In the book Willpower, Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney uphold willpower as one of the greatest human feats. According to Tierney, “You only have a finite amount [of willpower] as you go through the day, so you should be careful to conserve it and try to save it for the emergencies.” How does this apply to emails? It’s easy to put off answering them if the responses require research or a long reply. Delay too long, and you seem rude. Answering the tricky ones requires willpower and you have the most of it in the morning, before you have depleted it dealing with other challenges. Perhaps you won’t have weighty replies to write every day, but when you do, the morning is a great time to address them. Tierney also says that willpower is comparable to resistance training. The more you exercise willpower, the stronger your self-control will become. Once you train yourself to handle key communications first thing in the morning, you will have the discipline to avoid spending mental energy on the time-wasters.

How to do it right

Writer Laura Chin tells us how to check emails without zapping our mental energy. The process starts before you even power up your laptop. She quotes NeuroLeadership Institute director David Rock: “If you can’t recall what your goals are, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to scan the environment for things relevant to your goals.” First, define your objectives. When you scan your email later, you will be able to zero in on important messages and make a decision how to handle each one.

Next, open your inbox. Remember these two words—discernment and willpower. Channel your top priorities as you scroll through your new emails. Use your judgment to decide which messages are most important. Open them and respond immediately or flag them as high priority. Next, use your willpower to close your browser. Anything less than critical can wait until later in the day.

Do you feel that sorting critical from unimportant drains too much of your time? Try an email organization service, such as Unroll.me, which groups low priority messages together so that you can concentrate on the important stuff. Outlook has recently implemented a similar service. It’s called focused inbox. The system responds and adapts as it observes which contacts you interact with the most. It also filters forwards, newsletters, and bulk emails into a separate tab that you can read in your leisure time. Besides automatically deleting spam, you can set “rules” to keep only the latest copy of overly frequent newsletters.

You will stress yourself out. You will get distracted from your daily objectives. You will waste too much valuable time. These are some reasons people may tell you that you should never check your email before lunchtime. However, many experts have found that clearing away important emails in the first part of the day will free up your brain for other matters. People will learn that you are busy, but you will answer within a reasonable amount of time. And you will build up your willpower as you answer only the key messages. What’s the bottom line? No one can tell you which philosophy is best because you must take into account your personality and circumstances. What time works best for your job? What method makes you feel the least stress? When do you work most productively? No one will knock your choice if you are capable and competent in your job.

The post This Is Why You Should Check Your Email in the Morning appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/dont-check-email-morning/

[arthur36domingo]

How to End an Email: 9 Never-Fail Sign-Offs and 9 to Avoid

You’ve worked to make your email clear, and you’ve carefully edited to streamline your writing. The body of your email might well be perfect, but it can all go awry if you use the wrong sign-off. It’s just a word or a short phrase, followed by your signature, and yet finding the right tone to close your email often requires a surprising amount of thought and finesse.

When you’re struggling with how to end an email, it’s best to consider the context. What works for a friend or close colleague won’t work in a strictly professional correspondence with a distant acquaintance or someone you’ve never met before. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common email settings and the tried-and-true sign-offs that work best for each.

Nine Email Sign-offs that Never Fail

Formal Business

Regards

Yes, it’s a bit stodgy, but it works in professional emails precisely because there’s nothing unexpected or remarkable about it.

Sincerely

Are you writing a cover letter? Sincerely conveys the right tone for formal correspondence. Keep in mind that it’s likely to come off as stuffy in more casual business emails.

Best wishes

A good blend of friendliness and formality makes this sign-off a safe bet, but be aware of its greeting-card vibe and use it only when it fits well with the tone of your email.

Friendly Business

Cheers

A recent study by the email app Boomerang rated cheers as the most likely sign-off (that isn’t a thank-you) to get an email response. It works well if your email is friendly and conversational but, unless you’re actually British or Australian, it may come off as affected in more formal settings. Cheers, mate!

Best

Best conveys best wishes in a cheerful, pithy way. If you get a lot of email, you know that nearly everyone uses this sign-off. That familiarity makes it seamless in the same way that regards is seamless in more formal emails. The downside is that it can be safe and dull, especially if you want your message to be dynamic and attention-getting.

As ever

This is a fine choice for people you’ve built an ongoing working relationship with. It reassures your contact that things are as good between you as they’ve ever been.

