Nowadays, more and more programmers are self-taught. Many of them don’t see value in a university education, as it is expensive, and whether it gets you started in your career is uncertain. Luckily, that opinion is shared with many employers, as a computer science degree on a resume becomes less and less important for them. Actually, in some cases employers value self-taught programmers even more, as it takes a great amount of determination and will to teach yourself how to code. But how to list that you are a self-taught programmer on your resume, so that you get the best result? We are going to go through the two most important questions on the topic to get you prepared for that: What does it mean to be a self-taught programmer? How to add self-taught programmer on your resume? If you have some doubts about your overall resume performance, you should definitely check out our Resume Builder, and create a unique and eye-catching design in no time. But if you are ready to learn how to add self taught programmer on your resume, stick around. What does it mean to be a self-taught programmer? First things first, let’s define what a self-taught programmer means. Typically, a self-taught programmer does not list a university/college degree in computer science, or other tech-related subject, or even does not have a degree at all. A self-taught programmer usually learns how to code while working a regular job, or while going to school, or while taking care of their family. This can be considered as a great asset by hiring managers, because you not only have the determination to learn how to code on your own, but you also show great time management skills and motivation. Something you might experience as a self-taught programmer is the imposter syndrome. That’s the feeling that you get when you are unsure of your abilities, and you ask yourself what you will do when people find out that you are self-taught. You might feel like you don’t belong, as you don’t have a degree, but you should block these thoughts of yours. You can check out any forum, and see how any programmer, no matter the experience, still can struggle with the simplest tasks. How to add self-taught programmer on your resume? Now that you understand what a self-taught programmer on your resume is, it’s time to understand the key aspects of listing it correctly. List your experience if you have any. Any relevant experience would be appreciated by an employer more than a degree in computer science. A degree only shows a potential employer that you can pass an exam, but an actual experience shows them that you can do the job. That’s why, from any company’s perspective, it makes much more sense to hire someone with experience and without a degree, rather than someone with a degree but without any experience. However, getting experience might be tough, you will probably have to volunteer at local meetups and hackathons. But that can be often really fun, and it would help you understand the field and create connections. Once you get your experience, make sure you list in the work experience section of your resume. Learn more about listing entries in it here. Build a portfolio A great thing to add to your programming resume, no matter if you have experience or not, or if you have a degree or are self-taught, is a portfolio. In any case, a portfolio allows your potential employer to see your work in action. A GitHub profile with constant activity would make your potential employer jump up and down, and give you a call right after they spend some time browsing with interest. But your portfolio should also have some structure. As a self-taught programmer, you probably have lots of abandoned repositories which you used once or twice for minor tasks from an online course. Having too much of these might come across as off putting, and your potential employer might decide that you leave projects halfway done. Instead of that, try creating a larger scale project which you improve and upgrade constantly with every new skill you acquire. Show you are passionate and proactive We already discussed that experience is more valued than a degree from employers. But the truth is, passion and proactivity trumps both of them. It does not matter whether you have a degree or not, and whether you have experience or not. You need to convince your potential employer that you are passionate about programming. And no matter your qualifications, passion and proactivity can be shown mainly in just one way – through your side projects. So make sure you focus greatly on your portfolio and get it just right. Takeaways We are all done, now you know how to add self-taught programmer on your resume. Let’s go through the steps you need to take to get the best result: List any relevant experience you have – it is valued much more than a degree, as it shows that you can actually do the job, rather than that you can take an exam Build a portfolio – preferably GitHub, where you can show your activity on various projects. Try to get rid of any abandoned repositories and stir the hiring manager’s attention towards big projects that you updated constantly with newly acquired skills Show you are passionate and proactive – that’s what is more important, as your passion can trump both experience and a degree. The best way to show your passion and proactivity is through your portfolio, so focus greatly on that Now that you know all that, it is time for you to add your self-taught programming knowledge on your resume and get your dream job.
