OG Tuesday Issue #147

GET MORE SH*T DONE

How a starfish can improve your to-do list

*By Visual Thinkery is licensed under CC-BY-ND*

• Keep Doing – Assign this label to tasks your instincts tell you to keep doing. Additionally, ask yourself why? What are the benefits of doing them? What are the consequences of not doing them?
• Less Of – What tasks seem useful but don’t always generate enough value to justify the time investment?
• More Of – These are the activities you have a hunch could bring more value but need to explore further.
• Stop Doing – These are the tasks you’ve been doing forever, but when you ask yourself why, the answers that bubble up aren’t very convincing.
• Start Doing – These are the ideas that keep returning to you, as though demanding to be explored.

TOGETHER WITH GROUPTOGETHER

Collect money for group gifts…without the awkward 😬

GET MORE SH*T DONE

Following up after a job interview without being boring or annoying

Following up after a job interview without being boring or annoying

Many current job hunters are finding themselves overloaded with interviews. While there’s no clear-cut average, some reporters guess that many of today’s job candidates are completing nearly ten interview rounds, as opposed to yesterday’s standard 2 – 4.

It’s more important than ever to stand out. Mastering the art of the follow-up is an excellent way to remind hiring managers why they enjoyed interviewing you so much.

Follow-up golden rules:

• Remember that the follow-up starts before the interview ends. Ask the interviewer about timelines and next steps so you can plan your follow-up accordingly. If the key decision maker will be out of the office for the next two weeks, you’ll know to follow up about a possible second interview when they return.
• Remind them of a personal connection you made. You might mention that you enjoyed talking to them about your shared love for fly fishing. Even small personal details will help you stand out in their memory as a whole person and not just another candidate.
• State the role you’re following up on, using the formal title as written in the job description.
• Explain why you’re still interested in the role. Mention anything that came up during the interview that further solidified your interest. (I was already excited about the idea of communicating with a variety of different populations, and after learning during the interview that I might also have the chance to use Spanish, I’m even more excited.)
• Explain why you would excel in the role. Again, mention anything that came up during the interview that further solidified this belief. (I’m certain my skills and experience in both childcare and corporate communications will support your goal of connecting underserved populations to critical prenatal and postnatal care.)
• Provide additional information. If you felt disappointed that the interviewer didn’t ask you about something you find relevant to the position, feel free to mention it in your follow-up. (During the interview, I completely forgot to mention that I also have ten years of lifeguarding experience, which taught me the art of staying calm under pressure.)
• Directly ask for the information you want. Do you just want to know if you’re still in the running? Do you want to know if and when you might have another interview? Decide what you want most to learn and ask direct, appropriate questions.

Throughout the process…

• Be persistent but never confrontational. (I’m writing to follow up again on X position vs I haven’t received a response from my previous emails, so…)
• Don’t worry about being annoying. These interactions are important to your future and you have a right to ask for clarity and transparency.
• Learn from the interactions. If at any point in the process, you feel disrespected or ignored, it might be a red flag that the cultural fit will be off.
• Make your own timeline clear, if applicable. If you’re holding off on accepting another job offer before you hear from this organization, feel free to communicate that. (This position is still my top choice, but I have received other job offers that I need to respond to by Month/Date at the latest.)
• Close the loop with kindness. Even if your follow-up exchange ends with the news that you didn’t get the position, you still have one more message to send: A sincere thank you. Solidify your appreciation for the opportunity and your continued admiration for the organization. (If you find yourself in communication with the same organization or the same individual in the future, they might remember you for this small final signal of kindness and professionalism.)

An example email to borrow or steal

Subject line*: Thank you for the [POSITION] interview
*A clear subject line increases the chances that your perfectly composed message will even be read.

Dear NAME,

It was absolutely delightful to meet you and learn more about the [POSITION] Community Organizer position.

I was already excited about the idea of [CORE JOB FUNCTION] communicating with a variety of different populations, and after learning during the interview that I might also [CORE JOB FUNCTION] have the chance to use Spanish, I’m even more excited. I have no doubt that my [SPECIFIC, RELEVANT SKILLS] skills and experience in both childcare and corporate communications will support [ORGANIZATION MISSION/GOAL] AMA United’s goal of connecting underserved populations to critical prenatal and postnatal care.

[PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION] I didn’t mention this in the interview, but helping my sister deal with preeclampsia that could have been better managed with adequate prenatal care makes me deeply passionate about your mission.

[DIRECTLY ASK FOR THE INFORMATION YOU WANT] Can you provide an estimated timeframe for a second interview, if I’m selected? I’m taking a vacation in the next few weeks and want to be sure I don’t miss any opportunities.

[THANK THEM EXPLICITLY] Thank you again so much for your time. If I can provide any further information to support your selection process, please let me know by [PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFO*] emailing me at XX**@ma**.com or calling me at XXX-XXX-XXXX.

[REMIND THEM OF A PERSONAL CONNECTION YOU MADE] I hope you get to take that fly-fishing trip you mentioned you were planning!

[SIGNATURE]
[PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFO AGAIN]

*Even if you’ve provided contact info on what feels like a million other documents, repeating it here will make it easier for the interviewer to grab.

TOGETHER WITH BONUSLY

Swipe This Stay Interview Template

It’s rare that you can change someone’s mind in an exit interview. A stay interview gives your employees a safe space to share how you can better support and develop them for the long haul.

When you proactively identify strengths and weaknesses in your retention efforts and company culture, you can make improvements before employees leave.

The free Stay Interview Template includes:

• 👉 Directions for how to use the template.
• ✅ Guided questions around manager feedback, company feedback, and building connections.
• 💡 Tips on how to make the most of your stay interviews.
• ⚙️ Additional tools and resources to build resilient teams.

👉 Get your free stay interview template

WATERCOOLER TALK

What’s the secret to organizational resilience?

• They are aligned, meaning they have a strong shared:
  • Purpose for existing and operating
  • Top-to-bottom sense of ownership and responsibility for performance
  • Freedom and safety to pursue innovation and risk
• They are led by people who listen for problems and plan for the unexpected. 
• They address, instead of avoiding or denying, issues, threats, and warning signs. 
• They make plans by collaborating both within their companies and across their sectors. 
• They actively seek information and stay up-to-date on current events. 
• They recognize employees for innovation and empower them to seek it. 
• They set aside hierarchies when necessary to keep employees fully involved during times of change. 

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SPILL THE TEA

Hooray, You Made It to the End of Our Newsletter!

Riddle me this: Two men are in a desert. They both have backpacks on. One of the guys is dead. The guy who is alive has his backpack open and the guy who is dead has his backpack closed. What is in the dead man’s backpack?

⭐ Answer here.