Gratitude and Requests

Thanks in advance

According to the Boomerang study, emails that include thanks in advance have the highest response rate. Maybe it’s because this sign-off expresses gratitude but also sets an expectation—you’re saying that you’ll be grateful when (not if) the person you’re emailing comes through. In more formal circumstances, thanking someone in advance may come across as too demanding, so take care where you use it.

Thanks

A simple thanks is also a solid choice when you want to express gratitude. But, just like thanks in advance, it can convey a tone of expectancy. Save it for when you actually mean to imply, “I expect you to do this.”

I appreciate your [help, input, feedback, etc.]

There’s never really a wrong time to express appreciation when someone has helped you out.

Nine Email Sign-offs to Avoid

Love

I have a friend who once accidentally signed an office email to his entire department with love. He never lived it down. Save this one for family, close friends, and your significant other. The same applies to hugs or XOXO.

Thx or Rgrds

You’re not thirteen, and this isn’t a conversation happening in a messaging app. Use your words.

Take care

On the surface, take care sounds pleasant, but on closer examination it seems to imply that the recipient should be wary of potential dangers. Use this only if bears are known to lurk by the Dumpster outside the recipient’s office. (We’re only half kidding!)

//giphy.com/embed/xVNxb0zTcgsik

via GIPHY

Looking forward to hearing from you

This one also sounds nice at first, but it’s ultimately passive-aggressive. Your recipient is likely to hear an implied “You’d better write back.”

Yours truly

Do you really, truly belong to the recipient? Nope. This sounds insincere and hokey . . . unless you’re writing a letter home to your parents from summer camp.

Respectfully / Respectfully yours

This one’s okay if you’re sending a formal missive to the POTUS, but it’s too formal for anything else. In fact, according to Business Insider, respectfully yours is the standard close for addressing government officials and clergy.

[Nothing at all]

We live in a world where people frequently email from mobile devices, so excluding a signature certainly isn’t a no-no as an email chain progresses, particularly if your recipient also drops the more formal sign-off. But not signing an initial email or using only the formal signature you’ve created to append to your outgoing emails comes off as impersonal. (Bloomberg disagrees, stating that email has become more like instant messaging than true correspondence these days, but we’re sticking to our convictions.)

-[Name] or -[Initial]

While this sort of sign-off may work for very brief, informal emails, it’s too cold and detached for most, particularly when you’re connecting with the recipient for the first time.

Have a blessed day

It’s best to keep anything with religious overtones out of your professional correspondence, although this one’s fine if you’re emailing an acquaintance about what you’re bringing to the church potluck.

Bonus Bad Sign-off

Although this sign-off tends to happen more by default when the sender forgets to add an actual signature, we thought it was worth mentioning the ubiquitous . . .

Sent from my iPhone

This may be the most common sign-off of them all. It has merits, of course. It explains away brevity and typos—who’s at their best when typing on a phone? But it also conveys that you don’t care enough to do away with the default email signature that came stock with your device’s email app.

Some people get creative with this signature. A few fun (if not necessarily business appropriate) examples found round the Internet include:

My parents wouldn’t buy me an iPhone so I have to manually type “Sent from my iPhone” to look cool

Sent telepathically

Sent from my laptop, so I have no excuse for typos

Sent from my smartphone so please forgive any dumb mistakes

I am responsible for the concept of this message. Unfortunately, autocorrect is responsible for the content

Sent from my mobile. Fingers big. Keyboard small.

iPhone. iTypos. iApologize.

My phone can’t spell for carp

And, for the Stephen King fans among our readers:

Sent from Jack’s typewriter, Rm 237. No autocorrect. REᗡЯUM

What’s your favorite email sign-off? Do you have a quirky or effective signature you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments.

The post How to End an Email: 9 Never-Fail Sign-Offs and 9 to Avoid appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-end-an-email/

[arthur36domingo]

How to Ask for Days Off (And Actually Get Them)

There’s a good possibility that you need a day (or two, or more) off work. NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a poll and found that about half of Americans who work fifty-plus hours a week don’t take all or most of the vacation they’ve earned. Of those who do take time off, about 30 percent say they do a significant amount of work during what’s supposed to be their hard-earned leisure time.

In a driven, competitive work culture, it can be difficult to ask for days off. And yet, taking a vacation is rejuvenating. Scheduling time to relax and leave workplace stress behind for a while means you’re more likely to return to your job with renewed creative energy and motivation, which ultimately makes you more productive. Here’s how to ask for time off the right way.

