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

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

Inside LLM-AUGMENTER: Microsoft Research’s Reference Architecture to Extend LLMs with Memory, Knowledge, and External Feedback

Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are known for their ability to generate fluent, coherent, and informative... ...natural language texts, thanks to their encoded world knowledge and generalization capabilities. One significant limitation of LLMs is the potential loss of knowledge encoding, leading to "memory... ...distortion" and hallucinations. This can be a problem when the models are used for critical tasks. Despite the growth in model sizes, LLMs still lack the capacity to encode all necessary information for various applications. The dynamic nature of real-world situations poses a challenge to LLMs as they can quickly become... ...outdated for tasks requiring up-to-date information, such as news question answering. There are also restrictions in accessing many proprietary datasets for LLM training due to privacy issues. Microsoft Research has introduced the LLM-AUGMENTER, a framework designed to improve LLMs... ...with external knowledge and automated feedback, aiming to tackle these limitations.

#LLMs#knowledge#world

Strategic Directions supporting the people

The importance of a robust digital talent strategy to maintain a competitive edge in the market. The need for businesses to possess the right talent with the right competencies to meet their current and future needs. The strategy aids in meeting business objectives and fostering digital transformation aspirations. Sarah Taraporewalla's article provides insights on creating an integrated business and technology strategy. She addresses questions raised by two strategic directions that support people: culture and internal systems.

#strategy#digital#talent

The Looking Glass: The Power of the Mindmeld

The writer has always desired the ability to read minds, a superpower that they believe could greatly improve their work and personal life. The writer believes that perfect communication, akin to mind-reading, is essential for teams to work effectively towards the same goal. The concept of 'mindmeld' is introduced, which is the idea that all members of a team have the same understanding and vision of the project at hand. Lack of 'mindmeld' in a team can lead to issues like resentment, poor output, and office politics. When presenting new ideas, it's important to establish a shared foundation and define any technical terms precisely to avoid confusion. The presenter should also clearly explain the benefits of their new idea and how it contributes to the shared goal. The writer's experience of participating in National Novel Writing Month, a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in November, helped them develop as a writer. The process of writing, regardless of whether the work is published or not, is beneficial for personal growth and clarity of thought. The writer believes that writing, reading, and thinking go hand-in-hand, and regular writing can have many advantages in life. The writer contributed to a Figma article, where they shared perspectives on judgement and context in design, reflecting on Brian Chesky’s talk. The writer offers paid subscribers additional resources on improving clarity, making memorable presentations, and understanding the limitations of AI summaries.

#writer#work#hand

Bottlenecks of Scaleups #05: Resilience and Observability

Startups often have a reactive approach to system resilience, addressing issues only when systems are already down. Excessive downtime can be a significant bottleneck for scaleups, causing customer dissatisfaction and requiring considerable effort to restore functionality. Punit Lad and Carl Nygard suggest that resilience should be a part of the business objectives in order to overcome this issue. Incorporating resilience into business objectives will influence various aspects such... ...as the architecture, design, product management, and governance of business systems. Therefore, resilience and observability are key considerations in managing the bottlenecks of scaleups.

#resilience#business#systems

For customers vs to customers

Companies need to decide if they are working for their customers, giving them what they want, or if they are trying to extract more income from them. Serving customers does not necessarily mean lowering prices, but providing greater value for what they pay. Companies should use their resources to serve customers in ways that would make them miss the company if it were gone. Many companies are using software and AI to improve their profits, but not enough are using them to enhance the customer experience. Amazon is testing a new format for displaying product reviews, which could impact merchants, profits, and consumer purchases. The new format might not give as much advantage to higher-rated items, pushing vendors to buy ads and run coupons instead of improving their product. Companies that make it difficult for customers to unsubscribe or push unnecessary options risk losing the ability to serve others. Organizations that prioritize serving themselves over their customers may eventually lose their customer base.

#customers#Companies#serve

NFL Draft Day Decisions

Bill Walsh, the San Francisco 49ers Head Coach, had a specific plan for the 1986 draft, targeting three specific players. However, all three of his desired players were picked before his selection, forcing Walsh to quickly adapt his strategy. Despite this setback, Walsh remained composed and did not act out of desperation or disappointment. Instead of focusing on short-term wins, Walsh traded with Dallas and Buffalo, which allowed... ...him more assets and kept him in a position to select the next player he wanted. Walsh then formulated a new plan, identifying his strengths and weaknesses and re-evaluating which players now qualified. He also ensured that he was receiving the best advice from his evaluators, filtering out potential misinformation. Despite the change in plans, Walsh maintained the same enthusiasm and commitment to his new plan. As a result of this adaptive strategy, the 49ers ended up with one of the most successful drafts... ...in NFL history, obtaining eight starters who would later help the team win Super Bowls. Walsh's experience demonstrates the importance of flexibility and adaptability in decision-making,... ...with the final outcome being more important than the initial plan.