You are ready to leave your old job and dive into new opportunities in your career. And you might have heard that a resignation letter is important in these moments. But what raises quite a few questions – what is a resignation letter, why is it important, and how to write one when you need it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.And once we have the answers to all these questions, we are going to leave you off with a template for a resignation letter, as well as a great example of one. So, if you are ready to learn how to use a resignation letter to leave your old job, let’s dive in. What is a resignation letter? A resignation letter is a formal document that notifies your current employer about your decision to leave your job. It formalizes your departure and can be submitted either by email, or as a printed letter. Your resignation letter serves as a written notice for your departure from the company, and provides any details about it, including date of resignation and the end date of your employment. Should you write a resignation letter? Writing a resignation letter is the professional thing to do when leaving a job, as it officially gives notice to your superiors that you are leaving your job, and a replacement should be found to take on your responsibilities. And even though most employers don't require a resignation letter with their contacts, it is still a good idea to write one for 4 simple reasons: It creates a paper trail – even if a resignation letter is not required, you would want to leave a paper trail for your departure, which will also help with the paperwork around your final paycheck and transition of your responsibilities It is the professional thing to do – depending on where you work, it might be expected of you to provide a resignation letter, even if it is not a legal requirement. Just to be sure, you can ask around and contact someone who has left the company recently and see whether they submitted a resignation letter It might help manage the conversation – telling your manager about your departure might feel awkward, and a great way to make things a little smoother is by emailing your resignation letter before your meeting, so that your manager would know what the meeting is about and would have a few minutes to process the information Helps you control the message about your departure – writing a letter of resignation can help you be clear about when you are leaving and why. If you are worried that your manager might still spin your leaving in a way that suits them, you can also send the letter out to HR or the upper management What to include in a resignation letter? When you write your resignation letter, you need to make sure it sounds professional. It needs all the important information about your departure, but lengthy explanations are unnecessary. Here is what your resignation letter should include: Your intent to resign – your letter should start and be clear about your decision to resign Your last day of employment – it is essential to provide information about the last day you plan to work at the company An offer to assist with the transition – often employees often to help by recruiting or training a replacement for their position, which leaves the feeling of closure and a sense of respect in both the employer and the employee Any question you may have – don’t be afraid to ask any question about your final pay or benefits in your resignation letter Your contact information – include your personal contact information so that the company can easily get in touch with you Signature (optional) – this one is only applicable if you are using a hard copy of your resignation letter Thank the employer (optional) – if you want to make sure you leave things off on a positive note, you can always thank the employer for all the opportunities and experiences gained at the company, and how you enjoyed your time there How to write a resignation letter? Now you know what your resignation letter should include, so let’s take a look at the overall structure it should follow: Contact information – A written letter should include your employer’s and your contact information, and the data of the letter, all before the start of the actual letter. If you have chosen to write it as an email, you can only leave your contact information, but move it under your signature and name at the bottom, and move the date to the subject line Greeting – Address the resignation letter to your manager – Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [Name] Paragraph 1 – Notify your manager about your resignation from your job and state your last day of employment. This gives the employer an official notice for your personal file Paragraph 2 (optional) – You can mention the reason for your departure, but it is not required. If you decide to write one, make sure it is positive one, like starting a new job, or going back to school Paragraph 3 (optional) – If you are able to, offer to assist with the transition by recruiting or training a replacement for your position Paragraph 4 (optional) – Mention your gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity of working in the company. You can go in more detail, if you would like, with something that you found especially rewarding Closing – Use a professional sign-off, such as “Sincerely” or “Regards” Signature – If you are using a hard copy for your resignation letter, you can take the chance to include your handwritten signature, followed by your names. However, if you are sending out an email, just your names would do fine, but don’t forget to follow them with your contact information How to format a resignation letter? Resignation letters should be simple, short and should look professional. To do so, stick to the basics: Make your resignation at most 1 page long Use a traditional font like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri Keep your font size between 10 and 12pt Make your letter single-spaced with a space between each paragraph Use one-inch margins Align text to the left Resignation letter templateResignation letter exampleTakeaways We are all done, now you know how to write a professional resignation letter. Remember to pay special attention to the important things like intent to resign, last day of employment, and an offer to assist with the transition. Now go get your resignation letter ready, and move on to your next job opportunity.
