The Follow-Up Thank You Email That Got Me Hired One Week After the Interview

The author sent a thank you email after interviewing at HubSpot, which resulted in being hired within a week, 20 days faster than their average turnaround time. Sending a thank you email after an interview can help candidates stand out in a competitive job market. A great thank you email should show appreciation for the interviewer's time and effort, and should be sent within 24 hours after the interview. The email should reiterate the candidate's interest in the role and company, recall an... ...interesting point from the conversation, and offer to answer any further questions. Researching the company and the people conducting the interview is crucial, with recruiters saying... ...that they would reject 47% of candidates who showed little knowledge about the company. Even the best interviews are stressful, so taking notes afterward can help recall important details that can be included in the follow-up email. Avoid sending generic or template emails, as they can feel impersonal and convey a lack of interest in the company. The follow-up email should be customized and detailed based on the interview conversation. It is beneficial to show your unique value in an authentic way, such as demonstrating how your personality matches the company's culture. The follow-up email should also ask smart, informed questions showing curiosity and interest in the company. Review your note before sending to ensure that it includes all necessary information and is addressed to the correct person. Customize your emails after each step in the interview process, as interviewers may share your emails during the decision-making process. Putting in a few extra minutes of thought and creativity into follow-up emails can make a significant difference in job applications. The final thank you email is just the beginning, and candidates should also be prepared for other decisions that come after hearing about the job offer.

#email#company#interview

Apply to First Round’s AI/ML Unconference to Learn From Fellow Builders

Apply to First Round’s AI/ML Unconference to learn from fellow builders in the industry. The Unconference is designed to tackle the tactical challenges of everyday building such as cleaning and labeling... ...datasets, fine-tuning models, and monitoring them in production in the fast-paced world of AI and ML. First Round has long-standing partnerships with companies like Labelbox and Verkada, and backs... ...newer startups like Rewind and Together, which are innovating in the AI and ML space. The Unconference format allows attendees to share and learn in dynamic, focused breakout discussions,... ...fostering multi-dimensional conversations among people with different perspectives. The event aims to build the strongest community of technical startup leaders by providing a forum for folks to swap tactics and share learnings. The First Round AI Unconference will take place on Monday, August 28, from 5-8 pm in San Francisco. Attendees will participate in small breakout discussions on the most burning questions for... ...AI and ML leaders, and get a chance to interact with early-stage companies in this space. The content of the Unconference is tailored to cover top-of-mind topics from AI & ML leaders across the org chart in sessions covering areas like selecting... ...between Foundation Model providers, building a moat for generative AI applications, open-source vs closed-source models and devtools, and more. Applications are currently being accepted for leaders or operators in the AI or ML space. The application deadline is Friday, August 25.

#Unconference#leaders#Round

Seizing the Moment: Strategies for Startups to Outmaneuver Competition in a Turning Economy

The Federal Reserve no longer predicts a recession, indicating a potential positive turn in the economy. Economic data such as housing starts are exceeding forecasts, suggesting economic improvement. 80% of public companies are surpassing earnings estimates, which is three percentage points higher than the five-year average. Despite positive signs, uncertainties still exist in the market, causing a decrease in... ...public software companies' share prices by an average of 10% in the past 30 days. Startups with substantial balance sheets can gain an advantage during this period of economic fluctuation. In the past three to four quarters, many companies have focused on efficiency, trimming excess costs, and improving sales efficiency and burn ratios. Startups with larger balance sheets have two strategic options: acquisitions and scaling marketing and sales. With the fundraising market not fully recovered, many startups will look to raise funds starting in September.... ...This situation creates an opportunity for selective technology and team acquisitions at reasonable prices. The second option involves scaling marketing and sales spending as unit economics justify. Startups with bigger balance... ...sheets can ramp up much quicker than those needing to raise capital, which can lead to increased market share. Making the right strategic bet on either of these options can provide a significant advantage for startups entering the next economic cycle.

#economic#companies#market

Leadership Advice from 8 Black-Owned Business Leaders

Understand and monitor your business numbers such as reach, customer conversion metrics,... ...revenues, and expenses, as this is key to measuring growth and securing investments. Emotional intelligence is crucial for leadership, particularly in managing personal emotions during challenging times and leading teams effectively. Practicing self-care is essential to prepare emotionally to lead others and avoid burnout. Be relentless with time management, creating buffer time for reflection and deep-thinking, which aids in making sound decisions. Demonstrate your expertise and skills consistently, while building relationships and networking to overcome challenges and find opportunities. Articulate the vision for your business clearly and compellingly to encourage others to invest their time, energy, and resources in your business. To create representation and support for minority-owned businesses, be the change you want to see by mentoring and supporting other minority entrepreneurs. Ask big, bold, and expansive questions to explore possibilities and inform the best next steps for your business. Leadership starts with taking care of yourself, your team, and the business; these lessons from... ...Black-owned business leaders can be a starting point for improving leadership skills long-term.

