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Two weeks have gone by since that interview for your dream job, and you now have butterflies in your stomach. You have been left hanging, without any response from the hiring manager regarding their decision.

Has your resume been discarded? Have they gone with a different candidate? Or, are they still going through the hiring and interviewing process, and they haven’t yet settled on a candidate?

If you don’t know whether to give up hope and apply to another job or continue waiting for a response, sending a followup email is a good idea. It can give you peace of mind and clarity regarding whether you can expect to get the role or not.

Quick Summary

Sending an email two weeks after an interview will help ease your anxiety, give you clarity, and keep you in the interviewer’s thoughts.

Here are some must-have tips for writing a followup email two weeks after an interview:

  • Craft a good subject line
  • Start with a professional greeting
  • Introduce yourself and provide background context
  • Reiterate your interest
  • Ask a clear followup question
  • Close with a professional signature
  • Proofread before sending
  • Don’t use ChatGPT – be original

For more in-depth advice, and to see examples of what you can write in your followup email, continue reading! We’ve laid it all out for you.

Why You Should Follow Up at the Two-Week Mark?

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Why should you follow up after your interview? And, more importantly, why is two weeks a good time to follow up?

Two weeks is the ideal time to follow up after an interview. One week is a bit too early.

At the one-week mark, the hiring manager is probably still interviewing other candidates. At two weeks, they are likely wrapping up the hiring process, reviewing which candidates they are shortlisting, and taking into account considerations such as interview performance and professional background.

While the hiring process can, of course, stretch out longer than two weeks, there is a certain risk in waiting too long to follow up. If you wait too long, the hiring manager might have already interviewed many other candidates, and they may not completely remember you.

At two weeks, on the other hand, you are still somewhat fresh in the interviewer’s mind. At the same time, they had a chance to interview other candidates.

If you are truly qualified for the job, chances are that the hiring manager interviewed quite a few weaker candidates than you in the meantime. They get a chance to compare others to you and discover that you are a good choice.

A quick followup can help refresh the hiring manager’s memory and give them an opportunity to think about you again. They may realize that you were one of the better candidates and send you an offer.

Tips for Sending a Followup Email at Two Weeks

Use the Right Subject Line

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A good subject line will stand out and catch the recruiter’s attention. Remember, the recruiter likely has a swamped inbox.

If you don’t stand out, they may not even look at your email or open it. While you don’t want to use anything that sounds too flashy or clickbaity, you do want an interesting subject line that is relevant to the purpose of the email.

Some examples may include:

  • Following up my interview ([Name])
  • Post-interview clarification
  • Thank you for your time
  • Regarding our meeting
  • Following up regarding [job position]

Start With a Professional Greeting

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Always start your emails with a professional greeting. A professional greeting is the right way to start any email you send to a hiring manager.

Some examples of greetings that are not appropriate include:

  • Hey
  • Yo
  • What’s up?
  • What’s good?
  • Morning
  • What’s popping?

You get the gist. Anything that involves slang or is a non-formal greeting should not be used.
“Morning” is also not a good choice since it’s not a complete greeting but rather a shortened greeting used in everyday speech, which isn’t really suitable for formal writing.

Examples of good greetings include:

  • Dear [Hiring Manager Name]
  • Good morning [Hiring Manager Name]
  • Hello [Hiring Manager Name]

These are complete greetings. They also include the hiring manager’s name.

To keep it professional, it’s best not to use the hiring manager’s first name. Instead, use their last name with a professional salutation, such as:

  • Mr. Jones
  • Ms. Pinkman
  • Mrs. Shieldman

That keeps things formal and professional. Using their first name can seem like a sign of disrespect, especially if you are applying for an entry-level or junior position and don’t have much or any experience to speak of just yet.

Introduce Yourself

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Once you’ve gotten the greeting out of the way, it’s time to start with a brief introduction. The interviewer might be going through their inbox very quickly.

If they’re just starting their day and perusing their emails while drinking their morning coffee, they might not be paying a lot of attention to every single email.

Instead, they might be quickly looking through their inbox, paying attention to the things that catch their eye and which they deem important, and trashing the rest.

Remember, too, that the interviewer has a lot of things on their mind and may have already interviewed another dozen or two candidates. They may have even interviewed candidates for other roles, if the company is hiring for several roles!

That’s why it’s important to introduce yourself with some background context. In the opening of your email, after the introduction, introduce yourself and remind the interviewer which role you were applying for.

You should also mention the date or day the interview took place to jog the hiring manager’s memory. Here is an example of what I am talking about:

“My name is Bob MacDonald, and I interviewed for the position of Junior QA Analyst approximately two weeks ago on Monday morning.”

And here is another example:

“This is Joe McJagger. You may recall our interview two weeks ago, during which we discussed my eligibility for the position of senior project manager.”

Mention Your Continued Interest

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Next, make sure to mention that you are still interested in the position. Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and your interest in the company.

Mention any motivation or inspiration you might have that caused you to apply for this role or this company in particular. If there was something you left out during your interview, now is a good time to put it in your email, but don’t make it too lengthy!

Here are some examples:

“I’d like to confirm my sincere interest in the position. I continue to believe that this role fits my skills and goals perfectly, and I believe I would be a perfect match for the company culture.”

“I’m still very much interested in the position. I would love to become a part of your team.”

“I’d like to express my enthusiasm for this role. I am excited at the thought of working here.”

Ask the Question

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Once you have greeted the hiring manager, introduced yourself with some background, and reiterated your interest in the position, it’s time to ask the dreaded question. After all, that’s why you are really sending the email: You want to know if you are still being considered for the role.

Ask the question gently, without coming across as too pushy. Here are a few good examples of how you might phrase this question:

“Have you completed the hiring process?”

“Am I still being considered for this role?”

“What are the next steps in the hiring process?”

“Do you have an estimated time for your final decision?”

“Have you made a final hiring decision yet?”

Express Appreciation or Thanks

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Before you finish your email, it’s good practice to express your appreciation and thank the interviewer for the opportunity. Don’t overdo it, but show that you are appreciative of the hiring manager’s time.

Here are some examples of things you can write:

“I also want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview with you.”

“Regardless of your final decision, it was an honor to meet you and to be considered for the role.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you and being given this opportunity.”

“I highly appreciate you taking the time to read and respond to this email.”

“Thank you for the interview and for your time; it’s been a great honor and a pleasure.”

End With a Professional Signature

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Finally, end with a professional sign-off. You should close off with your name and email signature.

Ideally, your email signature should contain your contact details. That can include your email address, LinkedIn profile, or phone number.

It just makes it a bit easier for the hiring manager to get back to you.

For example, if your phone number is in the signature, the hiring manager can easily give you a quick call to update you regarding the process.

On the other hand, if the hiring manager needs to search through the company’s database to find your number, it might seem like too much work, and they may push it off and never get around to it.

Of course, they could always respond to your email directly, but in some cases, there might be things that are better off discussed over the phone.

So, how should you end your email? Here are some ideas:

  • Sincerely, [Name]
  • Yours truly, [Name]
  • Kind regards, [Name]
  • Regards, [Name]
  • Warm regards, [Name]

These are all acceptable sign-offs. By the way, it’s good practice to include your full name and not just your first name or only your last name.

It’s very possible that the company interviewed two people with the same first name. Similarly, it’s possible that they interviewed two Mr. Smiths.

Including both your first and last name will also make it easier for the hiring manager to remember you.

Here are some unacceptable sign-offs:

  • Goodbye
  • Peace
  • Over and out
  • Bye
  • See ya

Proofread Before Sending

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Always proofread your email twice before you send it! A small spelling mistake or grammatical error might not seem like a big deal to you, but it can influence the hiring manager’s perception of you.

So, take the time to proofread your email. If you want, you can give it to a friend to proofread as well.

Often, we don’t notice mistakes in our own writing. We know what we intended to write, so when we read it over, our brains register what we intended to write rather than the mistake that was actually written.

By speaking every word out loud, it will be easier to detect errors.

Another good idea is to run your email through Grammarly or LanguageTool before sending it. These two grammar checking tools also offer Chrome extensions that allow you to check your writing within Gmail or anywhere else in your browser.

Don’t Use ChatGPT

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I’d like to end with a caution about using ChatGPT to write your followup emails. Although many people do it, as it’s becoming increasingly common to use ChatGPT as a sort of virtual assistant, I don’t recommend it.

It’s always better to be original and to create original work. That will help you stand out.

The reason for that is that although you may not notice the difference, ChatGPT tends to output emails, lists, and content that often follows a very similar pattern or template. The hiring manager has probably seen dozens, if not hundreds, of emails.

The emails that were written by ChatGPT are very obvious as such. They generally follow the same structure and sometimes even look identical.

Trust me, you’re not doing yourself any favors by using ChatGPT. It might save you a few minutes, but it’s worth taking the time and putting in a little effort if you really value the job opportunity.

Using ChatGPT can cause the hiring manager to feel that you’re lazy and don’t want to put in the work. It shows that you prefer to take shortcuts rather than put in effort and use critical thinking to offer something unique.

That’s certainly not a quality that hiring managers are looking for.

That’s not to say that ChatGPT has no utility at all. There are ways to use ChatGPT, but mostly to help you brainstorm and generate ideas.

However, don’t use it to write your followup emails. It will be very obvious, and it will do you more harm than good.

Conclusion

It’s often a good idea to follow up with a hiring manager around two weeks after an interview. There are several benefits of doing so.

On the one hand, it will give you peace of mind and clarity. If you’re nervously awaiting a call, you can avoid the anxiety by getting a clear no.

It’s better to know that you weren’t selected than to not know and sit there wondering. It will allow you to redirect your mental focus and shift your energy to applying for other jobs.

At the same time, it can help keep you in the hiring manager’s mind if they have not yet decided on a candidate. Not every hiring manager is super organized, and a quick email often does a lot of good to jog their memory.

 

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How To Answer Tell Me About Yourself When You Have No Experience? (With Examples) https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/how-to-answer-tell-me-about-yourself/ Mon, 27 May 2024 10:55:49 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=125748 One of the most common interview questions you will get is, “tell me about yourself.” While not technically a question, this is one of the most loaded interview prompts you will have to respond to. It’s common for interviewers across all industries and positions to ask this question. It’s also one of the most difficult ...

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One of the most common interview questions you will get is, “tell me about yourself.” While not technically a question, this is one of the most loaded interview prompts you will have to respond to.

It’s common for interviewers across all industries and positions to ask this question. It’s also one of the most difficult questions to answer, especially if you have no experience.

It’s not a yes or no question. Not only that, but it can sometimes be challenging to figure out exactly what the interviewer is looking for and which response will be the best.

And, if you have no experience, it can feel even more daunting. You might not know where to start or what to talk about.

Don’t worry, though. In this guide, you will learn all that you need to know about answering this question.

After reading this guide, you will be able to confidently respond to “tell me about yourself” without hesitation, even if you have no experience.

Quick Summary

If you don’t have any experience, here are some things to talk about when answering the question of “tell us more about yourself”:

  • Talk about your education, including self learning
  • Talk about projects or volunteering experience you have done
  • Discuss your skills, including skills used in other situations which are transferable to your scenario
  • Talk about your career goals
  • Mention your passion and motivation

Above all, be confident. Practice answering this question several times before your interview, and you will get the hang of it in no time!

What Do Employers Want With This Question?

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To better answer this question, though, you first need to understand what employers and hiring managers actually want with this question.

There are a few things employers are looking for when asking this question. Here are some of the things an interviewer might want to hear in your response.

Whether You Are Passionate

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One thing that is bound to come out when you answer this question is how passionate you are about the topic, job role, or industry.

For example, if you are applying for a position as a junior developer, your passion will inevitably rise to the surface when you talk about how you got into software development and why you wanted to be a developer.

If you aren’t passionate about software development and just made it through college or your bootcamp while hanging by a thread, you won’t be waxing on about software engineering with passion.

Your passion and motivation will be crucial in your job role, which is why employers ask you this question.

Whether You Possess Self Awareness

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Another crucial factor that will become evident in your response is how self-aware you are. Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses?

Are you able to objectively determine what you are good at and what you are lacking? When you talk about yourself, including your educational journey, you will have an opportunity to reflect on the weaknesses you noticed and what you did to address them.

That will show employers that you are self-aware and able to accept feedback and constructive criticism, which are all crucial qualities for job success.

Whether You Are a Fit for the Company Culture

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When you are asked to talk about yourself, employers want to see if you will be a fit for the company culture. A lot of your perspectives on the industry and life in general will come out when you talk about yourself.

In addition, your work ethic and enthusiasm will become apparent. Many companies look for such qualities when assessing whether you would make a good fit for the team.

That’s also why it’s important to research the company culture before your interview. It will help you answer the question in a way that makes it appear as if you make a good fit.

Whether You Have Confidence and Problem-Solving Skills

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In addition, your response will indicate how you approach problems and how you go about solving them. When you talk about yourself, it’s natural to talk about the obstacles you have faced and how you overcame the challenges that were presented to you in life.

The confidence in how you approach problems, and the confidence in which you answer this question in general, will have a decided impact on the interviewer’s impression of you.

A good problem solver is not afraid of problems and obstacles but rather embraces them head on, with confidence.

How to Answer the Question “Tell Me About Yourself” When You Have No Experience?

So, how can you answer the question “tell me about yourself” when you have zero experience to speak of? Here are some things you can talk about.

Talk About Your Education

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Most likely, if you have no experience, you are applying for a new grad or entry-level role. Some grads may have internship experience, but not all grads manage to find internships during their studies, and that’s okay.

Instead, talk about your education. For example, if you took courses that are relevant to the job requirements, or if you opted to take electives that are relevant, talk about them.