Planning Your Time Off Request

To ensure that you stay on good terms with your boss and coworkers, it’s important to put a little forethought into your vacation request.

Give advance notice

Don’t drop your request on your unsuspecting boss a week before you’d like to leave. Odds are good that even events you had no hand in planning—your friend’s wedding, for instance—will still allow you to ask for days off with plenty of lead time. (Of course, unexpected life events such as funerals or family emergencies are handled differently, and most managers will do their best to accommodate you.)

Know your employer’s vacation policies

Familiarize yourself with how your company handles time off. If you have an employee handbook or a contract that outlines vacation procedures, consult it. If your workplace is more casual, check in with your coworkers or someone in human resources to see how things are usually done.

Make sure you’re caught up

Before you start making flight reservations, make sure the projects you’re working on are in good shape. If you’re behind, or if leaving would mean dumping a lot of work on your colleagues that you should have finished yourself, asking for time off isn’t likely to win you any friends.

Making Your Time Off Request

Now that you’ve done a little planning, you’re ready to ask for vacation days. When and how you ask is important, so consider these best practices.

You’re asking for time off, not telling

There are people who’ll approach their manager on a Monday morning saying, “By the way, I just booked a trip to the Bahamas, so I’ll need next week off.” Don’t be that person. Nobody likes that person.

No matter how good that vacation deal you just spotted online seems, it’s never a good idea to book travel without clearing it with your employer first. Remember to ask your boss for time off, not simply tell him or her you’re taking it. A simple script might go like this:

“I have some vacation time coming, and I’d like to take a week to travel with my family. Would the week of July __ be a good time?”

Don’t ask during crunch time

If your workplace is engaged in an all-hands-on-deck scenario, it’s not an ideal time to ask for vacation, even if you’re planning for the future. When everyone’s focused on a major milestone, and potentially stressed as a result, it can seem tone-deaf to ask about your week in Maui. If possible, it’s best to wait until the dust of a major deadline has settled.

Similarly, make your vacation request during times when your boss is less likely to be stressed or busy. But don’t drop the vacation bomb when he or she might be thinking of things other than work. If it’s late Friday afternoon, and you’re anticipating spending some weekend down time, there’s a good chance your boss is, too.

Asking when you’re the new kid

If you’re new to your job, asking for vacation can be challenging. If you’ve applied for a job, and you already have travel planned, it’s appropriate to wait until after you’ve been extended an employment offer and you’re in the negotiation phase to discuss time off:

“I’ve got existing travel plans for mid-August, and I’d like to take time off for that between [date] and [date]. Would that be workable?”

Be prepared to take that time unpaid if you won’t have earned any vacation days before it’s scheduled.

Job experts advise against taking time off during your first three months on the job if you can help it. During that time, your boss and co-workers are still getting a sense of your work ethic. Unless you happen to work at a company that encourages time off as part of its super-laid-back workplace culture (they’re out there!), it’s best to prove yourself before you head off to Vail for a snowboarding adventure.

Consider getting it in writing

Depending on how casual your workplace is, it might be a good idea to submit your vacation request via email so you have a written record. Once you’ve sent an email (remembering to ask, not tell your manager when you’re leaving), follow up with a quick in-person chat if necessary.

Planning Your Time Away

So, you’ve scored some well-earned vacation days. Good for you! Before you set sail, it’s a good idea to get a few things in order to avoid making extra work for your colleagues or leaving clients in the lurch.

Make sure key players know you’ll be away

You’re a cog in a well-oiled machine, baby! A little forethought can help keep those gears turning smoothly while you’re away. It’s a good idea to make a written plan to help your team handle your responsibilities in your absence. To avoid piling extra work on your colleagues, ask them if they’re able and willing to help fill in the gaps.

If you have clients who’ll be relying on you, make sure they know who can help them in your absence. Keep in mind that important contacts outside the workplace—particularly anyone you’re collaborating with on an ongoing basis—may need a heads-up before you’re sipping margaritas on the beach and ignoring your inbox.

Say thanks

In the U.S., employers aren’t required to provide time off (paid or unpaid) except for medical or family leave—vacation is a benefit and not mandated by law. When your boss accommodates your need for some down time by granting you days off, it’s appropriate to say thank you. And it’s always good form to thank any co-workers who helped fill in for you while you were away, too.