#business#time#leadership

X Marks The Spot: What’s to Come After Twitter’s Rebrand?

Elon Musk announced that Twitter will be renamed as X, representing its evolution from a social media tool to an “everything app”. The "everything app" will include features such as banking, e-commerce, and social features. Musk has been trying to make X.com, a site offering digital finance products, successful since 1999. Musk aims to revolutionize the financial system through X, using Twitter as the vehicle. Twitter's transformation has implications from a media standpoint, as it has significantly shaped how people consume information and communicate. As changes continue, Twitter is evolving from a platform for immediate information. Major news publications leaving the app and competitors entering the market are causing shifts in how users engage with Twitter. It will be challenging to rebrand Twitter, as the platform's terminology (tweets, tweeting, retweet) has become ingrained in users' vocabulary. It is uncertain how notable Twitter communities like Black Twitter will transition to the new platform. The future features of X's "everything app" are still unknown, but it seems to be shifting away from what users originally signed up for. The rebranding to X has not yet been widely accepted among users.

#Twitter#users#Musk

10 Creative Company Profile Examples to Inspire You [Templates]

A company profile can connect with customers, differentiate your brand, justify higher prices, and build your brand's reputation. Six free customizable company profile templates are available to help you start your company profile. The company profile should state its purpose, be it attracting investors or customers, and this should guide the entire profile writing process. Companies need to decide on the format or style of their profile depending on their target audience. Authentic storytelling about the company's journey should be part of the profile. The company's mission statement and history should be included in the profile. The company profile should describe the products and services offered, any awards received, and include customer testimonials. A call to action and all possible contact information should be included at the end of the profile. Examples of company profiles include those of Starbucks, Wales Bonner, Diehl Group Architects,... ...Bloomberg, Nike, Seattle Cider, Delta, Roam Loud, MAD Architects, and Topicals. Starbucks' profile stands out due to its unique mission and values, while Diehl Group Architects' profile is easy to navigate and mirrors the company's purpose. Bloomberg uses a compelling video to convey its story, and Nike's profile portrays a larger, grander vision. Seattle Cider Company's profile is minimal and uses animations, while Delta's profile is well-organized and shows the company's values. Roam Loud’s profile is personal and simple yet effective, and MAD Architects' profile is simple, informative, and highlights its accomplishments. Topicals' profile is interactive and educative, teaching people about skincare.

#profile#company#Architects

300+ Business Name Ideas to Inspire You [+7 Brand Name Generators]

Business names are crucial to stand out in a crowded market. A unique business name separates your products and services from competition. The article provides several business name ideas to inspire entrepreneurs. A good business name should be descriptive, reflect your mission or values, and take into account what your prospects are searching for. Business names should be simple, fun or clever, demonstrate the value provided to customers, and be unique. The article provides steps to name a business, which includes understanding the business, thinking of descriptive keywords, considering SEO, choosing a name style, telling... ...a story, ensuring the business name is not trademarked or taken, verifying domain name and social media handle availability, and registering the business name. The article also provides examples of company names for inspiration. Business names should be memorable and easy to spell, pronounce, and recall. Incorporating keywords into the business name can help with ranking on search engines. It's important to verify that the business name isn't trademarked or already in use. The preferred domain name and social media handles for the business should also be available. Storytelling can be a powerful tool in business naming, as it can evoke specific thoughts and emotions. The article provides a list of business name generators to help entrepreneurs come up with creative names.

#business#names#article

How to Create a Heat Map in Excel

Heat maps in Excel are used to visualize large data sets, transforming a pool of numbers into easily interpretable graphs. A heat map is a color-coded snapshot of your data, helping to analyze thousands of... ...data points and spot negative and positive trends and correlations at a glance. Lighter colors in heat maps represent lower values and darker shades stand for higher ones, though you can invert them. Excel heat maps offer benefits like quick data interpretation, discerning trends and... ...patterns, enhancing presentations and reports, and simplifying decision-making. To create a heat map with conditional formatting, open Excel and input your data, select the numeric data... ...you want to include in your heat map, open the Conditional Formatting menu, and apply a Color Scale. To create a heat map with a custom color scale, go to "Conditional Formatting" in the "Styles" group and select... ..."New Rule" or "More Rules", then choose "2-Color Scale" or "3-Color Scale", and set colors and values. Geographic heat maps in Excel compare values and show categories across various geographical regions, functioning... ...as a valuable tool when dealing with geographical entities like countries, states, counties, or postal codes. Heatmaps are useful tools for effectively delivering key insights to your team, management, or stakeholders, aiding strategic decision-making.