Discuss what you learned in those classes, the types of assignments or essays you had to submit, and the grade you achieved.

Don’t omit self learning!

A common mistake is to only mention university studies. However, if you did self learning on the side, you should definitely mention them as well.

Whether it’s an Udemy course, a bootcamp, a training event, or even self learning on YouTube, mention any self learning you undertook that is applicable to the job.

Self learning shows that you are motivated and passionate about the topic. It demonstrates that you are willing to go beyond what is required of you.

Instead of doing the bare minimum, you sacrificed your spare time to enrich your knowledge. It shows dedication and, above all, that you enjoy the topic – otherwise, you wouldn’t spend your leisure time on it.

If the self learning resulted in a certificate or certification, make sure to highlight that. An example could be CompTIA’s A+, Net+, and Sec+ certificates, which are relevant to the IT (Information Technology) field.

Example

“During my computer science studies, I studied data structures and algorithms and Python in school. I also learned C++ and C#, which were not covered by my university. I also attended an online bootcamp to brush up my frontend and backend skills, earning a full-stack developer certification in the process from [bootcamp name].”

Discuss Past Projects

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If you did any projects related to the topic, even if it’s not actual work experience, mention them as well.

For example, many college courses require you to do projects. Going back to our example of software engineering, most computer science degrees will require you to do things like build a web app, design a database, and complete other projects.

Of course, university projects are the bare minimum. Ideally, you will have projects that you completed in your free time, such as building a game in Python.

For IT, you might have built a home lab or written security audit reports.

However, even if you only have university projects under your belt, it’s better than nothing.

In addition, if you took part in hackathons, group meetups on the topic, or other projects with fellow students, mention them.

Example

“During the last summer break, I took part in Google’s Summer of Code. I worked with other developers to contribute to important open-source projects that make the world a better place.”

Mention Volunteering Experience

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In addition to university and personal projects, you may have volunteering experience under your belt.

Volunteering experience does not exactly qualify as work experience. That’s because it’s missing many elements of the skills that are required to work in a company.

For example, when you volunteer, you can usually decide how many hours you put in and work at your leisure, since you’re not getting paid for it. You also don’t have a manager breathing down your neck; it’s typically more easy going, since they are just happy that you’re contributing.

Nevertheless, it can still showcase your skills. It also shows how passionate you are about the topic, since you are willing to devote your time to working for free.

Finally, it demonstrates that you have the right ethical convictions and are willing to contribute your time and effort for the greater good.

Example

“I helped my local church set up and secure their IT systems. I applied my skills in networking and served as a support point for church staff who needed help with their computers.”

Talk About Your Career Goals

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Don’t just talk about your past, though. It’s a good idea to talk about your future plans as well.

For example, what are your career goals? Why did you apply for a role at this company?

To answer that latter question, you will need to do a bit of research about the company before your interview.

Another question you might want to answer is where you see yourself in a few years. Even if the interviewers don’t ask that question (and they often do), you can talk about it when asked to speak about yourself.

Example

“While currently applying for help desk, I would like to advance from there. In a few years, I see myself becoming a network administrator/system administrator. Eventually, I would like to transition into cybersecurity, starting by becoming a SOC (Security Operations Center) analyst. To that end, I am currently working on obtaining relevant certifications, such as Sec+ and Pentest+.”

Delve Into Your Life Trajectory

When asked about yourself, you can just literally talk about yourself, including how you grew up and which factors influenced you to take the path you took.

For example, was there a parent figure in your life, whether an uncle or teacher, who motivated you to pursue the degree and career you choose? How did they influence you?

How did you find your path? For example, why did you choose your specific university?

Example

“I’ve always been interested in computers and tech. When I was a kid, I was already coding simple games and apps. Over the years, my passion for software development has grown, and I regularly contribute to open-source projects. My older brother was a great inspiration to me, as he is a well-known software engineer at [Company Name] and has spearheaded many important innovations there.”

Wax On About Your Passion and Motivation

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When someone doesn’t have experience, recruiters will usually want them to have passion and motivation. Someone who is passionate will be able to internalize and apply constructive criticism, as well as invest in their own education.

So, talk about how passionate you are about the job. Talk about the things that motivate you.

Example

“I’m extremely passionate about software. I simply love building things, and nothing is better than the satisfaction of building a working app that can help people out in their day-to-day lives. Not only that, but even the small steps bring me great joy. The empowering feeling of implementing a working algorithm is something that I can’t describe.”

Talk About Your Skills, Including Transferrable Ones

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Finally, make a big deal out of any skills you have, even if you don’t have work experience. For example, are you a natural leader?

Perhaps you were a student leader in college. While that’s not quite work experience, it does show that you have leadership skills.

It’s a skill that is transferable to any situation. If you have any other transferable skills, such as working under pressure while meeting deadlines, mention them too.

Example

“In college, I led three of my group projects. I was in charge of ensuring the project ran smoothly, that everyone submitted their work on time, and that everyone communicated with each other in a seamless manner. Despite the challenges, such as some students who didn’t seem to want to put in the work, I was able to bring the projects to completion, on time, successfully.”

Tips for Answering The Question Correctly

Don’t Memorize a Script

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Don’t memorize a script. Interviewers can tell when you are simply parroting a script that ChatGPT or a friend wrote for you.

Besides, reciting a script is a mistake. It won’t allow your passion to shine through.

When you speak naturally, you will be able to speak from your heart. You will use a tone of voice that demonstrates passion, which isn’t as easy to do when simply reciting something you committed to memory.

Another thing to remember is that a script doesn’t really prepare you for questions that may be interjected. You’ll want to instead make a list of common questions you may expect and provide a few possible answers to each, so you can allow the conversation to flow freely without being stumped by anything that gets thrown your way.

There Is No Perfect Answer

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Another thing to remember is that there is no perfect answer. Interviewers want to see things like your level of confidence, self awareness, and passion, as we already mentioned.

There is no single way to demonstrate this. So let the conversation flow, and don’t be stilted.

If you feel stumped, just speak. Don’t worry about giving the perfect answer; just start speaking, and the rest will come by itself.

Be Confident

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Above all, be confident. Be confident in your suitability for the position and don’t second guess yourself.

Interviewers like candidates who are confident, because they will be able to approach problems confidently and tackle problems head on. It’s normal to display some signs of nervousness, though.

In fact, worrying about being nervous and trying not to look nervous is usually counterproductive, because it only makes you more nervous. Allow yourself the luxury of displaying some nervousness, as it will make your mind more relaxed and allow you to focus on the interview at hand.

Practice, Practice, Practice

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Most of all, practice! The more you practice for your interview, the easier it will be when the time comes to do it in real life.

Talk to yourself in the mirror, talk to an imaginary hiring manager, have a friend interview you while role playing as a hiring manager, or use an AI chatbot that exists for this purpose. The most important thing is to get comfortable freestyling answers to questions such as “tell me about yourself.”

That way, when the time comes, you will be able to confidently express yourself, without stumbling over your words or hesitating when speaking.

Conclusion

If this is your first interview, it’s normal to be nervous, or anxious. The first interview is always nerve wracking, but believe me, it does get easier with time.

Consider it a learning experience. Don’t worry too much about the outcome, because there will be other interview opportunities at other companies.

Rather, consider it practice for future interviews. Over time, you will get more comfortable answering the question of “tell me more about yourself.”

It will even come naturally! You will no longer have to worry about being hit with that question, because answering it will be second nature for you.

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How HR Can Handle Underperforming Employees? https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/how-hr-can-handle-underperforming-employees/ Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:09:09 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=125113 Underperforming employees can be disastrous for your company. They can lead to decreased productivity, increased costs, and missed deadlines. When employees are not performing well, customer satisfaction may also be affected. Unhappy customers may switch to another brand, hurting your profits. Furthermore, when the underperforming employee’s coworkers see that their colleague is not pulling their ...

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Underperforming employees can be disastrous for your company. They can lead to decreased productivity, increased costs, and missed deadlines.

When employees are not performing well, customer satisfaction may also be affected. Unhappy customers may switch to another brand, hurting your profits.

Furthermore, when the underperforming employee’s coworkers see that their colleague is not pulling their full weight, it could lead to decreased morale in the workplace. Nobody wants to feel like they’re giving it their all, while someone else is getting the same pay for a halfhearted effort.

That’s why it’s critical to identify underperformance in the workplace and address it as soon as possible.

Read on to learn how to identify underperformance and address it.

Also Read: HR Trigger Words

Quick Summary

First, identify the signs of underperformance:

  • Poor work quality
  • Tardiness
  • Missing meetings and deadlines
  • Poor communication
  • Clear lack of skills

Once you have determined that an employee is underperforming, try to identify the root cause of the issue, which can include:

  • Burnout or excessive stress
  • Personal issues
  • Lack of motivation or interest
  • A poor hiring decision
  • Lack of qualifications

Finally, it’s time to address the issue. Some of the best ways to address underperformance in the workplace include:

  • Putting the employee on a performance plan
  • Setting clear goals and KPIs
  • Providing additional training
  • Giving a warning
  • Firing as a last resort

Also Read: Things That Scare Human Resource

First Steps: Identifying Underperformance

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It’s important to watch out for the early signs of underperformance. Letting this problem fester for too long will cost you a lot more than if you were to catch it early and address it promptly.

Shoddy Work Quality

One of the most obvious red flags to watch out for is poor work quality. An underperforming employee will do the bare minimum to get by.

Such a person might meet deadlines, but their submitted work just won’t be up to par.

If clients are constantly complaining about the quality of the work, look at who produced that work. Search for patterns – are clients constantly complaining about the production of a specific employee?

Poor work quality could also include consistent errors. Occasional errors are normal and to be expected; we’re all human.

However, if errors are frequent and feedback is not being addressed and taken into account for future work, it’s time to start worrying.

Also Read: Why HR Is Not Your Friend?

Missing Deadlines

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Another red flag is consistently missing deadlines. Again, nobody is perfect, but if deadlines are being missed right and left, it will affect your overall production and is therefore not acceptable.

Furthermore, if a deadline is missed, the employee should provide a valid reason for why they missed it.

Not Meeting Quotas

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Depending on the nature of the job, your employee might be required to fulfill certain quotas, such as onboarding a certain number of clients or making a certain number of sales.

Again, missing a quota here and there isn’t necessarily a sign of underperformance. However, consistently missing quotas usually means that the employee isn’t able to keep up with the demands of the job or isn’t interested in putting in the work.

Also Read: What To Do When HR Is The Bully?

Tardiness

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An employee who consistently shows up late to work or doesn’t attend meetings will lead to slowdowns in production.

This applies even, and perhaps especially, to remote workers. An employee who is given the option to work from home needs to possess the discipline and motivation to attend all virtual meetings and clock in on time.

Working from home should not be used as an excuse to skip meetings or clock in late.

Poor Communication

Finally, another red flag is poor communication. That can include:

  • Not responding to emails on time
  • Not answering calls or returning missed calls
  • Not being active in group chats and discussions
  • Not communicating with colleagues about projects and deadlines

Check Out: What Happens When You Complain To HR About Your Manager?

Identifying the Causes of Underperformance

Before you can create an action plan to address the employee’s underperformance, it’s critical to identify the root cause of why this employee has been lacking. Here are some of the most common factors that lead to underperformance in the workplace.

Lack of Skills

A lack of skills and talent could be the reason for underperformance. Perhaps the employee in question just isn’t suitable for the job; the hiring team might have missed that somehow.

If the employee wasn’t vetted properly, or if they were hired due to nepotism, they might not be capable of handling the job’s responsibilities. This could lead to poor performance, errors, and customer dissatisfaction.

Even the most motivated employee will produce poor results if they are not properly trained or don’t possess the qualifications for the role.

Lack of Motivation or Interest

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On the other side of the coin, someone might possess the skills and qualifications for the job but lack the interest and motivation to give it their best.

The difference will be evident from the type of poor performance you get from the employee.

If the employee always meets deadlines, is never late, and takes initiative to ask questions and collaborate with colleagues with enthusiasm but still produces shoddy work, they probably lack the proper skills.

On the other hand, if you see tardiness, missed deadlines, and poor communication, the problem may lie in a lack of motivation and commitment.

Of course, it’s possible for an employee to lack both the skills and enthusiasm for the job. This can happen if poor candidates fall through the cracks or get hired or promoted due to nepotism.

Lack of Clear Instructions

Poor performance isn’t always entirely the fault of the employee. Contributing factors may include lack of guidance and clear instructions from higher-ups.

This may not be your fault. The person who is supposed to guide new hires and help them learn the ropes may be slacking, and that is something you might want to look into.

Burnout

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One possible factor not usually considered by most supervisors is burnout. If an employee has been giving the job their all and suddenly seems to be underperforming, they may be suffering from burnout.

Burnout can occur to anyone, but it is especially common when people do too much. If an employee is working overtime every day, for example, burnout is likely.

In addition, if an employee has two jobs or is studying part-time while working, burnout is likely to occur.

Personal Issues

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Finally, underperformance can result due to personal issues in the employee’s life. Factors can include:

  • Financial issues
  • Relationship issues
  • A sick friend or relative

These and other factors can lead to excessive stress, which could result in temporarily decreased performance.

If the underperformance seems to be coming out of nowhere, personal issues may very well be a factor.

Addressing Underperformance

Once you have identified the reasons for the underperformance, it’s time to create an action plan to address it. Often, if you catch it early and take some steps to resolve the issue, it can be solved.

Here are some tips for addressing underperformance in the workplace.

Early Intervention

Early intervention is absolutely critical, and that’s why it’s important to always be on the lookout for underperformance. You need to be up-to-date on what your employees are doing so you can spot the red flags listed above.

