| How to Respond to an Interview Invitation Posted: 28 Jul 2018 01:00 AM PDT You've finally landed an interview for that dream job you've been after—now what's the best way to follow up? These days, most formal interview invitations are sent via email, which can be trickier to respond to than a simple phone call. But answering an interested recruiter doesn't have to turn you into a nervous wreck. Just write out a short, courteous message of reply confirming the details of the meeting and thanking the sender personally for their time. After reading back through your email to review the information you've included and check for typos, you can send it off and begin preparing to wow during your interview. EditFormatting Your Response - Thoroughly read the email for relevant information about the interview. Read the invitation all the way through and look for details that lay out how the interview process will proceed. You'll typically be given an exact time and place to meet, the name of the person conducting the interview, and directions to the location if it's difficult to find. All these things will be important to know in order to formulate an appropriate response.[1]
- Other important considerations like what to wear, where to park, and who to ask for when you enter will also likely be addressed in the body of the invitation.
- Find out whether the interview will be conducted in person or over the phone. This will make a big difference in the way the rest of your correspondence plays out.[2]
- Use the sender's name in your salutation. If the email came from an individual, referring to them by name is a respectful way of acknowledging them and demonstrates that you're paying attention. It also takes the guesswork out of composing the salutation—in most cases, it will be sufficient to simply insert the person's name followed by a comma.[3]
- A heading that reads "Ms. Menendez, ..." is far more personable than one like "To whom it may concern."
- If no one person is named in the address or signature, it's okay to use a more general salutation like "Dear Acme Inc. Hiring Coordinator."
- Thank the person or company for their interest. Begin your first line by expressing your gratitude for being granted the opportunity to interview for the position. It's a small gesture that doesn't take long, but can make a world of difference. A show of appreciation will set a cordial tone for the rest of your ongoing correspondence and help you get off on the right foot.[4]
- Use expressive language to underscore your enthusiasm and keep your reply from coming off as robotic. Instead of saying "thank you for the chance to interview with your company," try "I was thrilled to receive your email and to think of the unique skills and experience I might bring to CompuTech's research and development team in the near future."
- A little politeness can go a long way. A gracious, well-mannered candidate is more likely to be considered for a position than one who dispenses with common courtesy.
- Confirm the particulars of the interview. After thanking the sender, use the next line to reiterate the information they've relayed to you. If they suggest the following Wednesday morning at 10am as the time to meet, for example, you might say something like "Wednesday the 14th at 10am is perfect for me! I'll be sure to arrange the rest of my schedule accordingly." The important thing is that you make it clear that everyone is on the same page.[5]
- If the date or time proposed doesn't work for you for some reason, make it a point to let the send know up front so you can work on finding an opening that's convenient for both of you.
- Keep the body of your message brief. You don't want to take up too much of the recruiter's time or risk losing their attention.
- Ask for any other pertinent details that you might need. If you're left with any unanswered questions about what comes next, don't hesitate to bring them up in the second half of your response. You might not have been told what identifying documents to bring, for instance, or how to obtain a visitor's badge to gain access to restricted areas. Requesting further information when it's needed signals to a recruiter that you're organized and keen to do things the right way.[6]
- Try to pose your questions tactfully to avoid making it sound like the sender is at fault for forgetting to mention something. "What's the best way to find your office building from Sunrise Highway?" sounds better than "you never told me how to get there."