Asking for days off doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little planning, know-how, and tact, you’ll be on your way to some needed downtime, and you’ll ensure that your boss and colleagues miss you rather than resent you while you’re away.

The post How to Ask for Days Off (And Actually Get Them) appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-days-off/

[arthur36domingo]

Monday Motivation Hack: Get Your Mind Right

When you picture someone meditating, what do you see? A yoga class? A person of South Asian descent in a religious context? A random businessperson in a stock photo?

Messages about mindfulness have been muddled, messy, and largely unhelpful since its rise to popularity. In the last few years, mindfulness has moved from hippie-and-yogi buzzword to bonified productivity skill lauded by the likes of The Harvard Business Review and Tim Ferriss. Since its appropriation by leadership seminars and tech giant conferences, mindfulness seems to have lost some of its meaning. So what does it mean, anyway? Here’s a simple definition:

Now, if that makes sense, let’s talk about how mindfulness can help you hack Monday mornings. We mentioned mindfulness as a practice when we talked about morning routines, but this productivity-producing mental habit deserves more attention.

Why practice mindfulness in the morning? As Dr. Laura Maciuika puts it in Psychology Today, “Your routine first thing in the morning sets the tone for the entire day. Before breakfast is generally a good time to meditate.” Even if you’re hungry and little groggy, taking a moment for yourself before tackling the day can help you to remember to remain calm and grounded, no matter what happens later.

The Twenty-Minute Version: Full Meditation

If you want the deep dive version, consider taking up a full meditation practice in the morning. If you have the time, this practice can help your days, weeks, and months run smoother than they have before.

To start, you should probably work with one of the guided meditation options below, starting with a ten-minute-long session. After a week (or whenever you feel comfortable), you can try focusing on your breath and your thoughts for ten minutes independently.

When you branch out on your own, choose a comfortable seat on the floor—or in a chair! There’s a misconception that you have to sit in a bendy yoga-esque position to meditate, and this is simply not true. Also, make sure you’re alone in a quiet space, where distractions are minimal. On the emotional side, be sure to enter a fully judgment-free zone when you attempt your first meditation. There’s no “right” way to meditate (no matter what the Internet says), and this is your first time flying solo, so be gentle with yourself. Also, a practical note: to keep your session on track without staring at a clock, be sure to set a timer with a gentle, non-intrusive beep. Close your eyes, start to notice your breath, and follow the instructions you’ve learned through guided meditation. Next thing you know, you’ll hear the beep and find yourself starting the day as a calmer, more centered human.

As you become more acclimated to this type of grounding in this space, you’ll be able to increase your meditation sessions from ten to fifteen to twenty minutes. If you have a full half hour, go for it! If possible, try to keep your meditation in the same physical space, so your mind associates that chair, room, or pillow in the closet with centering and focus. And have fun with it!

The Ten-Minute Variation: Guided Visualization

When we talk about mindfulness, we often equate it with quiet, sit-on-the-floor-by-yourself meditation. But that doesn’t have to be the case! You can just as easily sit in a chair, throw on your headphones, and have someone else guide you to a state of mindfulness.

There are few options to make this happen, from paid services to apps to podcasts to the old, reliable YouTube video. Try these three, and see which one suits you. Then you can check out this larger list of options. And remember, this is about your feels, so there is no “right” way to move through guided meditation!

1 The Classic YouTube Video

Male Voice, With Nature Imagery and Music

Female Voice, With Cats (and Cat Sounds)

2 The Podcast

3 The App

The Two-Minute Option: Mindfulness on the Move

You know what the great thing about mindfulness is? You don’t have to be meditating to practice it! You can apply the principles of mindfulness to anything you do.

Let that sink in. Anything.

So, if your morning routine is already hectic because of limited time or extra people to get ready for the day, you don’t have to carve out dedicated time to meditate. Instead, you can choose a mundane, repetitive activity you do every morning, and apply meditation principles to it. Some great candidates include:

Walking to work (if you’re one of the lucky ones who can)

Eating breakfast (if you won’t be interrupted)

Showering (if you won’t be interrupted)

Commuting (if you’re not driving)

If you choose one of these activities to do mindfully, you will need to ensure you can do it for five to ten minutes without interruption. It doesn’t necessarily need to be quiet where you are, but you’ll need headphones and a dedicated app if it’s loud. Just use the same principles as above, and do the activity as you normally would. But remember, pay attention to yourself without getting caught in your own feelings web.