#heat#data#maps

17 PowerPoint Presentation Tips to Make More Creative Slideshows [+ Templates]

Use Microsoft PowerPoint to create a professional and impactful presentation. Pay attention to design skills, technical literacy, and personal style while creating a presentation. Avoid using PowerPoint's default fonts and action sounds, they can make the presentation seem unprofessional or underwhelming. Consider the need for bullet points, as they might not be necessary in some instances. Customize the slide dimensions to suit the display size of the presentation. Edit your slide template before starting the presentation to save time and ensure consistency. Keep text minimal on the slides, with a maximum of 6-8 lines or 30 words, and use a minimum font size of 24 pt. Choose a clear and professional font that aligns with your brand personality. Ensure all objects on the slides are properly aligned for a polished look. Use PowerPoint's "Format Object" option to fine-tune designs and make specific adjustments. Take advantage of PowerPoint's shape tools to create diagrams, flow charts, and custom shapes. Use the "Edit Points" option to customize the shapes according to your needs. Consider using the "Merge Shapes" tool to combine shapes and create unique designs. Use the "Crop" tool to fit images into custom shapes.

#presentation#PowerPoint#shapes

14 Best Video Editing Software Tools for YouTube

YouTube is a popular platform for sharing video content, attracting billions of viewers daily. High-quality videos with good resolution, proper lighting, and seamless editing can help content stand out on YouTube. There are both free and paid video editing tools available for content creators. Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers a comprehensive range of customizable video and audio filters. VSDC Free Video Editor allows users to import existing clips or record directly from their webcam, making it ideal for YouTube vloggers. DaVinci Resolve 18 is a free tool that offers offline and online editing, color correction, post-production audio effects, and visual effects. LightWorks is a professional software offering media production features, 4K resolution support, and a range of royalty-free audio and video content. FlexClip is a user-friendly tool that lets creators make up to 10-minute videos for free.... ...It also offers AI functions like AI video script, text-to-speech, and AI image generator. InVideo uses AI tools, allowing users to upload video and quickly find a template that works for them. Wondershare Filmora 12 is easy to use and offers filters, overlays, transitions, and custom titles, making it ideal for both novices and professionals. Vimeo's editing tool simplifies video editing, using AI to create video content in minutes. PlayPlay Video Editor is an online platform that allows users to create professional-quality videos easily. Movavi Video Editor enables users to create videos with special effects, transitions, and customizable color profiles. Premiere Pro is a high-quality video editor tool used by Hollywood filmmakers, TV editors, and YouTubers. VideoStudio is an excellent video editing software with standard features for storyboard and sound editing for footage up to 4K. Pinnacle Studio 26 is made for video enthusiasts looking to create unique content. It offers features like... ...fast rendering performance, motion tracking, color correction, and support for 360 camera and VR footage. CyberLink PowerDirector 365 offers video and audio software with new effects, music samples, and... ...general improvements added monthly. It provides features similar to Photoshop for recordings. Choosing the right video editing software depends on your team's needs and budget. High-quality YouTube videos can be created without breaking the bank. Starting a YouTube channel can be challenging due to the platform's competition, but high-quality videos can help break through the noise.

#video#editing#content

The 23 Best Cover Letter Examples: What They Got Right

The cover letter is an opportunity to highlight creativity and share stories the resume only outlines. 45% of job seekers don't include a cover letter when applying for a job, which is a mistake. Cover letters can be used to showcase unique skills and experiences. The blog post provides 23 distinct cover letter examples, each catering to different circumstances and job roles. Examples include the standard cover letter, data-driven cover letter, entry-level cover letter,... ...cover letter that explains 'why', and the 'we're meant for each other' cover letter. The blog also provides customizable cover letter examples that can be downloaded and personalized. The effectiveness of a cover letter can be enhanced by personalizing it and using it to show passion for the prospective employer. Cover letters that establish a connection with the company before the interview can be particularly effective. The cover letter can also be used to show alignment with company values, as in the case of the cover letter with H.E.A.R.T for HubSpot. Short and sweet cover letters can also be effective, as seen in the three-sentence cover letter example. The blog also provides links for further reading on specific cover letter tips for different job roles like sales and customer service.