If you don’t address the problem early enough, it will be harder to fix. Bad habits are not easy to change, especially if they are allowed to continue for a long time.

Give Clear Warnings

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Communication is key, and that includes giving warnings when necessary. You can’t allow your employees to get away with underperforming; they need to know that you won’t allow it to continue.

A warning is appropriate if you have determined the employee is underperforming due to laziness or a lack of interest. Perhaps they started to feel too comfortable with their position, and a warning will let them know that they won’t be able to continue in their role if they keep it up.

Setting Clear Goals and KPIs

The next step is setting clear goals and KPIs. Whether or not a lack of clear goals led to the underperformance, setting clear goals will give the employee something to aim for.

It will help stay them on track. If they know exactly what they need to do, and if they’ve already received a warning about their substandard behavior, they will be motivated to up their game and reach those goals.

Creating a Performance Plan

A performance plan is a great way to help a struggling employee without punishing them. It’s not meant to be punitive action but rather assist the employee with improving their weak points.

When creating a performance plan, you need to set clear goals and action steps. That’s not enough, though; you need continuous progress reports and meetings to stay up to date on the employee’s progress.

Although a performance plan is not meant to be punitive, it is still important to make the employee aware of potential consequences if the plan is not adhered to.

It’s not just about the negative consequences, though. You can provide incentives for good performance, such as a bonus at the end of the year.

Additional Training and Mentoring

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Sometimes, additional training and mentoring can help turn things around and transform a subpar employee into one of your best.

This is usually applicable when the employee doesn’t lack motivation or commitment but rather skills that are necessary for the job.

Investing in your employees is worth it. Let me repeat that for all of you in the back: It’s not only okay to invest in your employees, but the returns will be worth it.

Paying for extra training for your employees will come back to you in the long run. Whether it’s an Udemy course, a workshop, or assistance studying for certifications or even college degrees, helping your employees learn and grow can never hurt you.

In the specific case of an underperforming employee, it’s important to identify which skills they are lacking. That way, you can find a training course or educational resource that can help.

Don’t forget the power of mentorship, of course.

A senior employee shouldn’t need someone to hold their hand. However, a junior employee might struggle to find their way without a mentor to guide them.

Mentorship has many positive impacts for employees and can help an underperforming employee clean up their game and get back on track.

Open and Honest Communication

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It’s critical to maintain open and honest communication with all your employees. This shouldn’t start when you notice an employee struggling.

If employees feel like they can be open with you about their issues without being judged, reprimanded, or punished, they will open up to you about problems they are facing.

That can help you avoid underperformance issues in the first place.

If an employee doesn’t understand how to do something, they should know that it is okay to ask higher ups for help. Nobody knows everything, and asking for advice shouldn’t be a cause for concern.

If they don’t feel like they can ask for help without judgment, though, they may instead submit poor-quality work.

If you haven’t been encouraging open communication, and you notice employees underperforming, today is the day to start. An open and supportive atmosphere will do wonders for your employees’ productivity.

Part of maintaining open communication is providing both positive feedback and constructive criticism.

Firing as a Last Resort

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Firing an employee who is underperforming should never be the first step. Usually, regardless of the cause, things can be turned around with the right strategy.

Remember, laying off an employee could lead to increased costs for your business.

Firstly, you will deal with lower productivity while your team is smaller. Furthermore, hiring a new employee is a process that requires time and resources.

Besides, you can never know if you will be able to find a better replacement in a short amount of time. The pressure to replace this employee can lead to poor hiring decisions.

It’s always better to invest in current employees than to hire new ones.

So, if you can, try to turn things around. Create a performance plan, give warnings, provide additional training, and stay on top of your employee to monitor their progress.

However, if things still don’t approve beyond the time length of the performance plan, it is okay to fire them. Some people just can’t improve, and if you have given them a chance but they didn’t take the opportunity, it might be time to let them go.

One of the top things that scare human resources is facing a wrongful termination lawsuit. However, you can avoid that by collecting evidence of the poor performance of the employee in question.

That way, you can prove that you had a good reason for firing them. You could also prove that the employee violated their terms of the contract by not meeting their job requirements.

Conclusion

Dealing with underperforming employees can seem like a headache, but it’s to be expected in any large workplace.

Whether an employee is dealing with undisclosed personal issues or struggling with new job responsibilities, it’s your job as a manager to stay on top of what is going on and provide them with the support and feedback they need.

Usually, by putting an action plan in place, you can turn the situation around and transform underperforming employees into high achievers.

The post How HR Can Handle Underperforming Employees? appeared first on Rigorous Themes.

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12 Warnings Signs Of A Bad Hire https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/warnings-signs-of-a-bad-hire/ Mon, 18 Mar 2024 10:17:45 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=125066 Are you getting frustrated with your new hire? After taking the time to sift through dozens or even hundreds of resumes and interviewing several potential hires, you might have felt some relief that you finally found someone perfect for the job. Now, though, you are having second thoughts. It seems like you made a mistake; ...

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Are you getting frustrated with your new hire?

After taking the time to sift through dozens or even hundreds of resumes and interviewing several potential hires, you might have felt some relief that you finally found someone perfect for the job.

Now, though, you are having second thoughts. It seems like you made a mistake; the new hire is uninterested, disengaged, or seems to lack the skills required to perform well.

But did you really make a bad hire, or does the new employee just need some time to adjust?

In this article, I will be sharing certain signs that you have made a bad hire. The first step is acknowledging that you made a bad hire. Without it, you will be stuck with an unproductive employee who can negatively impact company morale, lower productivity, and hurt your bottom line.

Let’s discuss more.

Also Read: Indeed vs Monster

Quick Summary

Here are the top warning signs of a bad hire:

  • Doesn’t take initiative
  • Doesn’t respond to feedback or has an ego
  • Is unreliable – misses deadlines and is late
  • Doesn’t get along with coworkers, creates tension, and has poor communication skills
  • Submits shoddy, poor-quality work
  • Has a negative attitude and isn’t willing to change

It’s important to give new hires a chance to get used to their new environment. Depending on the problem, a warning might resolve the issue, or you may be able to rehabilitate them with extra training.

However, if the problem persists, it might be best to fire them and write the whole thing off as a learning experience.

Also Read: Best Workable Alternatives

Warnings Signs Of A Bad Hire

1. Doesn’t Take Initiative

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A new hire should take the initiative by asking questions about things they don’t understand and trying to learn from others. You should definitely give new employees time to adjust, especially if they are entry-level hires and your company is large.

New employees can get overwhelmed the first couple of weeks.

However, if your employee doesn’t seem to take any initiative to do anything apart from giving half-hearted attempts at doing what they are explicitly instructed, you might want to take a second look at the person you just hired.

Also Read: Best Lever Alternatives

2. Doesn’t Listen to Feedback

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New employees should be open to learning. They should be accepting of feedback given by managers.

After all, nobody’s perfect, and nobody comes into a job knowing everything they need to know. Every new hire will go through a learning curve as they get accustomed to the job responsibilities and unique expectations of the company.

However, if your new employee doesn’t respond to feedback, it’s a red flag. They should internalize your feedback and use it to fix their errors.

An employee who refuses to listen to or ignores feedback either doesn’t care or is too arrogant, thinking they know better than their higher-ups.

Check Out: LinkedIn vs Indeed

3. Has a Negative Attitude

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A negative attitude can manifest in several ways. A new hire who is always in a sour and bad mood will lower everyone’s morale and affect the workplace environment.

Someone who gets upset when they are asked to do something is also not good for your company. New employees should be excited about this new opportunity that has presented itself to them and enthusiastically embrace their new responsibilities.

Check Out: Best Greenhouse Alternatives

4. Lacks Skills

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Have you ever felt that you were fooled by a candidate during their interview? It does happen, as some candidates lie on their resumes and misrepresent their qualifications.

For example, if you hire someone for a junior developer role, and they have a number of projects on their resume, can you be sure the projects were created by them? It’s always possible they hired someone to make those projects for them.

If you realize that the person you thought was qualified for the job is actually lacking the necessary skills, you might have to let them go. It might not be possible to train them, as that may require a significant investment in terms of time and money.

Also Read: Bad Company Culture Examples & How To Improve?

5. Is Unable to Cope With the Responsibilities

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It’s normal for a new hire to be a bit stressed and overwhelmed at the beginning, especially if it’s an entry-level role.

On the other hand, some people just aren’t capable of handling their responsibilities, and it won’t get any better.

If your new hire seems to be breaking under the pressure and is simply not capable of thriving in the workplace, it’s time to figure out your next steps.

Assigning a mentor who can help them stay organized and manage their time is one option, but if they’re beyond help, you may have to look into alternative candidates to replace them.

Also Read: Things That Scare Human Resource

6. Is Unreliable

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You need a worker who you can rely on to get things done. If your new hire is consistently missing deadlines or doesn’t fulfill their responsibilities, that might not be something you can fix.

If you’ve already given them a warning, and they have not improved, you might need to fire them. Otherwise, they will drag everyone else down with them.

Another sign of an unreliable employee is one that always comes late. Emergencies and mistakes do happen; it’s not unusual for someone to come late once in a while.

However, someone who is consistently late is difficult to rely on. That’s especially true if it’s a new hire, who should be doing all they can to make a good first impression.

Also Read: How To Handle Under-performing Employees?

7. Is Unwilling to Integrate

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It takes time for someone to acclimate to their new company’s culture. However, they should at least be striving to integrate and form meaningful relationships with their coworkers.

Someone who is unwilling to integrate into your company is not a team player. It will be hard to get tasks done if those tasks require team effort.

Such a person will always try to do things their way, just because they think they know better.

Also Read: Indeed vs Glassdoor

8. Poor Work Quality

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Being a perfectionist is not a must for most jobs. However, your workers should at least be giving it their best.

Someone who is lazy and consistently produces shoddy work will reflect poorly on the company. It indicates that they aren’t really concerned about their job and just want to get by with the minimum effort.

That’s not a quality you want in a new hire. Some people may pretend to be passionate about the industry in their interviews, but once they actually get hired, their true colors come out.

Also Read: Best BambooHR Alternatives

9. Has Poor Communication Skills

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Someone with poor communication or social skills isn’t always someone you must discard immediately. You can often help them work on their communication skills.

They might not even realize they have communication issues. Pointing it out might be enough to help them realize the problem they are facing and take steps to fix it.

Poor communication skills will slow your entire production down. It will lead to misunderstandings between team members, thus resulting in flaws in your final product or delays in meeting deadlines.

If your new hire has poor communication skills, try teaching them how to communicate better. The same goes for social skills – you might even recommend self-help books that can assist them with improving their social skills.

But again, if the new hire simply doesn’t care and doesn’t seem to be willing to improve, there’s not much you can do about that.

Also Read: Best Personio Alternatives

10. Creates Conflicts or Tension in the Workplace

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This red flag is not a skills issue but a personality issue. Not everyone is a people’s person, but someone who actively creates conflicts and raises tensions in the workplace is not someone you want around.

Some people are just difficult to get along with. They insult others, are rude, think they are better than everyone else, and don’t listen or respond to constructive criticism.

They might think they can boss others around or shun co-workers because they think they should be their superiors.

It’s not always easy to tell if a new hire doesn’t get along with your team. However, if more than one person raised a complaint to HR about your new hire, it’s time to take a deeper look and start investigating things.

Also Read: Questions To Ask Candidates

11. Has an Arrogant Attitude

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You can’t fix someone with an ego that is too big for their own good. Having self-esteem is healthy and good, but we’re referring to an overinflated ego and sense of self-worth.

It is impossible to mold someone like that, and it is also nearly impossible to train them. Someone with a big ego might take steps you didn’t even ask them to, which could end up backfiring due to their lack of experience in the matter.

Explore: Pros & Cons of Outsourcing

12. Relies on Others, Blames Others

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People should be able to take responsibility for their own duties and mistakes.

Asking for help is a good thing. It demonstrates that the new hire is humble and willing to learn from superiors.

However, if the new hire tries to pass along their own work to others or get others to take care of their responsibilities, that is a red flag.

Similarly, the new hire should be able to own up to their mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s part of the learning process.

However, if the new hire is always blaming someone else for mistakes they make, it shows they are unwilling to be honest with themselves. It’s hard to give such a person feedback, because they will always find a way to make it someone else’s fault.

Explore: How To Write a Mission Statement?

What Should You Do If You Make a Bad Hire?

Once you’ve detected a bad hire using one or more of the red flags above, the big question is whether you should try to rehabilitate them or terminate their employment.

First of all, though, it’s important to reiterate that not all of these red flags are a hard rule, and many of them particularly don’t apply to new hires during their first 1–3 weeks.

For example, it’s normal for a new hire to be stressed or have a hard time trying to integrate with the company culture. It’s also possible that they are introverts and need some time to make connections, thus making it seem as if they are not getting along with coworkers when, in fact, it’s just social anxiety.

So, be patient with your new hires. Give them time!

However, even while being patient, you should be looking for signs that your new employee is at least trying to improve.

Perhaps they are feeling stressed but are looking for ways to manage their time and be more productive. Perhaps they are shy but are making an effort to slowly reach out and build relationships with coworkers.

If the initial few weeks have passed and things are not improving, the next step is determining what kind of problem you have.

If the person is arrogant, hard to deal with, and just can’t seem to get along with anybody, there’s no real cure for this. That is a personality issue, and they need to look internally and work on self-improvement to be a better teammate.

If they are just coming late, a simple warning might be enough. You can then move on to the next step and fire them if they don’t heed your warnings.

Also Read: Bad Corporate Social Responsibility Examples

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In some cases, though, it might be worth investing a little in your new employees, especially if they are entry-level workers or fresh grads. If you think their skills are not up to par, ask yourself if they truly lied about their qualifications or perhaps are just lacking a few key skills.