The post Monday Motivation Hack: Get Your Mind Right appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/mindfulness-productivity-hack/

[arthur36domingo]

Yes, You Can Make a Complex Point Over Text

Making a point in a clear, assertive email is one thing. But doing it in a text? LOL, way 2 much 4 txtspk.

Or is it?

Sure, you don’t have as much leeway in a text as in an email because of sheer lack of space, but it is possible to make a point, ask for something important, or express a serious idea in a text message. Here are some tips for how to make it so.

Use real words

As in, “you,” “for,” “today,” “thanks.” Writing in real-speak instead of text-speak shows that you’re serious. For example:

Thx 4 mtg w me 2day. U r rly helpful. WML 4 interview 2moro!

Not quite as effective as:

Thank you for meeting with me today. You were really helpful. Wish me luck for the interview tomorrow!

Sure, it depends on who you’re writing: if it’s your best friend and you always swap “you” for “u,” no need to make things unexpectedly formal. But before you type out your message, think about what you’re trying to say, who’s going to read it, and whether your point will be more effective with actual words.

Start with “Hey”

When people are about to say something important in conversation, they often start with “listen” or “look.” Those senses don’t exactly make sense over text, but a casual “hey” can have the same effect. Plus, it signals that you’re about to get a bit more serious than normal, and even pads the blow a little.

Hey, I wanted to apologize for taking my bad mood out on you earlier.

Without the hey, it sounds stiff, even insincere. With the hey, you get a casual, human touch that leads neatly into the point.

Don’t write a novel

We get it: it’s hard to make a point in a couple lines. But if the message is longer than the phone screen and you have to scroll to see the whole thing, it’s probably too much for the person to digest. Just like in other forms of writing, you’ll make a stronger point if you avoid filler words and get directly to the issue.

Compare these two texts to a coworker:

Hey Karen, I’m really sorry, but I think I ate something weird last night and I’m feeling really sick. I know we were supposed to prep for our big presentation today, but I’m just feeling too sick to leave the house today. Hopefully I’ll be better tomorrow and we can figure things out then. Sorry again, but thanks for understanding!

Then, you take out the (digital) red pen:

Hey Karen, so sorry, but I’ve got food poisoning. We’ll have to do our meeting prep when I’m back. I’ll follow up by email when possible.

More succinct, and more professional, too.

Sum up your argument

What is this, expository essay class? It may sound like even more added weight, but if you have to say something complicated, one way to keep it clean is to write the main point in one text, and send your “conclusion” as a separate text. For example:

Text 1: Hey, I understand that you have a lot going on right now and can’t make it to the dinner tonight, but I’ve got to say I’m disappointed. I planned it months ago and was really counting on you being there. Even with everything you have on your plate, I thought this would be a priority for you.

Text 2: Anyway, sorry for being upset and I do understand you’ve got a lot happening, but wanted you to know.

Heavy stuff—maybe even better over the phone or in person. Still, there are times when you need to have your say, and text is the only venue for doing it. And in those cases, a final line—sometimes with an extra “thanks” or “sorry”—can make the message more personal and caring.

Offer a follow-up

The tips so far have given you some fuel for your serious, thoughtful, or bad-news texts. But there are some conversations that should be had in person. You can lay the groundwork in your text and then plug for a different venue to keep the discussion going. For example:

Hey, our presentation is coming along, but I think it needs more work. Let’s set up some time to talk about moving it forward.

Hey, I’m sorry I hurt your feelings with that stupid joke earlier. Can I call you?

Hi Mom, guess what? I got the job offer! Too many details to text but I’ll tell you more over dinner tomorrow.

With this kind of message, you can say what you need to say but not overburden your text recipient with information.

Send a gif

Caveat: Maybe you don’t send a white rabbit gif to your boss to explain you’re running late for your very important date—er, meeting.

But if you think the person you’re writing will respond well to a bit of levity, adding a gif or a meme is a great way to lighten the mood of a serious message. Technology has given us the gift of sending moving cats to people by phone, so why not take advantage of it?

Here are some ways to make it go purringly:

Things are pretty tough right now (cat getting a bath)

I didn’t mean to lash out at you (cat lashing out at its balloon lookalike)

What you said hurt my feelings (cat hanging its head with a wounded air)

I’m really sorry I messed up this time (cat falling off a chair)

I’m sorry I can’t make it. Just can’t handle a party tonight (cat looking like it can’t handle a party any night. Even with the sombrero.)