#cover#letter#letters

How to Write a Business Proposal [Examples + Template]

Business proposals are critical for bridging the gap between a business and potential clients.... ...They outline the business's value proposition and persuade companies to do business with them. Business proposals are different from business plans. While business plans assist... ...in finding investors for the business, proposals help in seeking new customers. There are two types of business proposals: unsolicited and solicited. Unsolicited proposals are those where a business... ...approaches a potential customer with a proposal, while solicited proposals are requested by prospective clients. A business proposal should include a statement of the problem the organization is facing, a proposed solution, and pricing information. Understanding the company you're writing the proposal for is crucial. If they've sent... ...a Request for Proposal (RFP), read it carefully to understand what they want. A business proposal usually includes a title page, an executive summary, a statement of... ...the problem, a proposed solution, qualifications, pricing options, and a conclusion. The title page should introduce you and your business, and include your name, your company's name,... ...the date you submitted the proposal, and the name of the client you're submitting the proposal to. The executive summary should detail why you're sending the proposal and why your solution is the best for the prospective client. The proposed solution should be customized to the client's needs and include the deliverables... ...you'll provide, the methods you'll use, and a time frame for your proposed solution. Share your qualifications in the proposal, including case studies, client testimonials, relevant awards, and industry accreditations. Include pricing options that detail a pricing breakdown, how product features align with pricing choices,... ...pricing for different needs and budgets, and how your pricing compares with competitors. The conclusion should summarize the proposal, share your qualifications, and confirm your availability to discuss the next steps. There are several business proposal templates available that can help you create your proposal, including web design proposals, SEO proposals, sales... ...proposals, marketing project proposals, business consulting proposals, social media marketing proposals, and content marketing proposals. When writing a business proposal, start with an outline to help you stay focused, keep it simple,... ...stay on brand, and ensure quality control by checking for consistency, clarity, and accuracy.

#business#proposals#proposal

Securing AI

AI technologies need to be secure to prevent potential misuse and exploitation by malicious actors. Cybersecurity strategies for AI systems are critical to protect sensitive data and maintain functionality. AI systems should have built-in safeguards to detect and respond to threats in real time. Regular updates and patches are necessary to fix any security vulnerabilities in AI systems. User privacy should be a priority in AI systems; data anonymization and encryption techniques can be used to protect user data. Training employees and users on the security aspects of AI can help prevent breaches. Collaboration within the tech industry can lead to the development of more advanced and secure AI technologies. Implementing a robust cybersecurity framework can help identify potential security gaps in AI systems. Regular audits of AI systems can also help ensure that they remain secure and up-to-date. Lastly, transparency about AI security measures can build trust among users and stakeholders.

#systems#security#secure

5 Top Things to Remember When Starting a Company

You must take the time to form the right founding team. Having co-founders that are aligned with your vision and goals is crucial for success. Your initial market research could be off, especially if you lack deep domain expertise... ...in your industry. Invest in understanding your market and getting customer feedback. Plan to take 24 months to develop a Minimum Sellable Product (MSP). Twelve to eighteen... ...months is often not enough in SaaS to create a product that customers will pay for. Being a founder is extremely challenging, with constant pressure and stress to achieve the impossible. Be prepared for this reality. Seek out the best investors, advisors, and mentors. The right help can significantly accelerate your business, while mediocre assistance can waste your time.

#time#right#market

When the Enterprise Vendor is Cheaper Than the SMB Vendor

Enterprise vendors often price their services based on units that scale organically within... ...an enterprise such as seats or workflows, making them more affordable for smaller teams. SMB vendors, on the other hand, monetize their biggest customers the most, hence can be more expensive particularly for large scale usage. The price difference between enterprise and SMB vendors can be significant, as evidenced by... ...SaaStr's experience where the SMB vendor was 5x more expensive than the enterprise vendor. It is not always about the price, the switching cost also matters. In SaaStr's case, the... ...higher price plus the switching cost led them to stick with the enterprise vendor. Pricing tiers and packages in the software industry can greatly impact customers. If not... ...well thought through, it could lead to loss of customers around certain price tiers. It's important for businesses to regularly benchmark their pricing against both the competition and adjacent applications for each category of customer. It's also crucial to be aware of pricing across different customer segments. Some businesses may be okay with overpricing... ...in certain segments and losing customers there as long as they are aware and have done their modeling. Algolia, a search software company, experienced a similar situation where they discovered mispricing... ...across segments. After adjusting their pricing, their revenue increased within a quarter. The issue of SMB vendors being more expensive than enterprise vendors is not always the case but it's a trend that's worth being aware of.

#vendors#price#enterprise