For example, let’s say you hired a new developer, and they don’t seem proficient in the framework or programming language you are using. It doesn’t mean they’re a bad developer or programmer.

They may be extremely proficient in other frameworks or languages, and these skills could easily translate to a new framework or language.

Perhaps they just need a bit of on-site training, or perhaps they simply need to take an online course and practice a bit before they become proficient.

If you give them some time, they might turn into one of your best hires!

Also Read: Words To Describe a Company Culture

How to Avoid a Bad Hire?

There’s no foolproof way to avoid a bad hire, but there are certainly ways to minimize the chances of it happening.

Don’t rely solely on interviews. Some people have awesome social skills and can dazzle you during an interview, but have no technical skills whatsoever. The opposite is common as well.

That’s why many companies have turned to technical assessments to get a better grasp of what potential candidates are capable of. That could be a short on-site simulation, a take-home test, or another type of assessment.

Also, verify all information on someone’s resume before hiring them! Perform background checks and look for discrepancies and red flags, such as a long period of unemployment in between jobs.

Also Read: Indeed vs ZipRecruiter

Conclusion

Avoiding a bad hire isn’t always possible, and sometimes, you can make the most of it by rehabilitating them.

At other times, though, you need to cut the cord and let them loose, for the good of your company.

Regardless of which option you choose, use it as a learning opportunity. Take note of the red flags you missed, and watch out for them in future candidates you interview.

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5 Best Email Samples For Internship Request https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/best-email-samples-for-internship-request/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 08:07:41 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=124071 Are you applying for your first internship? Landing an internship while still in school is the best way to prepare for the job market when you graduate. The job market is tough, and there’s no telling when it will get better. Employers tend to value candidates with some degree of experience, and an internship will ...

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Are you applying for your first internship?

Landing an internship while still in school is the best way to prepare for the job market when you graduate.

The job market is tough, and there’s no telling when it will get better. Employers tend to value candidates with some degree of experience, and an internship will go a long way in proving you have relevant work experience and the ability to make a positive contribution to a company.

However, landing an internship is not easy in and of itself. You are not doing any good to your chances if you are committing these mistakes.

In the article below, I’ll share more light on this and provide some valuable tips and email application examples to help you get your first internship.

Let’s begin.

Also Read: How To Write An Email For A Job?

Quick Summary

The following things should be taken care of when applying for an internship.

  • Research the company and job description.
  • Mention any connections or why you would like to work for the company.
  • Highlight projects, volunteering work, certifications, or prior work experience.
  • Use keywords to get past the ATS software.
  • Maintain a professional tone and proofread your email.

Tips for Writing an Internship Application Email

Do Your Homework

Always research the company and position you are applying for carefully before crafting an email.

One of the easiest ways hiring managers can weed out applicants is by seeing who is writing a generic email and who has taken the time to research the company and learn more about its culture, vision, and goals.

Do you know what the position entails? What are its exact requirements, and what kind of training, mentorship, and support is offered to interns?

Demonstrating that you know a thing or two about the company and what it expects of its interns can help put you at the front of the line and make you stand out from other applicants.

Also Read: Bad Email Examples

Mention Any Connections

At the start of your email, mention any connections you have with the company or hiring manager to break the ice and put you ahead of the pack.

Examples may include:

  • You met the recruiter at a career event at your university.
  • The CEO is a family friend or in your network from church.
  • You were referred by your mentor who knows the CEO.

Connections can help serve as social proof and avoid your email getting sent to the trash folder.

Also Read: How To Write Apology Emails?

Talk About Your Internship Goals

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Many companies provide internship opportunities, despite knowing they will have to spend time and effort training interns, because they hope to mold these interns into future employees who will contribute to the success of the company.

What are your goals with your internship? Do you just want to get something on your resume, after which you will abandon the company?

You should mention why you chose that particular company and how the internship opportunity aligns with your career goals. Make it seem as if you want to stay with the company for a long time; don’t give off the impression that you will be hopping to another company as soon as you get some internship experience on your resume.

Don’t Mention Your Lack of Experience

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Don’t write something along the lines of “although I may not have experience, I am still a good fit for the role.” This is an internship opportunity; you’re not expected to have experience.

If you do have experience, definitely mention it, as I will talk about later. However, if you don’t, that’s okay; focus on other things such as projects and other achievements.

Explicitly excusing your lack of experience is not the approach to take. It makes it appear as if you are not confident in yourself and your abilities, or that you don’t think you are truly qualified for the job.

Highlight Certificates, Projects, or Other Achievements

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If you have any experience, mention it! It doesn’t have to be formal work experience or a prior internship.

Perhaps you volunteered for a nonprofit, for example. Or, maybe you volunteered for your local church.

You might have even done some work for family and friends. For example, if you’re applying for an IT position, perhaps you helped neighbors troubleshoot software and hardware issues.

Any type of experience can help you stand out from other people applying to the internship position.

But what if you don’t have any experience? In that case, you would want to highlight other achievements.

Certificates are great. Although you might not have a bachelor’s degree, you might have earned certificates from third parties.

In the examples below, I used the example of CompTIA certifications, which are relevant in the IT field. These certificates only require a fee and one or two exams, which you could potentially complete in just a few weeks or months of study.

If you worked on any projects, highlight them as well. For software engineering positions, for example, provide your GitHub page and any apps or websites you created.

Any projects that can help you stand out should be mentioned. For example, perhaps you completed free certifications from free training sites like FreeCodeCamp or TryHackMe while completing your bachelors.

Also Read: How To Introduce Yourself In An Email?

If you’re applying for a real job, they might not be worth mentioning, as they don’t hold that much weight in the industry.

However, for an internship position, it could show that you are dedicated to learning and more advanced than other interns who might not have the extra knowledge you accumulated through self-learning.

Use Keywords From the Job Description

It’s common knowledge among jobseekers nowadays that companies often use ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software to filter job applicants. These software help hiring managers filter out unqualified applicants, but they are far from perfect.

One of the most common issues with applicant tracking software is that they rely on keywords to filter for recipients.

Whether you’re sending an email or uploading a resume, ATS software typically checks to see if your resume or cover letter contains keywords mentioned in the job description.

For example, these keywords may include skills such as “team building” or job-specific skills such as “JavaScript.”

While you can’t know for sure which keywords are being filtered for by the software, adding keywords from the job requirements and preferred qualifications listed in the job description can increase your chances of getting through the ATS filters.

Many resumes, unfortunately, never see the light of day since they get filtered out automatically.

Attach a Resume and Portfolio

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Don’t just send an email. An email serves as a cover letter; if you’re sending an email, you don’t usually need to upload a separate cover letter.

However, it doesn’t replace the need for a CV.

You might be wondering what you would put on a resume if you are applying for an internship with no experience. Here are some ideas:

  • Any relevant education, including electives you are taking in college that are relevant to the job
  • Links to your project or online portfolio
  • A list of your skills
  • Any volunteering work that is relevant to the position

Maintain a Professional Tone

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Write your emails with a professional tone, even if you are writing to someone in your network.

Open with a professional greeting, such as “Dear [Name].” If you are emailing a professor or someone with a title such as Dr., include that in the opening.

If you don’t know the person’s name, it is acceptable to write “Dear Hiring Manager,” as I have done in the email examples below. However, do your research and try to find the person’s name, if possible.

Also Read: What To Include In A Cover Letter?

Proofread and Spell Check

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Never send your email without first proofreading it for spelling and grammar errors. Such errors make your email look unprofessional.

Not only that, but they indicate that you are lazy, not detail-oriented, and not willing to go the extra step and put in the extra effort to perfect your work.

So, always proofread and double-check everything before clicking on the send button.

Keep It Concise

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Keep your emails short, concise, and to the point. Don’t write lengthy emails waxing on about your qualifications.

Remember, you will be attaching your resume as well. Your resume is where the bulk of your experience and skills should be mentioned.

Your email is more like a cover letter. It should introduce you to the recruiter, explain why you are eager to work for the company and why you would be a good fit, and briefly mention your most important qualifications.

Remember, recruiters and hiring managers are overwhelmed with emails, and they would rather not bother with a lengthy email when a shorter one would do.

Don’t Copy and Paste

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Don’t copy and paste the same email to every internship you apply to.

It can be tempting to do so, especially when you discover that you might have to apply to dozens or even hundreds of internships before you land a job (depending on your field), but it’s not worth it.

By customizing the emails to the specific company and job requirements, you will have a better chance of getting a response.

Best Email Samples For Internship Request

Photo by Christina Morillo via Pexels

1. Responding to a Job Posting #1

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m writing to expect my interest in the software engineering internship opportunity posted on your website. As a junior at XYZ University, currently majoring in computer science, I’m passionate about software development. I’ve excelled in courses such as Object-Oriented Programming, Programming With Python, Android Development, and Requirements Engineering, with an average GPA of 4.0.

In addition, I’ve already completed several projects, including Android and web apps, and participated in several hackathons. You can view my list of projects here.

I’m a quick learner and passionate about expanding my knowledge. I have great collaboration skills, as evident from the open-source projects I’ve contributed to with the help of my fellow students.

Attached is my resume. I hope you consider my application, and I am looking forward to your response.

Yours truly,

John McJames

2. Responding to a Job Posting #2

Dear Hiring Manager,

I came across your job post on LinkedIn, where you were seeking a social media marketing intern to grow your brand.

As a marketing major at ABC College, I have a strong passion for marketing, and I have already helped several non-profits build up their social media presence, as outlined in my resume.

I would love to onboard with your team as an intern, applying my existing knowledge and collaborating with seniors to develop new skills.

I appreciate your prompt response.

Regards,

Sarah Soho

3. When You Have a Referral

Photo by Teona Swift via Pexels

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am reaching out to express my enthusiastic interest in the position of Data Analyst Intern at Company ABC. I was referred to by Mr. X, a valuable mentor of mine at University XYZ, where I am currently majoring in data science.

I believe my skills and passions align perfectly with what your company is looking for, and I hope that you take Mr. X’s endorsement into account when considering my qualifications and suitability for the role.

Kind regards,

Brian McBrian

4. A Cold Outreach Email

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is Kelly McKenna, and I am a senior year student at XYZ University, majoring in IT and Business Management. I have been following your company on social media for a while, and I am impressed by your startup’s vision, goal, and unique approach in the industry.

While I understand that you have not posted any official internship opportunities, I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to request a chance to work with your team as an intern. I’m hoping you could find a place for me on your team so I can contribute to your success.

Although I haven’t yet graduated, I have completed the CompTIA Trifecta, earning my A+, Network+, and Security+ certificates. I am also attaching my resume, where I outline the home labs and projects I have built. I fully believe I would be an asset to your team.

Best regards,

Kelly McKenna

5. Emailing an Alum From Your School

Dear Joe,

I recently came across your professional profile on LinkedIn, and I was extremely impressed by your career path progression and success in the field. I’m a computer science major at XYZ University, where you studied, and I would be grateful to have a chat with you about your career progression and how you broke into the industry.

I also noticed that you’re a senior software developer at ABC Startup, which is currently seeking software engineering interns for hire. If you have any information about those roles, I would love to discuss that with you as well.

I know your time is valuable, but I would appreciate even a few minutes of your time, whether you’re available to chat over the phone or text. You can reach me via this email address, via my LinkedIn profile [link to your LinkedIn profile], or via WhatsApp at 917-123-4567.

Warm regards,

Jill McGil

Also Read: Best Social Media Sites For Professional Networking & Job Hunting

Conclusion

If you don’t get a response to your email, don’t give up. It is perfectly acceptable to send a followup email.

In some cases, the recruiter may simply not have seen your first email due to the deluge of emails in their inbox, or they may have forgotten to reply.

In either case, never rely solely on a single opportunity. While maintaining quality in your applications is important, try to ramp up your application numbers.

The more internships you apply to (without copying and pasting your emails or using AI to write them), the better your chances are of landing an opportunity. Don’t get discouraged, as some people send hundreds of applications before landing an internship.

The post 5 Best Email Samples For Internship Request appeared first on Rigorous Themes.

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How To Make Money With Flipper Zero? https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/how-to-make-money-with-flipper-zero/ Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:36:57 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=123829 The Flipper Zero is an entry-level pentesting tool and digital pet. It can emulate NFC cards, copy TV remote controls, and even copy old car key fobs. While the Flipper Zero is fun to play around with, it could also turn into a nice side hustle. If you’re wondering if there’s a way to make ...

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The Flipper Zero is an entry-level pentesting tool and digital pet. It can emulate NFC cards, copy TV remote controls, and even copy old car key fobs.

While the Flipper Zero is fun to play around with, it could also turn into a nice side hustle. If you’re wondering if there’s a way to make money with your Flipper Zero, read on.

Today, I will be showing you the best ways to make some side cash with your Flipper Zero.

Also Read: Flipper Zero vs Flipper One

Quick Summary

Here are the best ways to make money with the Flipper Zero:

  • Buy a few of them and resell them when the Flipper is out of stock.
  • Resell Flippers on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist to people who don’t want to wait for shipping.
  • Rent out your Flipper to people who want to try it out but aren’t ready to buy it.
  • Clone NFC cards for students, workers, gym members, and others who don’t want to pay exorbitant fees if they lose their card.
  • Emulate your car key and other access cards to save money on locksmith fees if you lose your card or key.
  • Start a blog, YouTube channel, or TikTok channel and earn money from advertising or affiliate marketing.
  • Use it to jumpstart your cybersec education and career.

How to Make Money With Flipper Zero?

1. Resell It

The Flipper Zero often has limited stock available. It is not uncommon for it to be sold out.

