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Wednesday, June 16, 2021

How to write a thank-you note after completing an internship

Don't leave your internship without expressing gratitude for the valuable experience.

Most people realize they should send a thank-you letter after an interview, but many neglect to send one after completing an internship. Here’s why an internship thank-you letter is important:

It distinguishes you from your peers. Since many interns don’t bother to send a thank-you note, the gesture will set you apart from the crowd.

It leaves a lasting, favorable impression. This will be beneficial if you ask the sponsoring organization to serve as a reference when you begin your job search.

It could open doors. Formally saying thank you strengthens a relationship that could lead to job opportunities, mentorships, and a chance to become part of the recipient’s trusted network.

Handwritten or emailed?

As long as you write and send a thank-you note, the delivery method is a matter of personal preference. Email provides the advantages of speed and spellcheck, while a handwritten note lends a more personal, unexpected touch.

Who should you thank?

Your internship supervisor is top of the list. If you worked with team members who were especially supportive, send them thank-you notes as well. Think about people who helped you along the way, and don’t forget about professors, advisors, and career service professionals who facilitated the experience.

When sending more than one letter, customize each one. A boilerplate note doesn’t leave the same positive impression as a note that’s individually tailored.

What to include in your internship thank-you letter

Obviously, saying thank you is the main point of the note. Beyond that, cite examples of knowledge you gained, advice you received, and projects you worked on. While the tone of your note should be professional, don’t be afraid to add a personal touch—including anecdotes or reflecting on shared experiences will be most meaningful.

Sample thank-you note to internship supervisor

Dear Ms. Allen,

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as an IT intern at XYZ Company’s Southwest Regional Office. From day one, you made me feel like a valuable member of your technology team. Your hands-on training gave me skills that a classroom simply can’t provide, and I’m grateful for what has been an incredible six months for me.

Thanks to you and my mentor, Nancy Young, I not only gained a foundation in three programming languages, but also learned best practices in networking security, data backup and recovery, and network configuration. Armed with these skills, I am better equipped to add value to my future employer and am more excited than ever to launch my IT career after I graduate in May.

Your leadership made my internship a positive and rewarding experience. I wish you and the entire team continued success.

Sincerely,

Matthew Simpson

Sample thank-you note to internship mentor

Dear Nancy,

I was so fortunate to have you as my mentor during my internship. Thank you for all you did to make my six months at XYZ Company a valuable learning experience. The hours you spent with me helped me slay Java, conquer C, and gain basic proficiency in Python.

By including me in projects outside of the internship scope, you gave me the chance to learn networking and security fundamentals. Working alongside you to troubleshoot connectivity and configuration issues made it clear that I should pursue a career in network operations when I graduate in May.

Of course, I’ll always have fond memories of our Taco Tuesday lunches. Not only did you provide candid career guidance during these outings, you also cultivated my passion for authentic tacos de canasta.

Once again, thanks for sharing your time, knowledge, and advice during my internship. I wish you all the best—let’s stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Matthew Simpson

Kick-start your job search

An internship thank-you letter is one way to stand apart from the throngs of other interns. Want to know how to separate yourself from the job-seeking masses? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads. Those are two quick and easy ways Monster can help you get ahead. No need to thank us.

Thursday, June 10, 2021

10 ways for college graduates to start their own business

Many young people dream of starting a business.

There are roughly 582 million entrepreneurs across the globe. At one point, all of them were either students or young people with a big idea that turned into a business.

The entrepreneurial energy is often fueled by campus life and a desire to shake things up. And although many people will take a traditional career route after graduation, starting your own business is also possible.

Woman is working at workshop. Concept of small business.

Here are some of the best entrepreneurial ideas for young graduates.

eBay trading agency

Doing eBay trading has become a new trend in digital trading. The core reason for the popularity of trading is convenience.

As a trader, all you have to do is to purchase an economic product from China. Then, sell these products in the U.S. to secure your profit.

All you need is an account on eBay, some packaging stuff, and a connection with transporting organizations.

The tip for success is to go for gadgets like headphones and other related accessories. Another profitable niche is jewelry items.

Videography and photography

A decent camera and some tricks of photography are all what's needed for this business. If you have some interest in photography or videography, then this one is for you.

You can open your virtual studio. In order to do this, you'll have to create a web portfolio and build your own brand. See the following example of a professional portfolio.

Reach out to event planners and entertainment industry members to ask about working their event as an official photographer.

An average official photographer charges around $200-$280/hour. You can charge a little less initially to establish your contacts.

Laundry service

Outsourcing laundry has become a new trend that could disrupt a $40 billion industry.