Emails are the most common form of communication in the business world, and a great way to start a communication about a position that you desire to get. And a great way to introduce yourself as a candidate for an open position is to write an introduction email. The problem is, most professionals receive tons of emails on a daily basis, and to capture their interest is a hard task. We are here to help you, in this article, we are going to explore the following questions: Why would you want to send an introduction email? How to write an introduction email? And we are going to leave you off with a template for you to use, as well as an introduction email example to get you started. The next step after your introduction email would be to send out your application documents, so make sure they are as good as possible. Check out our Resume Builder and Cover letter builder, and create a unique design in no time. But if you are ready to learn how to write an introduction email, stick around. Why you'd want to send an Introduction email? Contacting someone you don’t know via email might seem awkward, or even scary, but it is a great way to start off a communication. The most common reasons for you to write an introduction email are: Asking about more information about a job position Asking for advice Trying to sell a product or service No matter your reason, you need to make sure you can catch the recipient’s attention, and engage their interest. How to write introduction email Now that you understand why you need an introduction email, it is time to learn how to write one. You can do so in just a few quick steps. Find a contact that connects you with the recipient The first step to your introduction email requires some research on your part. A great way to capture the recipient’s attention is to mention a mutual contact of yours. It might be someone who works in the same company as them, or someone who they know through college, or any other way. A great place to look for mutual connections is within the recipient’s LinkedIn profile. If you find a mutual contact, try asking them if they would be willing to introduce you, or let you mention them in your introduction email. Use a good subject line When it comes to writing your introduction email, the first and most important step you need to take is to give it a clear subject line. That’s what would make the recipient open your email, or ignore it. You need to make sure your subject line is professional, informative, and brief. It needs to show the recipient exactly why you are reaching out to them. Write a proper greeting After the recipient have opened your email, you need to start off with a proper greeting. You might think that you can use the same greeting no matter what, but that is not entirely true. If you are contacting someone in the industry of finance or law, you should stick to the traditional “Dear Ms./Mrs./Mr.”, but that is not the best approach for every industry. For example, if you are reaching out to someone in the tech or media business, the much more informal “Hello” followed by their name might be perceived better. To get this right, make sure you know who you are contacting, and consider the industry they work in. Get to the reason for reaching out fast As professionals receive tons of emails on a daily basis, you would want to quickly get to the point, before you lose their interest. You can start your email with pleasantries, but make sure you keep them short. Share with them how you have their contact, and move on to the reason for contacting them. Add a call to action Once you have explained the reason for contacting the recipient, it is time for the most important part of your introduction email body – a call to action. That’s the place you need to invite them to act on your email. Keep your request brief, but specific, such as asking to meet to discuss the details about an open position, or organize a job interview. Make sure your call to action sounds like a polite request, instead of a demand. Close professionally Finishing your email professionally is just as significant as anything else, so don’t rush through it. That’s where it is essential for you to thank the recipient for their time and acknowledge their busy schedule. Make sure you include your contact information if they want to contact you, and include any portfolio or online professional profile. Last but not least, use a professional sign-off for your email, like: Sincerely Regards Best regards Introduction email samplesTakeaways We are all done, now you know how to write a great introduction email. Let’s do a quick recap of everything you need to do: Find a mutual contact – do your research and find if you have a mutual contact who can introduce you, or if they would let you use their name in your introduction email Use a good subject line – that’s what would make the recipient open your email, or ignore it, so make sure it is brief and clear Write a proper greeting – pick the best greeting according to the industry the recipient is working in Quickly get to the point – don’t write long emails, as the recipient might be busy. Instead, quickly get to the reason you are reaching out to them Add a call to action – invite the recipient to take action toward your reason for contacting them Close professionally – make sure you thank the recipient for their time, provide your contact information, and use a professional sign-off Check out our template and example one last time, and write your own introduction email for your next opportunity.