When it is sold out, you will need to join a waitlist to get the Flipper Zero. Not everyone has the time or patience for that, however.

There are always going to be people looking to get a Flipper Zero as quickly as possible so they can jump on the hype.

You can buy Flipper Zeros and resell them at higher prices. Just wait for them to get sold out and then start selling them on eBay or elsewhere at a higher price.

If it’s sold out, you could even sell it for an extra $100 or $200, and you will likely find people who would buy it.

Also Read: Flipper Zero vs HackRF

You don’t even have to wait until it’s sold out to resell it, although that strategy will probably net you the best profits. You could also sell it locally, on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

Plenty of people would rather purchase it from you than wait for shipping, which could take a week or longer (depending on your location).

Reselling Flipper Zeros can be a nice side hustle for some extra pocket money.

In addition to reselling the Flipper Zero itself, you could resell some of its accessories. You could even bundle them together at a discount to encourage sales (while still maintaining a nice profit margin).

Also Read: The Legal Status of Flipper Zero

2. Rent It Out

Another option is renting out Flipper Zeros. There are many people who want to try this cool gadget everyone is talking about, but the Flipper Zero is quite expensive for a toy, which is how it’s seen by many people.

Many people just want to get their hands on a Flipper Zero, play around with it for a few days, and then forget about it. You can make a killing renting out Flipper Zeros.

I like this strategy better than the prior one because it allows you to earn income over the long term. Reselling Flipper Zeros would give you a decent profit per sale, but it ends there.

If you rent out your Flipper for $20/day, you could easily recover the initial cost of the product after just nine days. Then, each additional day you rent it out can net you $20 in pure profit.

You can scale your business by buying several Flippers and renting them all out. While it might be difficult to reach such numbers, you could theoretically make $100 a day just by renting out five Flipper Zeros.

Of course, this strategy is not without risk. If you rent one out to an untrustworthy person, they could simply steal your Flipper Zero and never give it back.

One way to avoid a potential loss of this kind is to only rent it to people you trust, such as friends, family, and neighbors. The problem with this strategy is that it will limit your ability to scale your business.

A better option might be to take some sort of collateral or deposit when renting out a Flipper. For example, you could require a $150 refundable deposit, which the renter will get back once they return the Flipper.

That amount is only slightly less than the price of a New Flipper Zero, so if someone disappears and fails to return the Flipper, you could simply buy a new one with the deposit.

Also Read: DIY Flipper Zero Ideas

3. Make Copies of NFC Cards

An interesting way to make some money with your Flipper is to clone NFC cards for people. The Flipper can not only read NFC cards but also write to certain NFC cards.

One way to do it is to emulate an NFC card on your Flipper, copy the data to your phone, and use an NFC writer app on your phone to copy the data to a blank NFC card. Blank NFC cards can be purchased from Amazon in bulk at extremely low prices.

Believe it or not, the market for such a service is there. People use NFC cards for all sorts of reasons.

Many people use them to access their work buildings, but others use it for their own homes or the gym. It’s common for gyms to give members NFC cards with which they can access the members-only area.

The problem is, if such a card is lost, the gym might charge $20, $50, or more to replace the gym card.

You can clone non-secure NFC cards as a service for just $10 or $15 each, for example. Of course, you will need to have the original card to emulate the data, but many people might be interested, as it would allow them to avoid the potential hassle that could come with losing their cards.

College campuses often use NFC cards to give students access to buildings on campus. If you are a student, it could be a nice side hustle; clone NFC cards for fellow students so they have a spare one in case they lose the original.

It could also be a cool side hustle if you work in a factory where people use such cards to enter the workplace. Many of your coworkers might be interested in such a service.

Explore: Best Flipper Zero Firmware

In addition, the Flipper can write to Gen1 and Gen4 rewritable “magic cards.” While most issued NFC cards have an UID (unique identifier) that can’t be changed, these cards allow you to change the UID to that of a different card, allowing you to clone new NFC cards to existing ones.

It can take a bit of time to figure out how to do this correctly if you have no prior tech skills, but it’s worth it.

4. Save Money on Locksmith Fees

When you buy your Flipper Zero, make sure to emulate any supported access control cards, such as your NFC cards, iButton keys, and even key car fobs. Note that only car key fobs using old technology are supported.

That can help you save quite a bit of money in locksmith fees if you ever lose your card. For example, everyone knows the horror and dread of losing their car keys (or locking them inside the car accidentally).

When that happens, you usually have no option but to shell out a few hundred bucks for a professional to open your car. It’s either that or breaking your car window, which would result in required repairs that could be even costlier.

If you cloned your key fob, though, you could simply use your Flipper Zero to unlock your car door instead of your key fob. If you are willing to use it long term, you could also save the money it would cost you to get a copy from your car dealer, which could also be surprisingly costly.

Also Read: Flipper Zero vs Chameleon

5. Get Paid to Perform Pranks

Believe it or not, there’s a market out there for paid pranks. People often want to prank their romantic partners or friends and would be willing to pay you 20 bucks for the enjoyment of it.

The Flipper Zero is a great device for many pranks. For example, you could use it to clone a TV remote and then change the channel in a public bar.

If someone had a bad experience in that bar, or if the bar owner is their friend whom they want to prank, they might be willing to give you some cash for changing the channels and befuddling the owner.

They could also invite you to their home as a “friend,” only for you to constantly change the channel and get their romantic partner or roommate scratching their head as to what’s going on.

It might be impossible to scale such a side hustle, but it could earn you some extra pocket cash. Simply advertise your services on Craigslist, or search for adverts on Craigslist in which the poster is looking for a way to pull a prank on someone.

Also Read: Best Flipper Zero Alternatives

6. Start a YouTube Channel

A cool way to make some money is by starting a YouTube channel. There are multiple directions in which you can take your channel.

One option is starting a sort of prank vlog in which you show up at restaurants and bars and randomly change the channel on the TV, confusing patrons and frustrating servers. Be careful not to get your ass whipped, but plenty of people would enjoy such videos.

Another option is to start a channel providing tutorials on how to use the Flipper Zero. A lot of people who purchase the Flipper are novices when it comes to tech and hacking.

Even the basic features of a Flipper Zero might be confusing to them, so you could create walkthroughs of how to use a Flipper to emulate NFC cards, read data from pet tags, and more.

While Flipper provides plenty of documentation, many people prefer to learn by watching videos rather than reading technical documentation.

Explore: Pwnagotchi vs Flipper Zero

7. Start a TikTok Channel

TikTok is also great for building an audience, especially for pranks and other short video ideas. It’s not that great for tutorials because people on TikTok are mostly seeking entertainment and not education.

Of course, you can post on both YouTube and TikTok. The more platforms you post on, the more you will be able to expand your audience.

8. Start a Blog

You could also start a tech blog. The blog can contain step-by-step tutorials on how to use the Flipper Zero.

A blog is great for more advanced tutorials. Taking an example from this article, you can document how to write data to new NFC cards, as an example.

There is a lot of development surrounding the Flipper Zero. People are constantly creating apps and new functionalities for the Flipper.

Most of these apps or scripts are available on GitHub, not from the official website.

A blog could be a great place to document new apps and scripts that were developed for the Flipper. It could be a central news hub for all things related to the Flipper, and you can even start a newsletter, which you can monetize with tech-related affiliate links.

There is a lack of central documentation for where to find all of these scripts and new apps, which is why I think such a blog is a great idea.

Also Read: HackRF One Alternatives

9. Use It as an Entry Point to Your Cybersec Career

Finally, one more idea is to use the Flipper Zero as an entry point to a career in cybersecurity or tech.

There’s not much you can actually do with a Flipper Zero in terms of real hacking. However, you can get your foot in the door, so to speak, and jumpstart your educational journey.

I wouldn’t put it on your resume. Instead, combine it with a resource such as TryHackMe, which offers free learning paths and certifications for beginners who want to get acquainted with cybersecurity fundamentals and gain hands-on experience.

TryHackMe teaches you the fundamentals of Linux, networking, NMAP, pentesting, and more. The paid plans offer more advanced paths that you can take when you finish the beginner paths.

Another excellent resource is HackTheBox Academy, although it can be a bit pricey once you complete the free tier.

What you can put on your resume are projects you created for Flipper Zero, such as apps or scripts you developed for the open-source community. If you have programming knowledge, this is a great way to expand your career options.

Also Read: Best Software Defined Radios

Conclusion

As you can see, there are quite a few ways to make money with the Flipper Zero, which is quite surprising.

You might have thought that it’s just a fun toy to play with, but if you think outside the box, you can monetize almost anything.

While the Flipper Zero can’t give you a full-time income, it’s great if you want to start a small side hustle or get your foot into the cybersecurity industry as a pentester and hacker.

Ethical hacking is in high demand, as many companies want pentesters to discover their vulnerabilities and correct them before bad actors take advantage of them.

The post How To Make Money With Flipper Zero? appeared first on Rigorous Themes.

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10 Best Email Examples To Professor https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/best-email-examples-to-professor/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 09:57:30 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=123812 At some point in your studies, there will be a time when you’ll be required to write an email to your professor. If it’s your first time, it’s normal to be anxious. However, don’t sweat it. Your professor likely receives dozens or even hundreds of emails a week from students, depending on how many classes ...

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At some point in your studies, there will be a time when you’ll be required to write an email to your professor. If it’s your first time, it’s normal to be anxious.

However, don’t sweat it.

Your professor likely receives dozens or even hundreds of emails a week from students, depending on how many classes he or she teaches. He doesn’t expect everyone to be a Shakespeare and will not change their grades based on their emails.

Writing an email to your professor also doesn’t require a high level of writing skills. All you need is to be clear and concise while maintaining a respectful tone.

This article will include 10 different example emails to give you a better idea of how to write an email to your professor. We will also provide helpful tips and advice to assist you in crafting emails to your teacher.

However, you don’t have to copy and paste these emails. Instead, you can use them as inspiration or adapt them to your needs.

Let’s get into it.

Also Read: Professional Thank You Email Templates

Quick Summary

When writing an email to your professor, keep in mind the following tips:

  • Only write emails when necessary.
  • Use your university email address.
  • Write a clear subject line and introduction, and introduce yourself if necessary.
  • Keep it short and to the point.
  • Maintain a professional tone throughout your email.
  • Wait for a response and follow up if appropriate.

Tips for Writing an Email to Your Professor

Photo by Christina Morillo via Pexels

While the email examples we will provide are great for giving you an idea of what an email sent to a professor might look like, it’s important to keep the following tips in mind when writing your emails as well.

Also Read: Best Company Introduction Email Examples

Consider if an Email Is the Appropriate Solution

Before you send that email, ask yourself if it is truly necessary.

For example, if you are writing to ask a question about your coursework, the answer may already be laid out in the coursebook or other provided resources. Only if you still don’t grasp the answer after carefully perusing the provided resources should you email your professor.

At other times, talking to your professor after class might be better. A short question about a topic may not require an email; the same goes for a simple question about due dates.

Remember, your professor has a lot on his or her mind. Asking a simple question in person may get you a response quicker and might also be optimal for the professor.

Also Read: Polite Follow-up Email Examples For Request

Use Your University Email Address

Photo by Buro Millennial via Pexels

When emailing your professor, always write from your university email account. Don’t use your personal Gmail or Yahoo account.

Using your university email address has many benefits. It will help the professor understand who you are, and it will provide you with a central location for all your school-related emails.

Besides, your school may require you to use your university email address for all school-related communication.

Also Read: How To Introduce Yourself In An Email?

Write a Clear Subject Line

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

Remember to write a clear subject line.

Your subject line should not be too long, or else it will get cut off and your professor won’t be able to see the entirety of it in his or her inbox. As a general rule, 30–50 characters, which is usually around 4–7 words, is a good length for a subject line.

The subject line should clearly and accurately reference the topic of the email. For example, if you are submitting an assignment, you can use the following subject line:

“Essay Submission | John Doe | Android Security”

That helps your professor understand what the email is about. It could also help him or her properly organize the email inbox and locate your submission with ease at a later date.

Also Read: Phishing Email Examples

Use a Professional Greeting

Always use a professional and appropriate greeting at the beginning of your emails. In the examples, I have used the greeting “Dear Professor [Name]”.

Depending on the context, you could also use “Dear Dr. [Name].”

“Hi Professor [Name]” can also be an appropriate greeting.

However, the following greetings are not appropriate ways to begin an email to your professor:

  • Hey
  • What’s up?
  • By the way…
  • This is [Your name]
  • Hi [Name] (calling your professor by name without using an honorific title)

Also Read: Best Email Signature Examples

Get Right to the Point

Photo by Taryn Elliott via Pexels

In addition to the subject line, your opening line may show up in your professor’s inbox as a preview. Your opening line should clearly explain what the email is about; see the examples below for ideas.

Your professor probably has numerous emails to go through. It’s best to provide context at the beginning of the email, rather than make him or her scroll through the entire email before understanding what it is you are writing about.

Introduce Yourself, If Necessary

Photo by Buro Millennial via Pexels

If your professor has a large class, or if he or she teaches many classes, it might be a good idea to introduce yourself at the beginning of your email.

I have included some examples of this. You can introduce yourself by stating your name and the course you are taking.

In some cases, it’s not necessary.

For example, if you are on close terms with your professor and communicate via email frequently, he or she will likely recognize who you are from your email address alone.

That is often the case in small universities with small classes, where there are not many students, and where a single professor may teach several of the classes you are taking in your bachelor’s course.

Also Read: How To Write Apology Emails Without Saying Sorry?

Avoid Fluff and Be Concise

Throughout your email, avoid going off on a tangent. If you have several topics you want to talk about, introduce them at the beginning with bullet points or in a list to make the email more readable.

