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Word of the Day: proximity

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Word of the Day: proximity

The word proximity has appeared in 468 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 5 in “The Sprinter Van’s Glamorous Turn” by Brett Berk:

The van — which can be used to transport up to 15 passengers (or cargo) — is appreciated by automotive enthusiasts for its build quality, reliability and versatility, as well as for the thrust and longevity of the diesel engine in most versions.

But other people have come to recognize the Sprinter for different reasons, among them its proximity to celebrities. The van has become a preferred mode of transportation for actors, singers, athletes and “Real Housewives,” and is now a staple in streets outside star-studded events like the Oscars and the Met Gala.

Can you correctly use the word proximity in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

If you want a better idea of how proximity can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

176 Writing Prompts to Spark Discussion and Reflection

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176 Writing Prompts to Spark Discussion and Reflection

Each day of the school year we publish a Student Opinion question inviting students to share their own opinions and experiences in response to New York Times stories on the news of the day. To introduce each question, we provide an excerpt from a related Times article, interactive or video as well as a free link to that piece.

The 176 questions we asked during the 2023-24 school year are available below and in this PDF. The prompts are organized into three sections: questions that lend themselves well to persuasive writing, questions that encourage narrative writing, and additional Student Opinion forums.

Teachers can use these prompts to help students practice narrative and persuasive writing, start classroom debates and even spark conversation between students around the world via our comments section. For more ideas on how to use these Student Opinion prompts in your classroom, you might consult this comprehensive teacher’s guide, which includes practical strategies from a dozen educators.

Word of the Day: gregarious

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Word of the Day: gregarious

The word gregarious has appeared in 66 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on April 3 in “How a Snake Uses Its Sense of Smell” by Asher Elbein:

Recent research has found that eastern garter snakes are remarkably social, gathering in large groups to hibernate in the winter and forming networks — complete with “friends” — during their active season.

As a more gregarious species, they may be more attuned toward a need to distinguishing themselves from others. One possible explanation of how self-recognition works is the ability to recognize the difference between self and “not-self,” Dr. Miller said. “That then ties it to social behaviors.”

Can you correctly use the word gregarious in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

If you want a better idea of how gregarious can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

What Does a Technical Writer Do?

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What Does a Technical Writer Do?

If you want to work in tech but prefer writing words to code, technical writing could be your dream job. To learn more about what a Technical Writer actually does (and how much writing and/or coding is involved) we asked Mike Jang, a Technical Writer for over 20 years who’s currently a Principal Technical Writer for NGINX at F5. 

What does a Technical Writer do? 

In the simplest terms, a Technical Writer writes instructions (usually called documentation) for users of products. In the context of building and deploying software, documentation is typically for developers, but Systems Administrators, Security Engineers, and DevOps Engineers can all fall under this umbrella too.  

Earlier technical writing typically catered to the end users of products rather than builders and maintainers. But since most consumer apps are designed to be self-explanatory for users, documentation is now usually for developers and other practitioners who create, run, and maintain the underlying software and infrastructure of those apps. Technical writing is different from UX writing, which refers to the words you find within digital products (such as navigation bars, menus, and buttons).  

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What does a typical workday look like for a Technical Writer? 

While writing documentation is the most obvious part of a Technical Writer’s job, it’s actually the element you will probably spend the least amount of time on in your day-to-day work. “I write maybe a quarter of my time,” says Mike. The rest of the day is made up of activities like: 

  • Setting up and testing software 
  • Figuring out the process and schedule for releasing a new feature 
  • Identifying and submitting bug reports 

Technical Writers typically write about brand new features that haven’t been documented or released yet, Mike says. Experimenting in this early stage naturally leads to finding bugs and collaborating with development to determine workarounds. While filing bugs sounds like a diversion, Mike says it’s actually a big part of what makes the role rewarding. “When I finally get to the solution, I think, ‘Wow, this actually works! I can’t wait to write about this.’” 

Do you need to be able to code to be a Technical Writer? 

At some companies, Technical Writers will take documentation written by developers and process it into readable language that adheres to an org’s documentation standards and style guide, or write documentation based on interviews with the developers who wrote the code. In those cases, you don’t need to have experience with programming, but Mike is a big advocate for getting hands-on with the product you’re writing about. “Personally, I don’t feel I can write with credibility about something unless I’ve used it myself,” he says.  

There are a few situations where Technical Writers need some coding knowledge: 

Implementing Docs as Code 

Docs as Code, the philosophy that you should be writing documentation using the same tools as with code, is becoming more popular in the tech writing community. Under this model, Technical Writers use code tools like version control and continuous integration to create, process, and publish documentation. This approach helps Technical Writers work in better alignment with development workflows and ensure consistency throughout a product’s documentation.  