- Ask the sender explicitly to follow up before concluding your message if there's something pressing you need cleared up. A closing line like "please get back to me at your earliest convenience so I'll know how best to proceed" leaves no confusion about what it is you want the sender to do.[7]
- End your response with a professional signature. At the bottom of the email, sign off with your first and last name, job title or description, and a phone number and email address where you can be reached, along with any other relevant contact info. You can also provide links to any external resources you think the recruiter should have, such as your personal website or LinkedIn profile. Remember, this will be the last thing your contact will see, so it should represent you in a favorable light.[8]
- Avoid overloading your signature with filler content, like social media accounts or inspirational quotes. The best signatures are streamlined, informative, and easily readable at a glance.[9]
- A simple, well-designed signature might look something like this: Christa Peterson | Senior Marketing Analyst, Taffet Media Corp. | www.taffetmedia.com | 888-723-4968
EditPolishing and Sending Your Email - Respond to the invitation right away. As soon as you get the email you've been anxiously awaiting, make an effort to sit down and type out a response at your earliest convenience. Getting back to the sender as quickly as possible shows that you're prompt, and that you take their busy schedule seriously. It will also give you more time to find out everything you need to know in order to get prepared.[10]
- Get in the habit of checking your inbox once or twice a day for work-related emails.[11]
- Turn on email notifications on your phone so that you'll be alerted every time you receive a new message.
- Check for typographical errors. Before you send your response, read back over it from top to bottom to make sure there are no grammar or spelling mistakes. Pay particular attention to your use of capitalization, punctuation, and spacing. A professional email riddled with typos isn't the kind of first impression you want to make![12]
- Your email platform's built-in spellcheck feature can come in handy for catching goof-ups that might otherwise go unnoticed.
- Consider having a friend or coworker proofread your message for you. Other people are sometimes better at detecting errors in a piece of writing than the person that wrote it.[13]
- Copy all other intended recipients. If there are other names attached to the email, choose the "reply all" option rather than replying to one sender individually. This will help ensure that everyone who is supposed to see your response does, and is kept in the loop about your place in the interview process.[14]
- Exceptions to this rule include instances when the invitation asks that you reply to a particular person or address, or if the other names copied on the email are applicants like yourself.
- It's not uncommon for hiring coordinators to copy other company representatives, like office managers and human resources personnel, on correspondence directed to potential recruits.
- Double check that the email has gone through. Once you've put the finishing touches on your response, hit the send button. Then, head to your sent messages inbox and look for the email there. If there's an issue with an incorrect mailing address or unexpected internet outage, you'll want to be aware of it before it causes a problem.
- A lengthy delay in your response time could reflect poorly on your communication skills, or even result in a missed opportunity.[15]
- Read your response aloud to see if you've done a good enough job conveying a tone that's cheerful, friendly, and, above all, natural.
- Always compose and reply to professional emails using the same address listed on your resume or application.
- Strong communication skills are an asset in the workplace. It's important to be aware of how you're likely to be perceived, even when you're just typing up a short response.
- If you feel like you need some extra guidance putting together the perfect response, search for helpful templates and sample emails online.
- Avoid using elaborate fonts, unnecessary graphics, or other formatting oddities in professional emails. Inappropriate stylistic choices could send potential employers the wrong message.
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| How to Buy a Used Boat Posted: 27 Jul 2018 05:00 PM PDT If you'd like to buy a boat but have a limited budget or limited boating experience, a used boat is your best bet. The first step is to figure out what specific type of boat will best suit your needs. Then, visit the boat and fully inspect it. Talk with the owner to ascertain its quality, and take the boat out on the water to make sure it doesn't leak and runs well. EditEvaluating Different Types of Boats - Opt for a flat boat, or a bay or bass style if you're an angler. One of these styles will suit you best if you plan to use your boat for freshwater fishing in lakes and rivers. You'll be able to navigate the boat into narrow channels and streams, although the boat may not be suitable for holding more than 1 or 2 people.[1]
- Anglers also typically prefer center-console or dual-console boats.
- Purchase a pontoon for slow-paced relaxation. If you plan to use a boat for freshwater leisure but don't plan to fish from it, opt for a reliable pontoon boat. Large pontoons can hold as many as 10 or 12 people, so they're also a popular option for family parties or spending a day on the lake with your friends.[2]
- New pontoon boats range from $20–$30,000 USD, but used models will cost less.
- Buy a cabin cruiser, cuddy cabin, or dinghy for ocean cruising. If you want a fast boat that you can cruise in, check out cabin cruiser, cuddy cabin, and dinghy or dory designs. These are day-use boats that will allow you to cruise over the open ocean for hours at a time.[3] Smaller cruisers can also be taken in rivers or large lakes.