However, avoid asking too many questions in your email or covering too many topics. Remember, minor questions can always wait until you see your professor in person.

Use a Professional Tone of Voice

Always use a professional tone of voice in your emails to your professor. That means you should avoid slang words, curse words, or abbreviations, such as HYD (How’re You Doing) and TTYL (Talk To You Later).

Your professor may not be familiar with the slang talk and abbreviations common among the young folk. Even if he or she is, though, it’s not proper etiquette to write to your professor in that manner.

Proofread Your Email

Before clicking on the send button, proofread your emails. Again, your professor is not expecting you to be a high-level linguist here.

However, a minimum level of professionality is expected, and that includes using proper English and avoiding spelling and grammar mistakes.

You could always use a spell checker extension, such as Grammarly or LanguageTool, to help you catch spelling errors while writing your emails. However, remember that these tools, while helpful, are not perfect, and you should still manually proofread each email to check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

Check Out: Thank You Email Examples After Zoom Interview

Patiently Await a Response

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Don’t overwhelm your professor with multiple emails. Remember that he or she is probably busy, and it could take a few days to get a response.

Your professor may have a backlog of emails to respond to, and if he or she is away from work, it could take even longer.

Depending on the situation, it could be normal to wait a few business days or even a week to get a response. If it’s time-sensitive, and you have marked your subject line as such (for example: “Urgent: Deadline Extension Request”), you can usually expect to get a reply quicker.

Follow Up If Necessary

If you still haven’t received a response after a week, it is okay to follow up with another email. Your professor is probably not intentionally ignoring you but most likely didn’t see your email or forgot to respond.

Also Read: How To Write An Email For A Job?

10 Best Email Examples to Professor

1. Extension Request Email

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Dear Professor X,

I’m respectfully writing to request an extension for the upcoming Assignment Y, which is due this coming Monday.

I fully understand the importance of submitting assignments on time, and I have consistently striven to do so throughout the semester, as you are well aware.

However, due to my mother’s illness, I have fallen behind on this particular assignment. I am confident that an extension of three days would allow me to submit high-quality work that meets academic expectations.

I’m humbly awaiting your response on the matter.

Kind regards,

Bob McBob

Also Read: Best Short & Sweet Follow-up Email Examples After Interview

2. Feedback on Grade Email

Dear Professor X,

I am writing to express my interest in discussing the recent grade I received on Assignment Y. I would like to understand the factors that determined the grade and where I went wrong.

I am driven to improve my academic performance, and I would be grateful to hear any feedback on areas in which I could improve.

Looking forward to hearing your response.

Warm regards,

John van der Jagt

3. Research Question Email

Photo by Max Fischer via Pexels

Dear Professor X,

I am thoroughly enjoying your course on Object-Oriented Programming. However, I am having trouble understanding the difference between overriding and overloading methods in Java.

If you could further explain the topic, I would be truly grateful. In particular, I am having trouble understanding in which scenarios one should override rather than overload a method.

Kind regards,

Will van der Wiel

Also Read: How To Write Email To Multiple Recipients Without Them Knowing?

4. Letter of Recommendation Email

Dear Professor X,

My name is Sally McNally. As you may recall, I was a student of yours in Course Y, Year 2022. I am applying for a master’s course at University XYZ, and I would be humbly grateful if you would be kind enough to provide a letter of recommendation.

I believe pursuing a master’s is the right path forward in my academic career, and I believe your letter of recommendation could significantly boost my chances of acceptance.

Yours truly,

Sally McNally

5. Research Topic Suggestion Email

Photo by Pixabay via Pexels

Dear Professor X,

As you are aware, we have been asked to select a topic for further research as part of our coursework. I’ve done a lot of thought on the matter, and I came up with several potential research ideas that would interest me and be of benefit to the broader public.

I am humbly requesting your opinion on these research topics and to assist me in selecting the most suitable one for the purposes of the course.

  1. Topic Y
  2. Topic Z
  3. Topic XYZ

I’m excited about the opportunity to delve deeper into one of these topics, expand my knowledge, and practice my research skills. I’m looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Neil McNeil

Also Read: Much Appreciated – Meaning & When To Use

6. Project Update Email

Photo by Pixabay via Pexels

Dear Professor X,

I am writing regarding the Android app development project we have been requested to complete as part of our coursework on Android programming.

I have completed the prototype for my Android app, which provides users with daily push notifications containing motivational quotes to help them start the day.

I am eagerly awaiting to hear your feedback on this stage of the project, as I am excited about building my own Android app and adding it to my portfolio.

Regards,

Sarah Sue

7. Appointment Request Email

Dear Professor X,

My name is Hanna Hill, and I am currently taking your course on IT Management. I would like to humbly request an appointment to discuss matter Y, which is of utmost importance to me in my studies.

I understand your schedule is hectic, and I am willing to work with you on finding an appropriate time to discuss the matter.

Please let me know which dates and times would work for you. We can meet in person or via Zoom.

Kind regards,

Hanna Hill

Also Read: How To Respond To An Interview Request?

8. Class Attendance Email

Dear Professor X,

I am writing to inform you that I will be missing your class on Programming for the Web on Wednesday, January 17. Unfortunately, I have an urgent medical procedure that cannot be delayed.

If there are any details I must be aware of, such as important assignment due dates, kindly let me know. In addition, any information regarding resources I could use to catch up with my missed coursework would be truly helpful.

I will be back in school the following Monday.

Best regards,

Howard Holmes

9. Failing a Class Email

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

Dear Professor X,

My name is Zelda Zamora, and I am currently failing your class on Data Marts and SQL. I am desperate for solutions, as excelling in my studies is of the utmost importance to me.

I am kindly requesting some assistance in the matter. If there are any resources you recommend that may help me improve my academic performance or a tutor who may be available to help me understand complex topics, please let me know.

I am eagerly awaiting your advice on the matter.

Your truly,

Zelda Zamora

10. Joining a Class Email

Dear Professor X,

I am writing to request further information on how to join your class on “Cybersecurity: Strategies for the Workforce.” I am highly interested in the subject, and would like to know how to register. In addition, please let me know if there is any prerequisite knowledge or resources I must complete before starting the course.

Regards,

Max McMillan

Check Out: Thank You Messages For Boss

Final Words

I’ll conclude with a short note on using AI to write your emails.

Many students have started using ChatGPT or other AI chatbots to write their emails for them. However, I don’t recommend this.

AI-generated emails are often very cookie cutter in their style. Your professor probably gets plenty of emails written by ChatGPT, and they probably look alike in many ways.

Writing an email written by ChatGPT can give the idea that you are lazy and want to take shortcuts. That is certainly not the kind of impression you want to give when writing an email to your professor, so take the time to craft an original email.

Go through these examples if you need help.

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14 Really Unusual Sick Day Excuses https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/unusual-sick-day-excuses/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:19:11 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=122607 Do you want to call in sick to work, but you don’t know which excuse to give? While you can always say that you have a migraine or fever, these excuses are commonly overused, and your manager might not believe you, especially if you have used that excuse before. You could simply say that you ...

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Do you want to call in sick to work, but you don’t know which excuse to give?

While you can always say that you have a migraine or fever, these excuses are commonly overused, and your manager might not believe you, especially if you have used that excuse before.

You could simply say that you have a doctor’s appointment, but your manager might ask to see proof of your appointment confirmation.

If you’re lost, we’ve got you covered. This article will cover 14 unusual sick day excuses that people don’t typically use.

Quick Summary

Here are some of the best excuses from this article:

  • I have severe, runny diarrhea
  • I got diagnosed with syphilis
  • I broke out in a weird rash
  • I have Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
  • I have a runny nose that doesn’t stop dripping
  • I have hyperhidrosis
  • I have swimmer’s ear

These illnesses are either unusual in that they aren’t commonly used as excuses or they’re the type of sickness that your manager probably won’t want to ask any further questions about.

In fact, for many of them, they’d prefer that you stay as far away as possible!

With that said, let’s get into the full text.

Also Read: Bad Company Culture Examples

14 Really Unusual Sick Day Excuses

1. I Have Severe Diarrhea and Projectile Vomiting

Photo by Sora Shimazaki via Pexels

This is one excuse that almost always never attracts further questioning. Who wants to hear about your watery poop?

If you say you have severe, uncontrollable diarrhea, you’ll be excused from work with no further comment. Nobody wants you to poop your pants in the office.

As for the cause of the diarrhea, it could be anything. Perhaps you ate something bad, such as raw sushi or an unhygienic hot dog from a sketchy stand.

Perhaps you suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and are having a flare-up, or maybe you just have a stomach virus.

This excuse is especially effective if you work in the food and drink industry, because there are often health regulations requiring workers to avoid work 24–48 hours after experiencing diarrhea.

If you can add in projectile vomiting, that’s even better. Nobody wants to see you throw up all over your desk, and nobody wants to clean that mess, either.

Check Out: How To Apologize To Your Boss For A Mistake At Work?

2. I Have a Weird Rash and Must Quarantine

Euproctis_Chrysorrhoea_skin_rash.jpg: Cywarederivative work: B kimmel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Tell your boss that you broke out in a weird, painful, and itchy rash, and they’ll breathe a sigh of relief when you don’t show up. Nobody knows if that thing is contagious, and they’ll want to stay as far away from you as they can.

If your boss asks you to send a picture of your rash, there’s an easy fix to that problem.

Just tell them it’s in an intimate area, and you are not comfortable sharing a photo. They won’t ask any more questions.

Also Read: Things That Can Get You Fired Immediately

3. I Accidentally Glued One of My Body Orifices Shut

Photo by Dainis Graveris via Pexels

This is a strange one, and it’s definitely unusual. Any story that has something to do with superglue can be one that prevents you from working.

Remember that lady who used superglue as hair gel? Tessica Brown, also known as the Gorilla Glue Girl, used Gorilla Glue in her hair when she ran out of hair spray.

She deeply regretted that mistake when she realized that it was impossible to get the glue out. She even went to the emergency room, but to no avail.

After becoming a media sensation, a plastic surgeon offered to perform surgery to remove the glue, and she finally became glue-free.

The point is, superglue is dangerous. If you use too much of it, you could glue your hands, or perhaps your feet, together.

Or, if you were applying it to your mustache for whatever reason, you might glue your nose shut. There are even some more intimate holes you might glue shut: Can you imagine gluing your urethra shut?

You’d be unable to urinate, that’s for sure, and that is an emergency with serious consequences which must be dealt with immediately. You might be the laughingstock of the workplace if word gets out that you glued your penis shut, but it will definitely get you a day off work.

Explore: Bad Reasons To Quit Your Job

4. I Just Got Diagnosed With Syphilis

Photo by Jonathan Borba via Pexels

This is another one of those outrageous illnesses that nobody really wants to hear more about.

Tell your boss that your STD panel came back, and you tested positive for syphilis. Hence, you must get a penicillin shot immediately.

Be prepared for everyone to snicker behind your back when you return to the office, but enjoy your day off work first. Who knows, some people might admire you for getting down with it so often and freely.

Also Read: Words To Describe A Company Culture

5. I Have Hyperhidrosis and Can’t Stop Sweating and Smelling

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

Hyperhidrosis is a medical term for excessive sweating that isn’t necessarily related to body temperature or exercise. And by excessive sweating, I mean excessive: the type of sweat that soaks your clothes and drips all over the place.

Not only is it uncomfortable to be around such a person, but if you smell pretty bad, it’s even worse. If you have sweaty, moist palms, nobody will want you touching products or shaking their hands.

Tell your boss that you developed hyperhidrosis along with a terrible body odor, and you’ll be excused until you visit the doctor and figure out what is causing your issue.

Check Out: Organizational Culture Examples To Inspire

6. I Have Swimmer’s Ear and Can’t Hear Anything

Photo by Angela Roma via Pexels

Swimmer’s ear is a term for an ear infection that affects the outer ear canal. It’s called that because it results from leftover water in the ear, which may contain bacteria and which creates an environment in which bacteria can multiply and grow.

There are various symptoms of swimmer’s ear. Some people may experience dizziness and pain, but hearing loss is also common.

Some people can barely hear anything, while others may experience muffled hearing. The ear may become swollen, and pus may drain from it.

If you require good hearing for your job, such as if you need to attend meetings or speak with customers, this can be a great excuse for a day off. In fact, even if you work from home but need to attend Zoom meetings or make calls, this can be a good excuse.

Check Out: Best Workplace Culture Examples

7. I Have Terrible Gas and Bloating and Can’t Stop Farting

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

While not as extreme as diarrhea, bloating is a nuisance and can be extremely painful if gas builds up in your intestines.

Bloating and gas can be caused by various factors, from illnesses such as celiac’s disease to indigestion.

Eating a lot of legumes, such as beans and peas, could also lead to excessive bloating. If you are lactose intolerant, it could result from ingesting milk or cheese.

If you have too much bloating and can’t stop ripping smelly farts, nobody will mind if you stay home.

Explore: Three Words To Describe Your Work Environment

8. I Developed a Phobia and Can’t Leave the House

Photo by MART PRODUCTION via Pexels

Believe it or not, there are real phobias associated with leaving the house.

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which an individual is afraid to leave environments they consider safe. In some cases, the only place they feel safe is their home.

Another type of phobia that could prevent you from getting to work is amaxophobia, which is a fear of driving or riding in vehicles, including cars, buses, and trains. Understandably, this kind of phobia could severely limit your ability to move around.

What if you walk to work? Well, there’s a phobia for that too.

Agyrophobia is an irrational fear of crossing streets.

Phobia-based excuses may be met with skepticism, but these phobias are very real for many people.