“You want to ‘write once, publish everywhere,’” Mike says. “So, you use the same terminology and explanations to describe technical concepts throughout your documentation.” For example, you can set variables to store an explanation, and then pull that variable in wherever you need it in the documentation.  

Getting comfortable with this workflow, terminology, and tools (like GitHub) will help you stand out if you’re starting a career in technical writing. Our Learn Git & GitHub course is a great place to start.  

Collaborating with development 

While Technical Writers aren’t tasked with coding themselves, collaborating with developers is a significant part of the job. In these scenarios, it’s always useful to be ready and willing to dig into the code yourself. “If I try out a new feature and something doesn’t work as expected, I can go to the developers and say, ‘I’ve tried out these steps, this is how it’s supposed to work, but what I’m seeing doesn’t match,’” Mike says. “Now we’re partnering on a solution instead of my request getting thrown into a backlog.” 

Working with code snippets 

It’s common for documentation to include code samples, so it’s handy if you’re able to write or review those yourself, Mike says. “Think of the different single sign-on options you usually have now — you can sign in with Google, with Amazon, and so on,” says Mike. “Those providers include code snippets which you can incorporate into your company’s software, but you need to understand if the defaults work in your case, or you (or your readers) may need to modify their snippets.”  

Not sure where to start when it comes to learning to code? Check out the skill path Code Foundations to get introduced to basic coding concepts that translate across programming languages and domains.  

Do you need to be a strong writer? 

While a lot of Technical Writers happen to have English or Communications degrees, being a polished writer is less important than being a clear thinker and communicator in this role, Mike says. “If someone’s thinking is clear, that comes across in their writing. A strong grasp of language is, I think, going to become less important in the future,” he says. “There are already AI tools that can help you improve the grammar and readability of your work (like Grammarly, or the Hemingway app).” 

Whereas other writing in tech (such as content marketing or copywriting) is for storytelling, persuasion, and engagement, technical writing is about communicating with clarity and accuracy. “You’ll notice distinct differences between marketing style guides and technical writing style guides,” says Mike. “Technical writers never use words like ‘simple’ or ‘easy’!”  

What role is AI playing in technical writing? 

While AI is not about to automate Technical Writers out of their jobs, AI writing tools can help make technical writing more efficient. That is, as long as the tool is secure and doesn’t expose proprietary company data or code (this actually happened at Samsung last year). There are ways around this risk, such as supplementing a large language model with a “small language model” of proprietary information that’s kept secure.  

Like other AI practitioners, Technical Writers have to discern the right time to use AI tools and understand their limitations. “Your company might have a big Confluence page with a lot of proprietary information about how your product works,” says Mike. “An AI tool can process that into a decently written summary which a human can then review and edit — potentially big-time savings for Technical Writers.” 

Do you need a technical writing portfolio? 

Some technical writing job applications will ask for writing samples. “A company might ask you to write a description of how to create a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, for example,” says Mike. (The sandwich exercise is part of our Code Foundations skill path if you want to try it for yourself!) 

In many cases, you can use an existing sample if you already have some technical writing experience that’s relevant to the industry and role you’re applying for. Don’t panic if you don’t have samples though — you can write something original based on the application requirements. If you’re actively job hunting, it’s worth creating a portfolio site: “Creating a website using any reasonable Docs as Code tool will illustrate not just your writing expertise, but your ability to use technical documentation tools,” says Mike. You can check out Mike’s own professional website, which he built with GitLab and the Hugo static site generator, for example.  

If you’re looking to build your portfolio of technical writing, consider contributing to Codecademy’s Docs. 

Where to connect with Technical Writers 

Mike recommends a few communities to connect with Technical Writers and others looking to get into the field: the Society for Technical Communication, Write the Docs, and Content + UX are good places to start. These can also be good places to get a sense of current Technical Writer salaries if you’re just starting out (here are some more tips for negotiating entry-level salaries). 

Word of the Day: interminable

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Word of the Day: interminable

The word interminable has appeared in 41 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Nov. 8 in “Striking Actors and Hollywood Studios Agree to a Deal” by Brooks Barnes, John Koblin and Nicole Sperling:

At 118 days, it was the longest movie and television strike in the union’s 90-year history. SAG-AFTRA said in a terse statement that its negotiating committee had voted unanimously to approve the tentative deal, which will proceed to the union’s national board on Friday for “review and consideration.”

… Ms. Drescher called the agreement “historic” in a post on Instagram. “We did it!!!!” she wrote. She and other SAG-AFTRA officials had come under severe pressure from agents, crew member unions and even some of her own members, including George Clooney and Ben Affleck, to wrap up what had started to feel like an interminable negotiation.