As with emails, conversations in person, or other forms of communication, if you’re saying something important in a text message, think through how best to say it. Make sure you plan your words based on the person you’re writing to (e.g., you’ll be more formal in professional settings than personal ones), and before you tap Send, read your message through to make sure it doesn’t sound aggressive, whiny, or mean.

And nine times out of ten, animal gifs are your friend.

The post Yes, You Can Make a Complex Point Over Text appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/clear-texting-tips/

[arthur36domingo]

These Books Will Help You Truly Relax on Vacation

“An adventure awaits,” “an escape from the ordinary”— travel ads often promise journeyers a chance to leave the ennui of their normal lives. But did you know that you don’t have to board a plane reach an exotic, remote location? In escapist literature, writers create a rich, absorbing environment for their characters. Readers live vicariously in a captivating alternative reality. While the characters in the novel run for their lives or fall head over heels in love, the readers unwind and enjoy the experience from the safety of the real world. These books will enhance your relaxing getaway.

At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

At the Water’s Edge, according to The Globe and Mail, is “a compelling comfort read with an odd plot.” The Hyde family emigrates from the United States to Scotland. Moving to a different country doesn’t sound too strange until you realize they do it to prove that the Loch Ness monster is real. Ellis, the young heir of the family, is not alone in this endeavor; cryptozoology is the study of creatures whose existence has not been proven (or disproven) by scientific evidence. However, for Ellis, uncovering the mystery of the Loch Ness monster equates to saving his family name from dishonor. The farther you follow the exploits of this dysfunctional family, the farther you will leave your cares behind.

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

Have you heard of newbie writer Robert Galbraith? As you read this mystery, you may notice that the so-called unknown author has some serious writing chops. The story follows Cormoran Strike, a veteran who lost a leg while on duty, who now makes his living as a private investigator. His newest case deals with the apparent suicide of a supermodel. Her brother John doesn’t think his sister killed herself, and it’s up to Cormoran to find out the truth. The Guardian reports that readers have “never met [a detective] quite like Strike.” In particular, he has an uncanny knowledge of women’s fashion and a keen nose. These two facts give a clue to the true identity of the author. Galbraith seems to know a lot about the ins and outs of film sets. Could it be that seven previous novels about a boy wizard published under his real name yielded eight major motion pictures? If you are still stumped, here’s a final clue: The author shares first and middle initials with an author-economist whose last name is also Galbraith.

How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell

It’s not easy to completely destroy your life when you begin with all the advantages. Fifteen-year-old Cat Marnell went to a fancy boarding school. She had access to the best things in life. She was miserable. Unable to provide for her emotional needs, her psychiatrist father did what he knew how to do—prescribe medicine. She quickly graduated from ADHD medicine to Xanax, Ecstasy, and beyond. Was her life completely in the gutter already? No, don’t forgot her connections. She landed a cushy high-profile job at Condè Nast as a magazine article editor. While most successful twenty-somethings were shopping for clothes and hi-tech gadgets, Cat was shopping for drugs. Of course, she couldn’t do it on the street—Condè Nast would have certainly frowned on that. She acquired them straight from the doctor’s office by pretending to have whatever mental illness necessary. Eventually her lifestyle did catch up with her, and her honest report of the aftermath will leave you counting your blessings. How to Murder Your Life is one of Glamour magazine’s Best Books of 2017. Will it make your list too?

I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki

Goodreads describes I Am a Cat as “one of the most original and unforgettable works in Japanese literature.” Translated from its original Japanese into English, the novel retains its rich allegories and captivating prose. The story begins with a strangely observant stray kitty with no name. If you like to people watch, you will love to see how the world is interpreted through the eyes of a sneakily silent feline. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all a cute story; the author addresses deep issues about the social issues of the Meiji period, history, art, and Chinese philosophy in this unique satire.

Your travel adventures don’t have to end on the beach. Books can also provide “an escape from the ordinary.” Are you going on a vacation soon? If so, you have two things to do. First, decide where you want to go. Second, choose the books that will transport you to exotic locals as you relax. Enjoy your trip!

The post These Books Will Help You Truly Relax on Vacation appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/relaxing-vacation-reads/

[arthur36domingo]

How to Write a Thank-You Email After an Interview, According to Experts

Have you ever been in this situation?