You have to develop a mobile app and promote your service at first. The washing machines can be placed in the backyard of your house.

Purchase detergent and fabric softener in bulk quantity from an e-commerce platform. Just be sure that you have fabric experience, as you don’t want to ruin someone’s favorite cloth.

You can drop clothes off by yourself. Once the business has expanded, you can then hire a driver for this.

Flyer agency

Despite rapid digitalization, businesses are using flyers for their promotion, as its effectiveness is 79%.

For launching a flyer agency, all that is required is you. Grab the opportunity by promoting your business online. You can distribute flyers more rapidly at educational institutes and bars.

Make sure you have the necessary contacts and paperwork before distributing flyers to private property.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is the business in which an individual will promote a product and receive a commission on each sale generated from the link. The affiliate marketing industry is growing by 10%.

For starting this, you have multiple options. You can promote the product on your website or by writing blogs on another website. If this works well, you can receive products for free from the brand for promotion.

A simpler solution for this is to start writing your own blogs. Once you have the optimum number readers, monetize your blogs and then do affiliate marketing by using these posts. Write blogs on popular affiliate categories.

Content generating firm

Digital content marketing agencies are becoming increasingly popular. The industry is estimated to reach around $51 billion by 2027. Due to increasing digital interference, creation of content has become more convenient.

The writing services can range from articles to research papers.

If you opt for content marketing, here's how to do it: Start writing about yourself first. Make your web portfolio, and write blogs and research papers to earn some money. When you start receiving more orders, outsource writing to freelancers and secure your commission.

Gradually spread domains of writing and hire content writers. It is suggested to start with white papers, as they are expensive and provide economic support to the business.

Pool cleaning services

Pool cleaning services have witnessed an annual growth of 6.9%. Equipment required for starting the business will include test kits, cleaning chemicals, skimmers, and hoses.

Use your contacts and start your own business for the promotion using TikTok. While it may sound strange to use the platform to launch your business, it can be an effective technique. Film your pool cleaning videos and upload them to TikTok. These "satisfactory" cleaning videos may get instant views, increasing their popularity.

Pool guy celaning a pool with vacuum cleaner

Apparel designing services

If you have some drawing skills and an interest in fashion, then this one is for you. You can start your apparel brand just with a sewing machine and an e-commerce account.

Design your clothes and consider purchasing the raw material from South Asian countries, as it will be cheaper, and stitch the outfit.

You can also purchase a limited edition of bigger brands and sold them on your platform to increase distinction from the completion. You can also purchase old clothes from the thrift store and transform them into new dresses.

Student consulting services

As a recent graduate, you are aware of all the procedures and formalities for college admission. You can start your consultation service for foreign and local students. There are around 1.1 million international students enrolled every year, and the percentage is increasing.

Contact your student counselor and ask if they can provide you with detail of some foreign students. Just provide them guidance through email and secure your commission.

You can also contact real estate agents and provide them with accommodation. Once your business reaches a point, you can start providing them research proposal service.

Vlogger

It may do not sound like a business, but it is. Being a successful vlogger is a business. Many brands and organizations could sponsor your vlogs.

You have to create a YouTube channel and then monetize it. Once you have an adequate number of viewers, you may start to receive sponsorship offers.

Monday, June 7, 2021

Communication skills resume - make sure to include these 4

The best communication skills for your resume: four top skills to help you get your next job – needed in every industry

1. Excellent Speaking Skills

When most people think about communication, they think about speaking. While this area is only one part of communication, it's a very important one. Speaking well matters, whether you're a manager delivering motivational speeches to inspire your team, a bookkeeper explaining a client's financial situation, or a public relations specialist interacting with members of the media.

Having good public speaking skills helps you talk to others and persuade them with your point of view. Your speaking skills will help you command others' attention. You can showcase your excellent speaking skills during a job interview, so make the most of the opportunity.

2. Good Telephone Skills

While good speaking skills go some way toward making someone competent on the telephone, phone communication skills are skills unto their own. Without the visual clues of face-to-face communication, telephone speakers must take cues from what they're hearing and express themselves only through their voices.

The more you use the telephone, the more comfortable you'll feel. Try to resist the urge to simply text friends or book restaurant reservations online. Pick up the phone to make your arrangements instead.

Remember to speak clearly as the person you call can rely only on your words. You may also deal with people who don't want to take your call, particularly if you're cold-calling them. While they may be frustrated or even rude, you should always stay polite and friendly.

Most people will need to use the telephone to communicate at some point during their careers, but well-developed telephone skills are especially important for call center operators and advertising salespeople.