You have just gone through the second interview for your dream job, and you are almost there. And you might think that the only thing left for you to do now is to just sit around and wait for the final decision of the hiring manager. But that could not be more wrong. In today’s competitive job market, you need to differentiate yourself from other applicants as much as possible. The best way to do so after your second interview is to send a second interview thank you email. But how to do that just right? We’ve got you covered, in this article, we are going to explore the following questions: Why would you want to send a second interview thank you email?"? How to write a second interview thank you email? And we are going to wrap things up with some great examples to get you started. So, if it all sounds good, let’s dive in. Why would you want to send a second interview thank you email? After any job interview you attend, you should take the time to write a thank you email to show that you are polite and willing to take the extra step to get the job. But when it comes to the second interview thank you email, it is even more crucial for you to send one out. You are most likely not the only candidate who is waiting to receive an offer for the open position, so you should really show your appreciation and your desire to get the job. Writing a simple thank you message after your second interview can show the employer that you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Furthermore, it shows that you are polite, professional, and you really appreciate their time. How to write a second interview thank you email? Now that you understand the importance of a second interview thank you email, let’s figure out how to write one. You can do so in just a few quick steps. Use a good subject line When it comes to writing your second interview thank you email, the first and most important step you need to take is to give it a clear subject line. That’s what would make the recipient open your email, or ignore it. You need to make sure your subject line is professional, informative, and brief. It needs to show the recipient exactly why you are reaching out to them. Express your thanks It is always a good idea for a thank you email to start off with your appreciation of the interviewer’s time. And when you do so, make sure you address the correct person, and make it sound professional. You might ask yourself what you should do if there was more than one interviewer. Well, in that case, you need to address each person individually. But don’t just add “CC” to a single email, take the extra step and write a separate email to each individual. Reaffirm your interest in the position Even though your email is about expressing gratitude for the interviewer’s time after your second interview, don’t make the mistake to leave it with just that. If you do so, you would miss a great opportunity to once again show your interest and excitement about the job opportunity. And one thing you should never forget is that hiring managers don’t pick candidates only depending on their skill set, but also how enthusiastic they seem about the role. And even though you have shown your interest plenty of times during the interview process, it can only help you to show it once again with your second interview thank you email. Mention anything you might have missed in the interview It often happens that someone would forget to mention some details in their interview. And an interview thank you email is a great place to add in anything you might have missed. Ideally, you would have said everything you have wanted during the interview, but if you didn’t, mention it here, but keep it short. Stay open for further questions But don’t just add in what you might have missed during the interview. You would want to keep the door open for any questions the interviewer might have missed out on asking you, or any that have come up later on. Staying open for further questions shows your transparency and openness to keep the communication going. You need to make sure the hiring manager feels comfortable reaching out to you if they need to. Keep it short Going through all the things you can add in your second interview thank you email, you might think that would be a really long one. But, in this case, the shorter you keep it, the better. The main point of your email is to thank the interviewer and reaffirm your interest in the role. You can provide additional information if necessary, but in case, you need to keep it short. Proofread carefully Last but not least, you would not want to mess it up right at the end of the process, so take the time and proofread what you have written. Sending an email with errors, can only hurt your chances of getting the job, and would only show you as careless and unprofessional. Second interview thank you email example And now, as promised, we have an example of a second interview thank you email for you to look at before you get started on your own:Takeaways We are all done, now you know why a second interview thank you email is important and how to write one just right. Let’s do a quick recap to make sure you got everything right. Do get the best out of your email, you need to: Use a good subject line – it needs to show the receiver what is the email about instantly Express your thanks – begin with what the email is about and express your gratitude for the interviewer’s time Reaffirm your interest in the role – use the opportunity to once again show your interest and enthusiasm about the role Mention anything you might have missed in the interview – if you missed anything, that’s the place, but make sure you keep it short Stay open for further questions – you need to make yourself available for anything the interviewer might have missed, or any questions that occurred later on Keep it short – you should not stir the focus too far away from thanking the interviewer, make sure your email is focused and short Proofread carefully – you would not want to mess it up right at the end of the application process, so take the time to send an error-free email Take one last look at our example, and write your own perfect second interview thank you email.