You go in for an interview, and after a harrowing two hours, walk out feeling relatively confident that you made a good impression. Your resume was flawless. Your cover letter was witty and showed passion. Your interview outfit was on point. You thought you really bonded with the team that interviewed you. Nothing could go wrong, right?

Two days later, you get a rejection email in your inbox from the same recruiter you had poured your heart out to just days prior. Confused, you ask why you’re no longer being considered for the role. No response.

What went wrong? You forgot a vital (and oft-overlooked) part of the job search process: the thank-you letter!

Why After-Interview Thank-You Notes Are an Important Art

If you think it’s terrifying being interviewed, you’re not alone. But let me tell you, interviews (especially in-person interviews) can be an equally traumatizing experience from the other side of the table.

I kicked off the search for my first hire at Grammarly earlier this year, and when the first on-site interview came around, I was terrified. Sitting there with my list of questions and my notebook, I tried to simultaneously project confidence, follow my company’s values, ask the right questions, make sure my hair didn’t do anything weird, and (attempt to) mask my nerves.

Sound familiar?

Even if interviews are a vital part of the recruiting process, the first round of the interview process can be awkward for everyone. That’s why it’s key to thank your interviewers—often the process has made them just as uncomfortable as you are! That’s why a killer post-interview thank-you note can help you make a great impression and land the job.

But don’t take my word for it! Lily Zhang, a career expert at MIT, put it this way on The Muse:

Think of it this way: Your interview isn’t over until you send a thank you note. You want to move the hiring managers from interview mindset to decision mindset as quickly as possible, so don’t drag it out.

I asked Olivia Seastrom, a recruiter at Grammarly, what she loves about thank-you notes. She said,

I really like thoughtful, sincere thank you notes after interviews, and I always sent them when I was interviewing. It doesn’t have to be formal, just a nice note to express interest and thank someone for their time.

Additionally, a great thank-you note can make you stand out from the crowd. CareerBuilder determined that only 57 percent of candidates send thank-you notes, and 20 percent of hiring managers would be less likely to hire someone without a thank you. That could mean the difference between a job and a rejection.

Planning Your Thank-You Note: Know What You Want to Communicate

With any important piece of writing, planning is half the battle. Should you follow up over email, in a handwritten notecard, or on social media? And what should you write?

There are two vital factors to consider when writing a thank-you note after an interview: speed and specificity. Thank yous are not “better late than never.” In fact, most interviewers expect an email or letter within a day. That means time is of the essence, and you need to work quickly! As one Glassdoor recruiter puts it, “it is vital to send a thank you email to your interviews within 24-48 hours.”

Even though you must write quickly, you also need to personalize each thank-you note to the interviewer. Gone are the days where I would look at a template thank-you note and consider it worth my time to read. As Valerie LeClair, Grammarly’s Director of Recruiting, once described to me,

Write from the heart! If a candidate is going to write a standardized, impersonal note, there is no reason to even send it.

But don’t panic! Take a deep breath and reflect on your interview experience. Now, ask yourself these idea-generating questions:

How did the interview go? Did anything weird happen?

Did I flub on a question I know I have a better answer for?

Did I forget to ask the interviewer one of my questions?

Is there something additional this interviewer should know about me?

Did I discuss anything interesting? Find any similarities to my interviewer?

After you formulate a few ideas (either in your head or on paper), it’s time to think format. If you want to make a truly over-the-top impression, consider a handwritten note. If you had many interviewers or know you have more rounds of interviews to go through, you can probably stick with email. No matter what, avoid a public social media follow-up. As Jenny Foss writes on The Muse:

Who are you trying to thank? The interviewer (this is who you should be trying to thank, directly) or the entire corporation and all of its thousands of followers? Seriously.

Writing Your Thank-You Letter: Tips & Templates

By now, you should have a format, deadline, and list of ideas for your thank-you note, and it’s time to slap on your writing hat and get to work. Here are the general principles of a great letter or email.

Be your best self, on paper.

Your cover letter and resume were all about representing the best version of your professional self, and this thank-you note should be no different. Don’t resort to overly familiar language just because you’ve met someone in person, but also don’t suddenly become cold and dispassionate. Keep the same tone you would in any other email to the recruiter or hiring manager, and if there’s a place to remind them of your passion for the role, go for it!