3. Strong Active Listening Skills

While speaking to others is important, you can't claim to be a good communicator unless you have good listening skills. One of the best ways to listen is a process called active listening because it reinforces what a speaker has said to you. Active listening helps clear up any areas of confusion and highlights the message in the listener's mind.

You can improve your active listening skills by practicing it when someone speaks to you, whether it's at work or during your leisure time.

- Focus on what the speaker says.
- Notice the speaker's body language.
- Wait for the speaker to finish, without interrupting.
- Ask questions to clarify any unclear points.
- Repeat the message you heard back to the speaker. Phrases such as "I understand you want to ..." and "So you're saying that ..." are good starting points.

People love when others listen to them. When you demonstrate active listening, you're making others feel valued. You're also learning what they need from you, which will help you do your job better no matter what industry you work in.

4. Exemplary Written Communication Skills

While spoken communication is important, communicating using the written word is important in many roles. While some professionals such as journalists and advertising copywriters rely heavily on their written communication skills, they're also vital for anyone who needs to prepare reports or write emails as part of their job.

Practice is one of the best ways to become a better writer. Start writing regularly on a blog or in a journal, and you'll find the process becomes less daunting and starts to feel more natural. Focus on your ideas flowing smoothly as well as mechanical concerns such as grammar and spelling. You may also want to enroll in a writing course if you feel your writing needs some special attention. Specialist business and technical writing courses can benefit people in certain industries.

Searching for a job will give you plenty of opportunities to showcase your written skills. Write a custom cover letter, e.g., customer service, for each position you apply for consideration. Make sure the letter is persuasive, concise, and free of spelling or grammatical errors that could undermine your application.

Show a prospective employer that you have mastered these communication skills, and you'll prove that you could be an asset to any place of business operating in any industry.

Saturday, June 5, 2021

10 Questions and Answers About Finding a Remote Job

A FlexJobs survey of 2,100 people who worked remotely during the pandemic found that remote work is here to stay! Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they would look for a new job if they weren’t allowed to continue working from home in their current position after the pandemic. Another 65% want to work remotely full-time post-pandemic, while 33% are hoping for a hybrid work arrangement (some days in the office, some days at home).

Looking for a job is stressful enough. But, looking for a remote job, particularly if you’re unfamiliar with how different the process can be, is an added layer of difficulty. So, we asked the career coaches at FlexJobs for their expert advice on looking for a remote job.

10 Questions and Answers About Finding Remote Work

1. What are the current trends in the remote job market?

Before the pandemic, approximately 5% of the entire U.S. workforce worked remotely. However, by the spring of 2020, that number was up to 43%, and by February 2021, more than half (57%) of people worked remotely.

Because remote work helped companies weather the worst of the pandemic, many are making the shift to remote work permanent. Approximately 80% of CEOs say that they expect a more widespread remote workforce with the growth of full-time remote work expected to double over the next five years. As a result, 69% of large-company CEOs plan to downsize their office space, and a whopping 89% of people expect their jobs to be at least partly remote after the pandemic ends.

The job postings at FlexJobs already indicate that remote work is here to stay. Compared to 2020, job listings for remote work increased 76% over 2019 postings. On May 3, 2021, alone, remote job postings were 20.4% above what they were on February 1, 2020.

2. What kinds of remote jobs are there?

At FlexJobs, we have over 50 career categories with remote and flexible job listings. However, certain fields consistently post the most open remote jobs. They are:

Some of the most common and popular job titles are:

There are plenty of surprising remote job titles, too. We’ve seen postings for remote home stylists, senior traffic engineers, and teleradiologists.

And no matter where you are in your career, you can find a remote job that fits into your career plan. Entry-level remote jobs are posted in categories like finance, bilingual, and sales. But you can also find remote C-level jobs like CMO, CFO, and CTO across a variety of career categories.

3. Are there certain companies that are known for hiring remote workers?

Since 2014, FlexJobs has compiled a list of the top 100 companies for remote work. And though there have been countless changes in how companies approach remote work over the years, there’s also been a consistent cohort of remote-friendly companies like ADP, Dell, and UnitedHealthgroup that have made our Top 100 list every single year.

4. Why do some jobs have a location requirement if it’s 100% remote work?

Many people think that remote work and work from anywhere jobs are the same. While a work from anywhere job allows you to work and live anywhere in the world (think: digital nomad), the reality is that 95% of the remote jobs that the FlexJobs researchers find have location requirements, whether that be a specific state, city, country, or even region.

State and federal regulations in the U.S. may dictate where companies can do business, which determines locations where employees can work from. Similarly, tax law may determine which states companies can conduct business in.