- If you want a high-powered boat for fast cruising in the ocean, spring for a speedboat or sport boat.
- Purchase a bowrider or towboat for towing wakeboarders or water-skiers. If you'll be using your boat primarily for watersports on lakes, and want the option to tow an individual behind you, a mid-size towboat will be your best option. These boats will create a sizeable wake behind you, and feature a deck large enough to house several people.[4]
- Bowriders and towboats would not be suitable for staying overnight on. New models will cost around $54,000, but a used model will cost substantially less.
EditSetting Your Budget and Searching for Boats - Establish a reasonable budget. Used boats are cheaper than new boats, but can still become prohibitively expensive. Once you've determined 1 or 2 models of boat you're interested at, look online to see how much these styles of boats typically sell for in used condition. Also look at your personal finances and see how much you can afford to spend on the boat.[5]
- This is also the time to meet with a banker if you're looking to finance the purchase of the used boat. Used boats can easily top $25,000 USD, so you may want to take out a sizeable loan. When negotiating the terms of the loan, set up the monthly payments for an amount you can afford.
- Read reviews of different boat makes and models. Before going to check out individual used boats for sale, read some online reviews. These will allow you to get a sense of which boat makes, models, and styles are popular choices for used-boat buyers, and which you should avoid buying. Narrow the type of boat you want down to 1 or 2 models.[6]
- Find and visit a prospective used boat. The best way to find a viable used boat is through online boat-sale forums and websites. Boat Trader and Boats.com will allow you to input specific criteria to narrow down the used-boat search results. Specify the condition of the boat, as well as the desired type, manufacturer, length, and location.[7]
- Contact the boat's owner, and make sure that the owner will be with the boat when you come by to inspect the boat at the marina where it's stored. Coordinate a time and date that works with both you and the owner.
- Make sure that you have a boating license before buying a boat. You can get fined and/or taken into custody without one.
EditAsking Questions and Inspecting the Boat - Ask about the boat's age and maintenance history. Just like when buying a car, make sure that the boat has been regularly maintained and is in good running order. Look for newer boats with fewer engine miles, as these will be in the best condition.[8]
- Be aware that dishonest boat owners may have bought a heavily damaged boat as salvage, patched it up, and then try to sell it for a high price.
- Ask if the current owner was the original owner, if the boat has been in salt water, when was it last used, how was it stored in the winter, and if it has had any major or minor problems fixed (new wiring, crack in hull, replaced engine head) or still existing.
- Ask about the boat's provenance. The "provenance" refers to a list of the boat's prior owners and locations. The current owner of the boat should be able to provide you with the provenance, whether in written or oral form. A boat that has had only 1 or 2 owners and has been well maintained is a safer purchase than a boat with multiple owners.[9]
- Avoid buying a boat that has had many owners in the past, or that has a murky provenance. Boats that have changed hands many times—without these transactions being recorded—are often in poor condition.
- Find out if you can transfer the warranty. New boats come with a warranty which protects them from damage or theft. The warranty will have expired on most used boats. However, it's worth asking the owner if the warranty is still valid, or contacting the manufacturer with the same question. In some cases, you can transfer the warranty from the prior owner's name into yours.[10]
- For example, if the new boat came with a 5-year warranty, and you're buying it used after 4 years, you should be able to transfer the final 1 year of warranty coverage.
- Check the boat's hull for cracks. Begin your inspection by taking a walk around the boat and looking for any obvious signs of damage. Pay special attention to the fiberglass hull just above and below the waterline. Small, cosmetic cracks are normal. However, if you see large cracks longer than , the boat may have structural problems within the hull, possibly as a result of collision or damage.[11]
- Large cracks or signs of damage anywhere on the hull are reason for concern. That said, the area of the hull just above and below the waterline is where large stress cracks are most likely to show up.
- Confirm that the boat is in overall good condition. When you look at the boat, note any fixed hull cracks, see if any parts look newer than others, and look for signs of neglect. Make sure that the generator and electronics work, the seats swivel correctly, and that the hatches open properly and are not filled with water.[12]
- Neglect in one area, such as the hull or upholstery, may mean neglect in other areas, such as the engine.