#Walsh#plan#players

How Shopify builds product

Shopify's product development strategy is guided by yearly themes set by their CEO, Tobi Lütke. They avoid OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) due to their culture of embracing chaos and change,... ...and also to prevent a narrow focus on metrics that could result in a disjointed product. Shopify uses a homegrown task tracking system called GSD (Get Shit Done), which includes... ...five phases of review: proposal, prototype, build, release, and results. They restructured their teams from 10 business units to two, focusing on core products and merchant services. Teams are structured around specific jobs to be done, rather than traditional business units. Shopify employs an AAA framework for handling stakeholders, which includes aiming (setting goals),... ...assembling (gathering resources and teams), and achieving (executing and delivering). They have a guiding principle that emphasizes not reversing the first two priorities. The company operates with a long-term view, creating 6-month roadmaps that align with their bi-yearly major product releases. They value the ability to react and adapt to changes in the market, rather than strictly adhering to a set plan. Shopify places great importance on product speed and quality, but they also undertake projects purely... ...for aesthetic or user experience improvements even if they can't be measured by metrics. The company does not shy away from significant changes to improve the look and feel of its products, even if there are no metrics attached to these changes. Product, UX, marketing, operations, and partnerships report to the VP of Product, while engineering and data have their own separate functional organizations. Shopify's product and design are part of the same organization, with product managers reporting to the VP of Product.

#product#Shopify#metrics

The Looking Glass: The Loudest Way to Lead

Leaders should exemplify the behavior they expect from their team, including putting forth quality work, being... ...available and responsive, focusing on top priorities, calling out sloppy work, and investing in growth. Studying computer science can instill an engineering mindset, characterized by problem-solving skills, a preference for system-wide solutions,... ...an appreciation for selecting the right inputs and outputs, a dislike for repetitive tasks, and a love for scale and well-designed systems. The "Three-Body Problem" series emphasizes the patterns of struggle, self-destruction, and beauty... ...inherent in life, providing a perspective that makes personal problems seem insignificant. Instead of questioning one's worthiness or seeking validation through "Am I right?" or "Are you with me?", it is... ...more productive to frame questions in terms of whether proposed actions or ideas contribute to a cause or goal. In product development, there's a constant debate between quality and time (TTBQT), with teams often having to compromise on one or the other. The author suggests a third option in TTBQT debates: asking whether the team would have... ...chosen to work on the feature knowing the time it would take to make it high-quality. This question forces the team to assess their prioritization, execution, and estimation skills. If a feature isn't worth the time it takes to make it high-quality, the rational decision is to cut it, regardless of sunk costs. If a feature is worth the effort, it indicates its importance and justifies the time and effort spent on making it high-quality. Success should not be conflated with shipping a large quantity of features; instead, teams should focus on... ...doing fewer things better, prioritizing important tasks, and executing well to deliver high-quality work. The Looking Glass is a reader-supported publication, with paid subscriptions encouraging... ...more frequent publishing and helping to hire editorial and management staff.

#quality#work#time

📧 Welcome Emails

Welcome emails are crucial in accelerating the journey to the first 1000 customers. Four different types of welcome emails can serve slightly different purposes: Incentivizing Users,... ...Standing Out in a Crowded Space, Educating Customers, and Guiding Users to the Next Step. Incentivizing emails aim to get users to take action by offering a discount, which works particularly well for low-intent... ...customers in a competitive market. These emails should have a clear call-to-action (CTA) and highlight the incentive. To stand out in a crowded space, reaffirm your value proposition and position your company against... ...more established brands, which works well for high-intent customers in a competitive market. To educate customers, explain the new market you are pioneering. This strategy works for lower-intent customers in a low-competition market. Guiding users to the next step in the funnel to reach their "aha" moment works for high-intent customers in a low-competitive market. An effective welcome email should have a primary CTA that aligns with the market competitiveness and customer intentions, focus on one action and avoid distractors, have a secondary... ...CTA that links to a lower commitment step along the activation journey, overcommunicate the one thing you are trying to say, and be personalized to different end-users.

#customers#market#emails

What does GTM actually mean?

GTM stands for Go-To-Market strategy. A GTM strategy often begins with a deliberate tradeoff that gives the company an advantage over its competitors. The right tradeoff and leverage enable companies to generate differentiated value. This differentiated value is used to create user and business impact. A successful go-to-market strategy starts with a tradeoff and ends in profits. An example of a GTM strategy is Apple, which focuses on four core products instead of 15, allowing them... ...to ship products more frequently, learn from mistakes faster than competitors, and innovate often. This approach by Apple has led to a strong and beloved brand and given them pricing power. GTM strategies are not static; they require constant refinement and adjustments as market conditions evolve.

#strategy#tradeoff#competitors

The Looking Glass: Unintuitive, lying truths

The author explores the concept of truth and how self-deception can distort it. The deepest truth is not about facts, but about what individuals believe to be true or false, and why they choose to believe it. The author discusses the lies that builders or creators often tell themselves, usually... ...as a coping mechanism. These lies can hinder progress and lead to mediocrity. The author suggests that honesty is often found in simpler explanations. Building a great product is a difficult process involving numerous small decisions, not just one single feature or change. The author encourages reframing problems and focusing on finding solutions rather than blaming external factors. The author shares seven non-intuitive things about career growth, such as the downsides of emulating admired careers, the importance of accepting flaws, the link between... ...focus and creativity, the value of asking questions, the significance of asking for help, the unexpected nature of mistakes, and the strength in collective effort. The author encourages readers to refer friends to subscribe to The Looking Glass, with incentives for those who do. The additional content in the newsletter is exclusive to subscribers.

#author#truth#believe