The role may require state-regulated licenses or certifications. Or, the job may include specific sales regions. Employers sometimes want staff close to a physical office for occasional in-person meetings or to live close to clients for face-to-face interactions.

5. What kinds of technology and tools should I know to be a successful remote worker?

Remote employers use all kinds of platforms to get the job done, so it’s vital that you can work with many different technologies. What employers look for in remote candidates is someone with experience in remote tools and technology.

For example, experience with a project collaboration tool and virtual conference technology is helpful, but it doesn’t necessarily matter which program you used, as long as you have the skills and experience. When reading a job description, note the remote technologies and tools the company uses. If you don’t have experience with them, develop your knowledge and understanding of these tools with online tutorials, or explain how your experience on a similar platform is transferable to the one the company uses.

Popular remote technology platforms include:

Slack
Google Suite
HipChat
Trello
Teamwork
Asana
Jira
monday.com
Zoom
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft Teams
Skype
DropBox
Calendly

6. What do I need to know about virtual hiring and interviewing?

Employers want candidates that are a good fit with the company culture and possess the experience, skills, and abilities listed in the job posting.

Interviews are usually conducted over the phone and via video calls. Some of our top tips for remote interview success include:

Test your technology before the interview to download or update any necessary software and to work out technology bugs
Conduct your video interview or phone screening from a quiet location
Make sure your background is clutter-free and professional
Speak slowly and clearly
Use active listening to avoid accidentally interrupting your interviewer

7. Do I need to write a cover letter for a remote job application?

We definitely recommend you write a cover letter for every job you apply to, remote or not!

Many applicants don’t write cover letters, especially if the job posting doesn’t request one, so including a cover letter can set you apart from the crowd. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and accomplishments as they relate to the role.

Cover letters don’t need to be (and shouldn’t be) lengthy, and taking some time to create one can really help your application. Worst case scenario? The employer doesn’t read it. But, by writing the cover letter, you’ve already started explaining why you’re the right person for the job.

8. As a remote worker, do I have to supply my own equipment, or will the employer provide things like laptops?

It depends on the job and the employer. Some employers will provide you with equipment, while others expect you to already have your home office outfitted. Your employer may provide staff with a stipend or reimbursement up to a certain amount for you to purchase whatever equipment you need.

Usually, if specific equipment is required, it’s listed in the job posting. But, if it’s not, this is a great question to ask during the interview! Also, asking for reimbursement or equipment stipend is something you could ask for during the negotiation process.

9. Why am I not hearing back from employers after I apply for a remote job?

If you don’t hear back from employers during the application stage, there may be something about the resume or cover letter that isn’t resonating with the hiring manager. Ask yourself some of the following questions to see where you might be getting tripped up:

Are you tailoring your cover letter and customizing your resume for each application?
Do your cover letter and resume highlight your remote work experience?
Is your resume formatted so the applicant tracking system (ATS) can read it, and does it include appropriate keywords?
Are you following all the requests in the job posting, including any required information or answering specific questions posed by the employer?

10. Is my age a problem when I apply to a remote job?

While your age isn’t specifically a problem, “ageism” (when people make assumptions about you based on your age) can happen. It’s unfortunate and sometimes out of your control, but ageism can be a part of the job search. Here are some recommendations to help make sure employers focus their attention on your experience rather than your age:

Include only the last 10 to 15 years of your work history
Remove graduation dates
Use a current resume format (i.e., don’t include an objective or “references available upon request)
Keep your technology skills current and include a technology section on your resume to highlight said skills
Use a current email provider like Gmail as other services (AOL, Hotmail) are more outdated and could give your age away

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Best Companies for LGBTQ Workers

Find a job—and an ally—on this massive list of companies that support LGBTQ equality.

Workplace equality is improving, but some employees, unfortunately, still face discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Finding companies that include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies is a way to identify companies that have made a public commitment to hiring more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) employees.

But there's still a ways to go. In fact, according to a Monster survey, 56% of respondents think companies should be doing more to recruit and hire from the LGBTQ community, and nearly 20% think their current employer has a negative attitude toward LGBTQ hiring.

To right that wrong, Monster consulted the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which rates companies based on LGBTQ equality.

The CEI rating criteria have four key pillars in order to be considered among the best companies:

Workforce protections
Inclusive benefits
Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility
Responsible citizenship

This year, 767 businesses received a top rating of 100%. In addition, gender identity is now part of non-discrimination policies at 94% of all Fortune 500 companies, up from just 3% in 2002.

Click through the list below to see the top-rated LGBTQ-friendly companies, many of which currently have jobs on Monster.