Also Read: Employee Strengths & Weaknesses

9. I Have a Contagious Staph Infection

Photo by Anna Shvets via Pexels

Staph is bacteria that lives on the body. A sizable percentage of the population is walking around with staph on their skin and in their noses.

However, some people go on to develop a staph infection, especially when these bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut or an irritated hair follicle.

Staph infections can occur anywhere on the body. People who go to the gym regularly, for example, especially if they have contact with other people (think: grappling martial arts), are more likely to develop staph.

Symptoms of staph infection can include a rash, boils, pimples, and general redness and soreness. It’s not a pleasant sight to look at, especially if the boils burst open and pus oozes out.

Besides, staph is highly contagious, so if someone has a staph infection, they should probably stay home. Your boss probably doesn’t want to see a picture of your nauseating staph infection, so they probably won’t ask you for one.

Check Out: Useful Self Appraisal Comments By Employee Examples

10. I Experienced a Concussion and Can’t Remember Anything

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Concussions can happen to anyone.

While they are more likely to occur if you play sports such as boxing, rugby, or football, you can also experience a concussion by slipping and hitting your head on the counter or floor.

Concussions aren’t always noticeable. A bump on your head is not a concussion, although it may indicate that you hit your head.

A concussion affects your brain, and it could lead to symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, dizziness, short-term memory loss, and a general feeling of having a cloudy mind.

If you experienced a concussion, you might have to take a few days off work, especially if your job is very brainy and requires a lot of mental energy and intensive thinking.

Also Read: Smart Work Goals For Employees

11. I Have a Cold With an Uncontrollable Runny Nose

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

If none of our icky excuses caught your fancy, you can always use the old cold, but add a bit of ugliness to it.

Say you have an uncontrollable runny nose with mucus pouring down from your nostrils.

If you are using an entire box of Kleenex tissues every hour, people just won’t want you around. Add a whooping cough to the mix and you’re good to go.

Explore: Why HR Is Not Your Friend?

12. I Have a Tick and Developed Temporary Tick Paralysis

Francisco Welter-Schultes, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ticks are common in the United States, especially in regions such as the Northeast and Midwest, where they commonly spread Lyme disease.

Not all ticks are infected with Lyme disease, but many are. According to Johns Hopkins, in some locations, more than half of all ticks have Lyme disease!

Ticks can spread Lyme disease by biting and feeding on you. Lyme disease can come with symptoms such as fever, headaches, and a skin rash.

Lyme disease should be treated early with antibiotics.

While Lyme disease might be good enough to get you off work, you can make things a bit “unique” by claiming you are temporarily paralyzed by a tick, which is a rare complication.

Tick paralysis is not Lyme disease and is instead chemically induced and caused by a neurotoxin in the tick’s saliva. While Lyme disease can persist once the tick is removed, tick paralysis is temporary and goes away when you remove the tick (if you do so early enough).

So, why would you want to claim tick paralysis instead of Lyme disease? Well, Lyme disease can last several weeks, and for some people, side effects such as pain and difficulty thinking could last for months.

Tick paralysis lasts a lot shorter. It can be fatal but goes away once you remove the tick, although not immediately.

It could take a few hours for the paralysis to reverse itself, so you should be good to go back to work the next day. In some cases, though, tick paralysis can progress for 24–48 hours after the tick is removed before getting better, so it does give you some leeway to take an extra day off if needed.

Also Read: Things You Should Never Tell HR

13. I Disturbed a Bee Hive and My Face Is Swollen From Dozens of Stings

Photo by Pixabay via Pexels

Bees are not venomous, but their stings can be incredibly painful. If you step on a bee nest or disturb a bee hive, and you get attacked by a swarm of bees, it won’t be a pleasant experience.

It could lead to a variety of symptoms, such as dizziness, as well.

If your face gets attacked by bees, the best thing you can do is stay at home and follow your doctor’s recommendations to reduce the swelling and pain. This kind of excuse can only really be used once, because if it happens twice, you’re probably just an idiot.

Explore: Difference Between Exempt & Non-exempt Employee

14. I Have Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

Photo by cottonbro studio via Pexels

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, or AIWS, is an actual syndrome that distorts your perception of reality and causes you to see objects as smaller or larger than they are.

These visual distortions can last for a few minutes or a few hours. If you claim you are suffering a rare episode of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, your boss will surely understand why you need to stay home, as you can’t function properly.

Also Read: Signs Your Boss Is Testing You At Work

Wrapping It Up

There you have it: some unusual sick day excuses that will probably work, either because nobody has ever used them on your boss before or because they’re so icky to think about that nobody wants to verify the details.

Of course, it’s important to always be honest with your boss. Calling in sick when you are not could cause you to lose your sick days, which could be a problem if you actually get sick later.

Remember, you may also be eligible for a certain number of PTO (Paid Time Off) days. If you tell your boss you’re taking PTO, you don’t need to give a reason.

The post 14 Really Unusual Sick Day Excuses appeared first on Rigorous Themes.

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What To Do When HR Is The Bully? https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/what-to-do-when-hr-is-the-bully/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 09:40:20 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=122132 Human resources is supposed to be the engine that ensures the company is running smoothly. The department is where you look to for help when you’re having conflict with coworkers or facing any kind of harassment or discrimination at work. But what happens if HR is the one harassing you? Where do you turn then? ...

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Human resources is supposed to be the engine that ensures the company is running smoothly.

The department is where you look to for help when you’re having conflict with coworkers or facing any kind of harassment or discrimination at work.

But what happens if HR is the one harassing you? Where do you turn then? Do you just throw your hands up in defeat and pray for them to show you mercy? Are there things you can do to fix the problem before it gets worse?

In this post, we’re going to walk you through what to do when HR is the bully so that you can continue doing your best work without constantly feeling like you’re walking on extremely thin ice.

Also Read: Things That Scare HR

Quick Summary

  • When HR is the one making the work environment unconducive for you, it can feel like there’s not much you can do.
  • The truth is HR is just as human as the rest of the employees and subject to the same rules so they can be reprimanded and punished for engaging in workplace bullying.
  • The best solution to being bullied by HR will depend on your preferences, company’s structure, policies, and the specifics of the situation.
  • Some of the actions you can take when being bullied by HR are to document the incidents, gather evidence, and submit an official complaint.

What to do when HR is the bully?

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

Even if HR is the problem, there are still options you can explore to address the situation and stop the personnel from bullying you any further.

Here are a few ways you can approach the issue:

Also Read: HR Trigger Words – Things That You Should Never Tell HR

1. Refer to the company’s policies for remedies

Photo by Artem Podrez

Many companies, especially medium to large-sized ones typically have processes to handle workplace issues like bullying or reporting complaints involving HR.

Do a bit of research into the existing company policies and check to see if your organization has codes about what constitutes abuse, mistreatment, and bullying in the workplace.

It’s going to make it easier for you to present your case and for it to be taken seriously when you can point to a specific code of conduct that the HR personnel is breaking by acting the way they do towards you.

You should also look through your employee handbook or company policy document to see if there are instructions detailing what steps to take to report an HR manager abusing their authority or doing things that violate organizational procedures.

If your company has a guideline for addressing workplace issues with HR, give the internal resolution system a chance and follow the approach prescribed in the employee handbook.

This way they can’t turn around and claim they were unaware of the bullying you’re being subjected to if they do nothing about it after receiving your report and you decide to pursue other remedies available to you.

Also Read: What Happens When You Complain To HR About Your Manager?

2. Bring it up with the HR professional directly

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

Whether or not the HR manager is intentionally picking on you and singling you out for disciplinary action, calling attention to their behavior can prompt them to course-correct and stop bullying.

The next time they do something to intimidate you, apologize for any disrespect you may have inadvertently sent their way. Then tell them how their actions are rude and improper, and that they impair the company’s values and culture.

Explain why their behavior is problematic and how it negatively impacts the team dynamic. Remind the person that you have treated them with nothing but respect in all your interactions and you deserve to have the same civility accorded to you.

Bullies thrive on watching the people they target resist them because it gives them a justification to harass you even more and make it seem like you’re to blame for what’s happening.

When you refuse to participate in this twisted theater and instead tender an apology and call out their misbehavior outright, you take away any ammunition the bully has. Chances are when you put the person on the spot, they will peacefully retreat and stop bullying you.

Check Out: Three Words That Best Describe Your Work Environment

3. Document every bullying incident

Photo by Liza Summer

Note down every bullying-related event that you’ve experienced at the hands of the human resources personnel or team. Keep a record of the locations, times, and dates when these incidents occurred and describe the offending behavior in as much detail as possible.

Chronicle what was said or done and the events that led to them. Write out the names of the specific individuals involved, when the bullying started, and any actions you’ve taken in the past to address the issue.

Also, make note of everyone present when the bullying happened so you know who to call upon to corroborate your story.

If you decide to take formal action, having a paper trail will strengthen your case by establishing a timeline of events and providing concrete examples of the workplace bullying you’ve been a victim of.

Also Read: Best Company Culture Examples

4. Collect evidence to support your version of the event

Photo by Yan Krukau

Higher management and even external adjudicators may be unwilling to reprimand the person or people bullying you when they’re not sure that the event happened.

You can avoid your complaint being regarded as another “he said, they said” by spending some time gathering evidence of the bullying to back up your complaints and demonstrate the events or behaviors you’re describing.

Gather all the written complaints that you’ve filed as well as the responses you got in return. Save any emails, documents, memos, messages, and other evidence that supports your claims.

If HR is covering their bullying by pretending that your job performance is the problem, get hold of documentation that shows you’ve been excelling in your role.

You’ll also need to put together a file for recognition or praise you’ve received from managers, clients, and other team members.

When you have overwhelming evidence on your side, you can compel the appropriate authorities to take action to put an end to the bullying.

Even if higher management is complicit or hesitant to do something about the issue, the fact that you have concrete proof can force them to act regardless.

Also Read: Bad Company Culture Examples

5. Submit a formal complaint to the head of the department

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

If you’re being bullied by HR and the person bullying you is not the one running the team or the only member of the department, consider filing an official report against them with the head of HR.

Chances are they may not be aware of the inappropriate behaviors of their direct report so bringing it to their attention will enable them to fix the problem before it gets any worse.

Of course, this wouldn’t apply if you’re being harassed by different members of HR because that could mean that the department is acting in concert to create a hostile work environment for you.

Schedule a meeting with the HR team leader and explain what’s been happening, what you’ve tried to do to address the problem in the past without success, and how the behaviors violate company policies or put the department at risk.

If they appear concerned and sympathetic to your situation, find out what they plan to do to resolve the conflict and stop it from happening again.

Also Read: Powerful Words To Describe A Company Culture

6. Escalate the issue to the top of the organization

Photo by Yan Krukau

Assuming that your company runs a one-person HR department or that you’ve reported the bullying incidents to the head of HR and they did nothing, consider speaking to someone higher up in the company.

This includes the CEO, board members, and top-level executives without a direct connection to HR, who you think will be receptive to what you have to say.

It’s not a great idea to involve someone who has a familiar relationship with the bully such as their family member, work best friend, the person who hired them, or a leader who adores them.

When you find the right person to escalate the matter to, share your issue and show them any evidence you have. Instead of trying to get them to pity you and call the HR personnel to order, try to make your case about how the bully’s actions negatively impact the company.

Demonstrate how HR’s harassment campaign is costing the company money in terms of lost productivity, wastage of resources, voluntary turnover, absenteeism, and more.

Even if this person doesn’t really care that HR is intimidating people, they will certainly care that the actions you’re reporting are getting in the way of business profits.

Explore: Organizational Culture Examples To Inspire

7. File a complaint with relevant external agencies

Photo by Thirdman

Another thing you can do when HR is the bully and you feel that you can’t count on the organization to find an effective resolution to the problem is take your complaint to relevant external regulatory agencies.

This solution is ideal for when the acts of bullying are linked to a breach of ethics or law. Depending on the issue and the industry you’re in, there may be specific institutions that set the standards of operation and ensure they’re enforced.

Do some research to identify the appropriate agency to direct your complaint. You can also report the issue to an ombudsman, labor union, or your state’s labor department.

Also Read: Best Exit Interview Questions To Ask

8. Consider taking legal action

Photo by Sora Shimazaki

If you’ve exploited all the internal avenues for conflict resolution and the bullying persists, it might be time to seek legal redress.

Depending on where you live, you may not have any remedies for workplace bullying under the law because the behaviors the HR personnel are displaying may not be illegal even though they are bad.

If HR is bullying you because of your age, race, gender, pregnancy, disability, religious beliefs, or other protected categories, you have a strong legal case.

However, if they’re bullying you and others just because there may not be much that can be done under the law unless the behavior also constitutes harassment.

Talk to an employment attorney to see if your rights are being violated and whether the facts of your case qualify you for protection under the law. Your attorney will advise you on the best steps to take to rectify your situation.

Also Read: Exit Interview Tips

9. Start searching for a new job

Photo by Klaus Nielsen

When HR is the bully, they can be very good at covering their track and can get away with harassing you by doing things that are not outrightly illegal.

If you can’t pursue legal action and the company’s higher-ups are reluctant to put an end to the bullying, that leaves you with only two options.

You can either grow a tougher skin and learn to live with the situation or start looking to switch companies so you never have to deal with the bully ever again.

Once you feel that the harassment is starting to affect your performance and well-being or make you dread going to work, update a resume and start applying to open positions.

Don’t wait until they break your spirit, start looking for a new job as soon as possible. It’s better to go where you can get a fresh start than to keep trying unsuccessfully to get your current employer to fix the issue.

Make sure you read employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor before applying to a company to ensure that they don’t also have a bullying problem.