- Look for mildew or rot. Get in the boat and walk around inside. Sit in all of the seats, and inspect the consoles and carpeting. A well-maintained boat with a sturdy hull shouldn't have any patches of mildew or mold growing on it, and should not display any signs of rot. Extensive mildew is often a sign of water damage or a faulty hull.[13]
- Signs of rot include loose or squeaky floorboards, loose seats and consoles, and a squeaky or flexing hull.
- Keep in mind that damaged upholstery can easily be replaced. Look past the seat covers and focus on signs of structural damage.
- Have the boat inspected by a qualified marine surveyor. If you're relatively new to the boating world and not confident that you can evaluate the quality of a used boat on your own, bring in a marine surveyor. The surveyor will provide a detailed inspection of the used boat—for a fee—and will inform you whether or not it's a wise purchase.[14]
- Most marinas have a marine surveyor on staff. Contact your local marina and ask to be put in contact with their surveyor.
- Alternately, contact the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors. Find them online at: http://www.marinesurvey.org/.
- Take the boat out for a sea trial. A "sea trial" is essentially a test drive done on the water. The boat's current owner should either volunteer or readily agree to take you out in the boat. The sea trial allows you to see how the boat handles on the open water, and can help you determine the boat's true condition and value.[15]
- Put the boat through its paces during this trial: make sure the engine works well and doesn't overheat. Also observe whether the boat steers properly and doesn't rock or roll too much.
- Confirm that the electronics and navigational instruments function properly, and that the hull doesn't spring any leaks.
EditMaking the Deal - Research the boat you're buying and competitive models. The more you know about the specific make and model of boat that you're planning to buy, the better you'll be able to haggle over the price. In fact, you may find that the seller has over-priced the boat, in which case you can certainly talk them down.[16]
- Before you meet the seller, find out the selling price of used boats like the one you plan to buy.
- You can find the value of any boat model through the NADA Boat guide. Check the guide online at: http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats.
- Negotiate the price with the boat owner. Since you're purchasing a used item, the price will be somewhat flexible. Try to talk the owner down from the listed price. If the seller refuses to lower their price, you can explain that you believe the boat is overpriced and that you can find a better deal somewhere else. This will often prompt the seller to lower the price.[17]
- For example, if the boat is listed as selling for $25,000, ask if the owner will take $20,000. They'll likely decline, but may revise their offer to a more reasonable $22,500.[18]
- Be aware that boat owners may accept your lower rate for the boat itself, but then over-charge you for ancillary items like radios, safety items, or an engine. If you have the time and patience, negotiate over each individual item you're buying.
- Transfer the legal ownership of the boat. Once you've agreed on the purchase price, ask the boat's current owner to give you the boat's title and other legal documents.[19] Just like when buying a car, this will conclude the purchasing process. Making sure that the current boat owner transfers all ownership papers to you will also confirm that the boat was not stolen.
- Although laws vary by state, boats over typically have titles, while smaller boats do not.
- If you live in the U.S., you will also need to register your boat with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Natural Resources. Even if the previous owner registered the boat, you will need to re-register the boat with yourself as the given owner. For your state's guidelines, look online at: https://www.dmv.org/boat-registration.php.
- Generally if the owner doesn't offer to take the boat out on the water or to take it to a mechanic, it has a major problem.
- Like any other vehicle, boats require maintenance. Keep this in mind for financial planning. You'll need to pay for fuel and regular upkeep on top of the boat's purchase price.[20]
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| How to Lift Heavier Weights Posted: 27 Jul 2018 09:00 AM PDT Weight training is a great way to build muscle and get into shape, but it usually requires a gradual progression to heavier weights to see the best results. Everyone's body and fitness goals are different, so there's no set answer for when and how to increase the weight you're using. However, if you can easily finish your reps and you have good form, it might be time to move up to the next size weight! EditGetting in Shape to Lift - Eat a diet that's high in lean protein and veggies and low in carbs. Think of the food you put into your body as fuel for your activity. The cleaner the fuel, the more efficiently your body will run. Avoid foods that are high in sugars and that lack nutrients. Opt for lean proteins like grilled chicken or seafood, and try to fill about half of your plate with colorful veggies, like leafy greens, sweet potatoes, or broccoli.
