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Toxic jobs and thank you cards

#1 employee right here

Happy Employee Appreciation Day! If your boss hasn’t already told you how amazing, incredible, and talented you are, you might be entitled to financial compensation 😤. JK but for real, that’s what I’m here for—you rock and I appreciate you, even if I’m not your boss. Now go treat yourself to a nice little Friday lunch dessert (I’ve already had two).

Friday vibes: I didn’t NOT consider a career as a flight attendant when the video for Toxic came out. 2003 was my favorite fever dream.

Now on to today’s words of wisdom (maybe)...

—Rod

Toxic Job? Let’s Find You a New One

 question 
I just hit 90 days at an extremely toxic job and can’t find a new one overnight. Any advice for the double battle of a bad workday and a relentless search? —M

 answer 
“Applying for jobs is a full-time job in itself.” —Me, no fewer than 194 times in the last two years. But also…

“Finding a new job while you still have a job is a good situation to be in, since you know, adult things like finances and health insurance.” —Me, just now upon thinking more about the reality of getting out of a tough job situation.

What you’re dealing with right now—a toxic job and the hunt for a new role—is stressful. But something I’ve been working on with my therapist (and I think it’s working!) is breaking down the really big tasks into several smaller ones.

I think that logic can be applied to avoid a major stress spiral here, too. Your small to-do list →

Touch up your résumé/portfolio: You’ve been at your job long enough to have learned a thing or two. So give those lessons some thought and update your résumé with the skills you learned at The Place-That-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Do your research: Ever gotten sushi and only read the bunches of one-star Yelp reviews after your spicy tuna roll is long gone? Don’t let the same thing happen with the job search. Glassdoor is your new BFF, especially if you’re in the market for a healthy workplace.

Create a small goal: I’m a big fan of small wins like EasyApply-ing on LinkedIn to at least 3 jobs a week or grabbing coffee with an old colleague to network.

Take a break: Be gentle with yourself. As important as it is for you to find a new role (because, ya know, roof over your head and all), it’s equally important to take care of yourself along the way. Don’t burn yourself out—take that little (5-hour) Netflix break when you need it.

How To Write a Post-Interview Thank You

You showing the HR rep how much you value honesty and integrity

 question 
What’s the best way to thank someone after an interview? Is an email good enough or should I be sending handwritten thank you cards? —K

 answer 
While the viral LinkedIn posts about handwritten thank you notes may disagree, I’m not convinced that whipping out the stationery your great aunt got you for your 17th birthday is necessary after a job interview.

A brief email should get the message across without coming off too Joe Goldberg (logistically, how are you planning to get this person’s physical address in a WFH world without pulling out your plain black baseball cap?). A few things to remember when crafting your thank you email:

  • Thank them for their time.

  • Remind them why you’re the best fit for the job.

  • Add anything else you talked about that shows you’re not a robot.

Here’s an example:

Dear ________,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today about the [insert role name] position at [insert company]. I enjoyed hearing more about [insert detail specific to your conversation]. I’m confident that my experience will contribute positively to the team, and [insert company]’s mission, values, and culture align with what I’m looking for in my next role.

Please let me know if you need anything else to continue this discussion. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thank you,

[Signature]

P.S. Hope you enjoy your vacation in Mexico next week! [A personal detail relevant to your conversation is always a nice touch!]

Got a Q for me to A? Submit yours here.

Things to Slack Your Work Besties

…after you toss and turn all night thinking about that email you forgot to send.

Even though I want to throw up every time my phone rings, the NYT might be onto something. Research suggests that an 8-minute phone call may help decrease depression, loneliness, and anxiety.

Little Mr. Misunderstood. While this Twitter thread of fatal flaws for every zodiac sign will absolutely leave you feeling attacked (especially if you too are a Gemini), I don’t know if I’ve ever read anything more accurate.

The only kind of “revival” I’ve ever had in Vegas included blackout hotel curtains, a BEC bagel, and a blue Gatorade. And let me just say, after reading about 44-year-old Usher’s Vegas residency thriving…we are not the same. Reply and let me know what your favorite Usher song is, and why it’s “U Got It Bad.”

Thanks for reading! I’ll see you back here on Monday, where we talk about why the weekend should have been longer.

IDK WHAT DO I KNOW?! LMAO!

—Rod

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