Best practices for dealing with HR-related issues

Here are some tips you can use to handle workplace conflicts and bullying better and help them resolve faster:

Photo by Anna Shvets

1. Address the issue sooner, rather than later

Keep the bullying from progressing further by speaking up against it the instant it happens. If you resist the behavior immediately, the bully won’t start seeing you as a target and will likely move on to someone else who won’t put up much of a fight.

You might think that if you simply ignored the problem, it’d go away but it is not always the case, and not worth risking. Instead, the bullying may escalate and become more severe and constant.

So no matter how uncomfortable or nervous you feel in the moment, try to stand tall, hold your face up, and call the person’s attention to what they just did. Then mention how this kind of behavior is uncalled for in the workplace and detrimental to everyone.

Ask them to refrain from speaking to you in this way or treating you disrespectfully in the future.

Check Out: Things That Will Get You Fired Immediately

2. Stick to proper codes of conduct

No matter how frustrated you get because of HR’s antics, do not let your anger take over and cause you to do something rash. Try to maintain your cool and respond professionally.

When making your complaint, stick to the facts and the evidence that proves what you’re saying and avoid leveling personal attacks, raising your voice, or worse, throwing hands.

The last thing you want is for people to see you as violent, unstable, or unprofessional because it might make them less likely to believe you’re telling the truth about being bullied.

3. After yourself

Dealing with constant harassment at work can take a toll on your mental and physical health. So while you’re taking steps to stop HR from continuing to bully you, prioritize self-care.

Find pockets of joy to hold on to and replenish your morale outside of work. It can be anything from going to the gym, baking treats, hanging with friends and family, or watching comfort shows.

If the situation is starting to negatively impact your quality of life and destroy your self-worth, consider getting help from a therapist to help you unpack the experience and help you feel like yourself again.

Check Out: Signs That Your Boss Wants You To Quit

Conclusion

Work should be about doing the job you’re paid to do. You might as well be making some good friends along the way.

However, you shouldn’t be spending time at the office dealing with indignities, mind games, or micro, passive, and full-on aggression from HR or anybody else.

Always remind yourself that you don’t deserve to be bullied. Take the right steps when required to stamp out the problem once and for all.

The post What To Do When HR Is The Bully? appeared first on Rigorous Themes.

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13 Easy Side Hustles You Can Do With Canva In 2024 – Up To $15k Per Month https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/side-hustles-using-canva/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:02:32 +0000 https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/?p=120631 Canva is a popular content creation and design tool that allows you to create professional-looking images and graphics without having any prior design experience. Many people know Canva as the tool you use when you want to design a poster, create a presentation, or make a cute card without having to spend hundreds of dollars ...

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Canva is a popular content creation and design tool that allows you to create professional-looking images and graphics without having any prior design experience.

Many people know Canva as the tool you use when you want to design a poster, create a presentation, or make a cute card without having to spend hundreds of dollars hiring a professional.

But did you know that Canva can be turned into a revenue-generating machine that nets you a whopping sum every month?

Is your interest piqued?

This post is going to walk you through a few ideas for easy side hustles you can do with Canva to earn up to $15k per month from the comfort of your home. It will help you to make money, improve your life, and get one step closer to financial freedom.

Quick Summary

  • Canva provides many opportunities that can be used to earn lots of money for yourself without too much stress.
  • You can use Canva to design a variety of digital products including templates, websites, illustrations, and graphics, and sell them for a healthy price online.
  • Some of the best side businesses you can start to make money using Canva are graphics and web design, social media management, print-on-demand, consultation services, and affiliate marketing.
  • Some Canva-related side hustles require some dedication and skill to set up and may take a while to start yielding fruit than others.
  • There’s no hard and fast rule for building a Canva-based business. No idea is superior to others, and success is dependent on how well you execute the idea and not the idea in itself.

Easy Side Hustles To Do With Canva

1. Design and sell stickers

Photo by Christina Morillo

There’s just something about stickers that makes people love them. When I see cute or interesting stickers, it’s hard to resist buying a few.

If you have some creative bone in you, you can earn a cool sum month to month easily by designing stickers with Canva, printing them out, and selling them online through platforms like Amazon Handmade and Etsy.

You don’t even have to ideate your sticker designs from scratch because Canva offers sticker templates that you can use to inspire and build out your own sticker designs. However, you’re free to use your original artwork if you have any that will translate well as stickers.

You can even buy designs of digital stickers from Canva, Creative Fabrica, and DesignCuts, turn them into physical stickers, and then list them for sale.

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The beauty of stickers is that you can target them at different age groups from youngins to adults, increasing your revenue base. You just have to find a message, style, and design that will appeal to each audience’s tastes when creating stickers for that group.

2. Selling custom templates

The most valuable commodity for most people is time. They are happy to pay for things that help them save time or simplify complex tasks to make them more manageable.

On the other hand, some people may have the time but not the skill to design the template they need. And rather than spending hours learning how to do it for themselves, they’d rather buy one that’s ready-made.

You can build a million-dollar business selling Canva templates online. Just think of things that people would appreciate having a template for like planning a wedding or meal prepping and design a functional template to help them achieve this goal.

With Canva, you can create templates for various tasks and things including resumes, banners, infographics, ebooks, flyers, invitation cards, business cards, and social media posts.

Once the templates are ready, you can sell them on your blog, website, or an appropriate online marketplace.

3. Become a Canva contributor

As a Canva creator or contributor, you get to submit templates other Canva users can use when creating their designs. You get to keep 35% of the sales price every time someone buys your artwork so it’s a great way to earn money on the side.

Joining Canva’s Creators Program requires an application. The team will review your submitted portfolio and notify you by email if your work qualifies to be a part of the program.

Once approved, you can begin uploading your original stock photos, illustrations, stickers, artwork, typography, videos, icons, vector art, and graphic designs on Canva and generate passive income from royalties.

Canva doesn’t impose quotas or work limits on its Creators, so you can design whatever you want on your own time and upload them when you’re ready.

Signing up to become a Canva Creator will also allow you to network with like-minded artists, develop your craft, and boost your artist profile.

4. Offer design services

If you have a knack for design, you can leverage this skill to make up to $15k per month from Canva by charging people a fee to design stuff for them. You can set your own price based on your level of experience and the specific service you’re offering.

The design market is vast so there are different audience groups that you can offer your services to including small businesses looking for someone to create logos, email templates, Facebook ad banners, and ebook covers.

You can help people create eye-catching content for TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to attract and engage their audience, design marketing materials, prints for t-shirts, project illustrations, and so much more.

You can choose to be a generalist; someone who can make any design the customer wants. Or you can pick a niche and specialize in designing products for that market.

Source for clients by advertising your design services on freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr or spreading the word through social media.

5. Create Canva-focused tutorials on YouTube

Photo by Joshua Miranda

Starting a YouTube channel where you discuss everything Canva-related is a great way to make a lot of money if you have an easy time being in front of a camera. You can show off your Canva skills on video and share your expert knowledge with people for free.

As people flock over to your channel to learn how to design stuff with Canva, they’ll subscribe to your channel so they don’t miss out on your new content.

Then you can leverage the size of your audience to earn money through YouTube monetization, affiliate marketing, sponsored collaborations, and sales of your services or products.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to build your following to reach 1,000 subscribers and about 4,000 hours of video watch time to qualify to earn money from YouTube ads. So it could take some time before you start getting huge financial rewards from this side hustle.

6. Launch Canva courses

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

Are you skilled at using Canva? Do you know most of the tricks in the Canva playbook or have you developed hacks of your own? If yes, you can earn thousands of dollars a month teaching others how to make the best use of Canva.

There are two ways you can accomplish this. The first is using the organic route which means you take the time to build an engaged audience by offering Canva tips for free.

Over time, you will build a reputation for being an expert on all things Canva and you can start offering paid educational content for people who want deeper knowledge.

Alternatively, you can skip the audience and trust building and go straight to building an information-packed Canva course, create a sales page for it, and fire up ad campaigns to bring in interested buyers.

This method is the least effective and may bring you as many conversions as you might expect. Online learning platforms that you can use to sell your Canva courses include Skillshare, Udemy, Teachable, etc.

7. Make printable and digital products

Another easy side hustle you can do with Canva to bring home money without having to work your butt off is by creating digital downloads and printables and selling them on the internet.

The wonderful thing about digital products is that you don’t have to deal with the hassle of shipping and handling. You can deliver the purchased product to the customer’s email inbox or file folder almost in an instant.

Best of all, your margins are pure profit because there are little or no expenses involved in producing digital products. All you need is a Canva Pro account, a computer, or smartphone, and an internet connection and your new business is ready to be born.

Some examples of printables you can design using Canva and put up for sale include illustrations, calendars, workbooks, planners, ebooks, journals, digital stickers, invitation cards, habit trackers, and art prints.

Also Read: Side Hustle Stack Review

8. Create and sell designs for social media posts

If you know how to use Canva, it’s time to put that skill to work for you. How? By helping small businesses create visually pleasing content and graphics for their social pages.

Lots of brands are happy to pay someone to make engaging social media posts that appeal to their audience. If you do your research and market your services well, you should have no trouble pulling in multiple four-figure clients a month.

You can brand yourself as a social media manager, social media designer, or even a virtual social media marketer and offer your services to people for a fee.

With Canva, you can design, schedule, and manage the creation of social media content for clients to grow your revenue.

You can tweak everything from the color scheme to the typography and layout of the images and videos you create to suit each client’s needs and brand image.

Canva also allows you to create customized dashboards for each client so you know exactly where everything goes and what needs to be done, enabling you to manage each social media page effectively.

Also Read: Can You Use Canva Images For Commercial Use?

9. Sell low-content books

Photo by Charly Mova

You can make thousands of dollars every month selling low-content books that you made using Canva. Low-content books are any kind of book that doesn’t contain a lot of content and doesn’t require a lot of mental energy to create or consume.

Examples of low-content books include coloring books, puzzle books, children’s books, journals, affirmation cards, planners, notebooks, calendars, and workbooks. You can use Canva and other tools like Bookbolt to bring the design for your low-content book to life.

You can buy great-looking low-content book templates to base your book designs on instead of brainstorming ideas from scratch from Creative Market, IdeaOnce, Craftwork Design, and the like.

Once you’ve created a number of low-content books, you can sell them on Amazon Kindle, and other marketplaces that carry this kind of product, and start building a cushy source of passive income.

Some creators have reported making over $17,000 a month selling low-content books online, proving that it’s a lucrative hustle.

10. Make Canva websites

Gone are the days when building a website was a complicated process that required lots of technical knowledge and experience to accomplish.

These days, you can design beautiful functional, and mobile-responsive websites quickly with tools like Canva.

Canva’s prebuilt website templates help to cut down your web designing time even more so you can complete your tasks faster and take on more contracts.

You can design and publish websites for a host of purposes from sales pages to company websites and personal websites with Canva.

Designing websites with Canva is still a relatively new concept so you can swoop in, make a killing, and make a name for yourself before the field becomes oversaturated.

Leverage social media networks like LinkedIn and Twitter to find clients who are looking for web designers.

Gig marketplaces like 99Designs, UpWork, and Fiverr are also great options for sourcing freelance work for your website design business.

11. Start a Canva coaching or consulting business

Photo by fauxels

Canva might be an incredibly popular tool but there are still millions of people and brands out there that are unsure of how to maximize its features for the good of their business.

You can fill this gap and take home a lot of money in the process by launching a Canva coaching business and teaching others how to use Canva.

Offer consultation as a standalone service or layer it on top of a YouTube channel to diversify your income sources even further.

You will earn money from ads watched by the people who come to watch your channel content to learn more about Canva for free.

Some of those subscribers will be so impressed with your expertise that they’ll reach out to use your consulting and coaching service.

12. Set up a print-on-demand shop

Starting a print–on–demand business is relatively straightforward. First, you need to figure out what type of merchandise you want to have your artwork and designs printed on.

It could be t-shirts, mugs, keyholders, caps, socks, tote bags, and more. Next, you have to consider the audience that you want to buy these items then start creating designs on Canva that will appeal to them.

Once your designs are finalized, you can upload them to the print-on-demand platform you’re using like Sellfy, Teespring, and RedBubble.

Anytime someone buys an item from your online store, the print-on-demand service will print the product, package it and deliver it to the buyer, and send you your commission for the sale.

To increase the amount of revenue your PoD business brings in, focus on creating designs and products for popular niches like television shows, pop culture topics, special holidays, political movements, comic books, etc.

13. Join affiliate marketing programs

Canva has a dedicated affiliate program that you can join. It allows you to promote Canva content on your website, blog, newsletter, or social media profiles and earn a commission every time someone registers on Canva via your referral link.

Currently, the design company pays its affiliates $36 for every new user they bring to the platform. Granted, you might not make enough money to change your life as an affiliate marketer for Canva, but it never hurts to have a steady stream of additional income.

You can compound your efforts by signing up for other affiliate programs, particularly those run by major ecommerce brands like Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

Then pick the products you want to promote and use Canva to create attractive product guides, social posts, and even video content to advertise the products.

Conclusion

There are many side hustles you can kickstart with Canva if you’re willing to put in a little bit of work, apply the right strategy, and exercise some patience to scale your efforts.

You can experiment with a couple of ideas until you find something that sticks.

However, it’s better to focus on one hustle at a time and give it your best than trying to run multiple side hustles at a time and only give half your effort to each one.

Once you find a niche that works for you and brings in a decent amount of income, spend time building upon it and exploring all the opportunities in that line. Before you know it, you’ll be raking in up to $15k per month in revenue from your Canva-based enterprise.

The post 13 Easy Side Hustles You Can Do With Canva In 2024 – Up To $15k Per Month appeared first on Rigorous Themes.

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