- Don't eat for 30 minutes before you exercise to avoid cramps.
- Run, jog, or swim for at least 150 minutes a week. To start getting in great physical shape before you lift, you should try to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week. Running, jogging, and swimming are some of the most popular aerobic exercises, but feel free to get creative — a flag football game with friends or taking the stairs at work can count towards your goal.[1]
- Study the major muscle groups. As you start getting ready to lift weights, study anatomy charts and workout guides online to learn more about the body's major muscle groups. Pay attention to how each set of muscles moves to control your body, then mimic those movements during weight training. Understanding how the muscles work will help you have a better understanding of what you're working towards. [2]
- If you know that the muscles biceps, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, and posterior deltoids all contract and shorten to move the shoulder and arm, you will understand the exact benefit you get from doing a lateral pull-down.
- Practice bodyweight exercises to prepare your muscles for lifting weights. Bodyweight exercises don't require any equipment to give you a good workout — just the weight of your own body and gravity is enough to help you build muscles. Bodyweight exercises like squats, push-ups, and sit ups are a great way to get your body in shape for weight lifting.
- Start with lifting smaller weights, then work your way up. You might have images of pressing some heavy iron to build huge muscles, but you can actually get benefits by lifting lighter weights for more reps, plus you decrease your risk of injury. Start out by selecting a weight that you can easily lift 8-12 times, then gradually work your way up to heavier weights.[3]
- Make sure your form is correct before you lift more weight. You might not notice that your form is off when you're lifting lighter weights, but if your knees aren't aligned properly or your back isn't straight, it can make a big difference when you add more weight to your lift. If you go to a gym, ask a trainer to evaluate your form before you increase your lifts.[4]
- If you don't go to a gym, watch video tutorials and work out in front of a mirror or film yourself lifting weights to check your form. Pay special attention to any aches or pains you feel while lifting.
EditAdding More Weight - Add more weight on a day that you feel good. If you're feeling tired or sore, adding more weight could leave you especially vulnerable to injury. Instead, wait for a day when you feel strong and energetic.[5]
- Do a warm-up before you start lifting. A proper warm-up will increase the oxygen in your bloodstream and your muscles, helping reduce the risk of injury and helping prevent or relieve muscle soreness. Before you lift, try 5-10 minutes of a light cardio activity, like push-ups, sit-ups, jogging on a treadmill, or riding a stationary bike.[6]
- Add a little weight at a time. Adding too much weight too fast can cause you to injure yourself. You should increase the weight by no more than 10 percent at a time to your routine to ensure your body stays challenged.[7]
- Lift heavy weights for compound exercises. Compound lifts, like squats, deadlifts, and lunges, are great for working multiple muscle groups at once. Use heavier weights for these exercises.[8]
- Exercise with about 10% less than the maximum you can lift. Don't strain your body by lifting the absolute most you can every time. This will increase your risk of injury and can lead your body to plateau. Dial it back to about 90% of the most you can lift, then increase a little every 2-4 weeks.[9]
- Increase your rest time between sets when you lift more weight. Give your body time to recover between sets when you increase your weights. If you normally rest 30-45 seconds between sets, try resting for 60-90 seconds instead. You may need to rest longer if you are performing compound exercises and lifting 90 percent of your maximum weight.
- Make a schedule and balance your workout. Make sure you are alternating your exercises to ensure you equally balance all of your muscle groups. Think about training your pushing and pulling muscles (like your hamstrings vs your quads) equally, as well as balancing your arms, legs, chest, and back. Set up a schedule so you know what muscle group you'll focus on each day.[10]
- Always use a spotter if you will be lifting heavy weights on a bench.
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