Handwriting hundreds of letters can be a pain, whether for a wedding, thank you notes or anything else. But what if there were a robot that could write them for you and make them look so authentic no one would know? Would you try it?
How to rock a remote interview: Tips for shining over the phone or on video
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Remote interviews are the present and the future. Why? The pandemic forced many companies nationwide to move to a remote system nearly overnight.
Now that we’ve been operating remotely for a while, many employers have seen the positive benefits of having remote employees. Increased productivity is one of them.
Many companies have decided to stay that way, so much so that your next interview could be over Zoom. Don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Here’s how to prepare for a remote interview over the phone or on video, brought to you by our sponsor, LinkedIn.
Is your business hiring? Our sponsor, LinkedIn, is the easiest, fastest way to find qualified candidates. Tap or click here to post a job for free.
Double-check everything
You wouldn’t show up to an in-person interview 10-15 minutes late, would you? Being on time is just as important for a virtual interview as in person. Showing up late looks unprofessional, which won’t help you score points with the person interviewing you.
RELATED: Working from home? Eight tips for managing remote employees
First, double-check your internet connection to ensure it’s stable before the interview. Run a speed test to be sure. Try the FCC’s speed test to ensure your internet works fast enough to support your interview, whatever platform it may be on.
Second, double-check you have the software needed to run the interview. If your remote interview is over Zoom, you must download the software first. Don’t wait until 10 minutes before your interview! Be sure you know how to use Zoom, or you may end up like this poor guy in this famous Zoom mishap.
Finally, ensure all your equipment is working. Ensure your laptop is charged or plugged in before starting the meeting. Do a microphone check and video cam check to ensure everything is running smoothly, so there won’t be any hiccups during the session.
Don’t assume your call is audio-only and dress accordingly
Just like you wouldn’t show up to your interview late because punctuality is important, you wouldn’t show up in sweatpants either. Don’t assume your interview will be audio-only, even if it is over the phone. Dress like you would for a typical interview and look as professional as possible.
The ‘Case of the Mondays’ savings
✏️ I found some neat stuff to help you kick off your workweek:
- Put this knitted potato (30% off) on your desk for some cute motivation.
- Snag a rotating organizer ($10) to grab a pen from any angle.
- Feeling chilly in the office? Warm up with a lap blanket ($35). Click the coupon for 10% off!
- For my cat lovers, here’s an adorable note dispenser (33% off).
- Grab a memo board ($7) to keep your notes nice and organized.
🛒 Before you check out: Hit up my page for other great things you didn’t know you needed. Happy scrolling!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Take notes for me: Google Meet can do that now. It’ll autogenerate a Google Doc with meeting notes and then attach it to the calendar invite. Look for it across Google Workspace (the paid work version) by Sept. 10.
Robot strawberries: In Virginia, a vertical farm is growing 4 million pounds of strawberries a year indoors, on two-story towers, with no soil, no bees and a whole lot of AI. The system analyzes 10 million+ data points a day. It’s less “Old MacDonald,” more “Black Mirror: Produce Edition.” Can’t wait for my future salad to come with bug patch notes.
Save links with Quick Note: Browsing a website on your iPad and spot something you want to remember? While you’re on the page, swipe diagonally from the bottom-right corner to open a Quick Note. Tap Add Link in the top-left corner, then hit Done. Later, open the Notes app, tap the link and pick up where you left off.
📱 Seeing double: Need to check your notes while writing an email? Android lets you use two apps at once. Go to Recent Apps, press and hold the first app you want, then choose Split screen. Tap your second app, and a black bar will separate them. Done? Drag the black bar to the app you want to close.
🤖 Bots in session: Turn your chatbot into your private tutor. Studying for a test? Just say, “I’m a [grade level + subject] student prepping for a [topic + test type]. Based on my notes below, make a practice test to help me study.” Now you’ve got a custom quiz.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Snap a photo of handwritten notes and upload it to Notion AI or ChatGPT with Vision. It’ll convert it into text or a to-do list. Finally, your chicken scratch notes get their PhD.
📄 Scan text into Notes on your iPhone: Open the Notes app, tap the Paperclip icon above the keyboard and select Scan Text. Now, point your camera at the text you want to capture. Once it’s detected, tap Insert to drop it right into your note. Quick, easy and no typing needed!
⌨️ Shrink the keyboard on iPad Notes: The on-screen keyboard takes up half the screen, which gets frustrating when you need to scroll. Sure, you can hide it, but then you can’t type. Instead, pinch inward on the keyboard to shrink it into a small, floating version. It’s way easier to work with.
Don’t worry, she woke up: Instagram influencer Victoria Rose (aka @woahvicky) faked her own kidnapping. She posted bogus ransom notes to her 3.5 million followers, then called it a prank because she was “bored.” Her followers weren’t laughing, and she wrote them a terrible apology. What a narcissist.