The only thing you should avoid in a thank-you is trying to sell yourself once again. You’re writing this note to show you appreciate someone’s time, not to tell them you’re awesome. Remember that.

Keep it short, and mind your structure.

In the same vein, don’t suddenly write a novel about how much you love the company or the person you talked to. You may have many things to tell this recruiter or hiring manager, but try to stick to one main point, question, or fun fact.

Personally, if I’m reading a thank-you email longer than five sentences, I’ve probably started to wonder if the time to read it was worth my investment. Your interviewers probably feel the same.

Having trouble getting started? Here’s a thank-you email template.

I know all of this sounds great in theory, but slamming pen to paper (or fingers to keys) is a very different matter. Never fear, templates and suggestions are here!

Before I share a general format, I want you to repeat after me: “I solemnly swear not to copy-paste this template into my email.” We’ve already covered why a generic thank you is almost worse than no thank you, but in case you’re not convinced, here’s an infographic to change your mind. That said, a few ideas never hurt, so feel free to steal any of the phrases or sentences below and make them your own!

Dear [Interviewer’s Name],

[Opening line thanking them.] [Personalized detail about how you enjoyed meeting them, the hiring manager, and/or the team.] [Sentence that adds value to the discussions you had, and shows your passion for the company and position.]

[Sentence about how excited you are to hear from them, that also sets you up to send a follow-up email later.] [Closing sentence that thanks them again, and offers to provide further information.]

[Sign-Off],

[Your Name]

Subject Lines

Thanks for Chatting Today – Use something like this if you had a phone screen or video interview.

Nice to Meet You Today – This works well for interviews that take place on site.

Thanks, and a Question – Have a nagging, relevant question that shows you’re passionate about the role? Use this email to follow up after your interview!

Thank You for Your Time – Especially good if it was a long interview.

Many Thanks – Short, sweet, and classic.

Opening Lines

It was really nice meet you today.

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.

Thanks for taking the time to introduce me to the team today.

Thank you so much for your time today.

Thanks for chatting with me today.

Closing Sentences

Thank you again for your time, and let me know if there is any further information I can provide to aid in your decision.

Let me know if there is any more information I can provide. I’d be happy to follow up on any items we discussed today.

Thanks again for your time. It was great to meet you!

Thanks again for chatting with me. I am eagerly awaiting next steps.

Sign-Offs

All the Best,

Many Thanks,

Thank You,

Editing Your Work: A Thank-You Email and Letter Checklist

I love to edit all sorts of writing, but I know this isn’t true for everyone! Since editing can be a time-consuming step, here are two checklists you can use to make sure your email is flawless: one for real letters and one for emails. Don’t worry, editing shouldn’t take longer than five minutes, so you’ll still get that email out in time!

If you’re writing a pen-and-paper thank-you letter:

Did I format this note correctly? If it’s handwritten, can any average person read my handwriting?

Have I addressed the person I’m thanking correctly? Am I spelling their name right?

Did I make my point in under five sentences?

Did I mention a specific topic, common interest, or question relevant to my discussion with this person?

Did I say “thank you” at some point in the note?

Did I sign the thank-you letter?

Did I proofread the note? (Don’t know how to do this? Check out this blog on proofreading techniques.)

No really, is the writing flawless?

Have I addressed the envelope, purchased postage, and mailed the letter within 24-48 hours of the interview?

If you did all of these things, congratulations! You deserve to put your feet up and sip your favorite post-interview beverage (mine’s herbal tea, but you do you).

If you’re writing a thank-you email:

Did I include a relevant subject line? Is everything spelled correctly there?

Have I addressed the person I’m thanking correctly? Am I spelling their name and email right?

Did I make my point in under five sentences?

Did I mention a specific topic, common interest, or question relevant to my discussion with this person?

Did I say “thank you” at some point in the note?

Are my signature, email name, and email avatar photo all in alignment to project a professional image?

Did I use Grammarly to edit this note for correctness, clarity, and word choice? (Don’t have Grammarly? Get the app here.)

Did I proofread this email? (Don’t know how to do this? Check out these tips.)

Did I hit “Send” within 24-48 hours?

If you did all of these things, congratulations! You deserve to grab a book and a snack and take a break. The hard part is (mostly) over.

Need more help following up after interviews? Check back for more insights next week.

The post How to Write a Thank-You Email After an Interview, According to Experts appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/thank-you-email-after-interview/