Can you correctly use the word interminable in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

If you want a better idea of how interminable can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

New designs alert – Meet Allie & Mimi

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New designs alert – Meet Allie & Mimi

New designs alert - Meet Allie & Mimi

We’re thrilled to unveil not one, but two brand new designs for your online presence! Whether you’re a lifestyle blogger sharing your passions with the world or a modern business building a chic brand identity, we have something exciting for you. Introducing Allie, a stunning premade WordPress theme, and Mimi, a beautiful premade Blogger template – both designed with a sleek navy and creamy color palette that’s perfect for making a statement.

For our WordPress fans, we present Allie!

This versatile theme boasts multiple homepage sections, allowing you to effortlessly showcase your latest content across various post categories. Whether you’re a food blogger with delectable recipe collections or a travel blogger highlighting diverse destinations, Allie makes it easy to keep your audience engaged. Plus, it includes two beautifully styled homepage sections – ideal for promoting your services, products, or anything else you want to bring to the forefront!

Allie - Premade WordPress Theme - Click for Live Demo

Styled homepage, blog, categories & more!

Don’t just take our word for it! Head over to our live demo and experience Allie’s stunning design in action. Explore the custom-styled homepage sections, browse the beautifully formatted blog layout, and see how seamlessly it adapts to any screen size with its responsive design.

There’s even more to discover, so dive into the live demo and see if Allie is the perfect fit for your WordPress website!

Click here for live demo

If you need help with WordPress or domain set up – I’m here for you! Send me an e-mail or contact via social media for free consultations.

Installation Included

Once you make a purchase, I’ll get to work creating a preview of your new design with all the changes you’ve requested.

Once you’ve given the preview the green light, I’ll install and set it up on your WordPress website – and don’t worry, this is already included in the design price, so no extra charges!

Allie WordPress Premade Theme is responisve - check it on different devices

With Allie, you can create a professional-looking website without any coding knowledge and impress your visitors with its sleek and modern design.

Blogger Fans, Meet Mimi

A Chic & Simple Template for Your Blog!

For those who love the elegance of Allie but prefer a streamlined approach, Mimi is here for you! This stunning premade template designed specifically for Blogger offers the same chic navy and cream color palette in a beautifully simple design. Perfect for bloggers of all stripes – fashionistas, travel enthusiasts, or anyone with a story to share – Mimi keeps things focused on your content, letting your voice and creativity shine through.

Mimi Blogger Premade template

Fully editable & customizable

Don’t let the simplicity fool you! Mimi is fully editable and customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your unique brand voice. Play with fonts, colors, and layouts to make Mimi your own. Plus, it boasts a responsive design that adapts flawlessly to any device, ensuring your blog looks stunning on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Want to see it in action?

Head over to our live demo and experience the magic of Mimi for yourself!

Click here for live demo

What is C# ​U​sed ​F​or? 

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What is C# ​U​sed ​F​or? 

C​#​ (or C​ Sharp​) is part of the C family of programming languages. It was developed by Microsoft in 2000 to meet the increasing demand for web applications that didn’t work with Visual Basic and C++. It’s versatile, capable of running on the Windows .NET framework and various open-source platforms, and many developers use it to build web and desktop applications. Let’s take a deeper look into C# and all the things you can use it for. 

Why should you use C#? 

C# has syntax that’s similar to other C-based languages, so it might be easier to pick up if you’re already familiar with C++ or Java. Plus, unique C# features like data types and generics make C# efficient, versatile, and maintainable. 

Take a look at this snippet of a basic C# program that calculates the area of a rectangle:

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Declare variables to hold the length and width of the rectangle
        double length, width, area;

        // Prompt the user to enter the length
        Console.Write("Enter the length of the rectangle: ");
        length = Convert.ToDouble(Console.ReadLine());

        // Prompt the user to enter the width
        Console.Write("Enter the width of the rectangle: ");
        width = Convert.ToDouble(Console.ReadLine());

        // Calculate the area
        area = length * width;

        // Display the result
        Console.WriteLine("The area of the rectangle is: " + area);
    }
}

C# is a general​-purpose​ programming language, so it’s powerful and versatile enough for devs to build a wide range of applications. Still, it‘s most often used in three areas. 

Web applications 

C# is cross-platform, so you can use it with frameworks like .NET to build dynamic websites and apps that run on most operating systems. Check out our skill path Build Web Apps with ASP.NET to learn how. 

Windows applications 

Microsoft created C#, so the language is a great choice for developing Windows applications. The development process is smooth, and C# functions like its garbage collection works exceptionally well. 

There’s also a huge community around C#, so there are lots of resources to turn to when problems or questions arise. This dependable support and extensive documentation from other developers when building C# applications can help uncover​​ insights and new solutions when working on a project. 

Gaming 

Many Game Developers prefer C#. The Unity game engine, which is one of the most popular, uses C++ and C#. C# integrates with Unity and works well when developing mobile apps or​ ​console games. 

Cloud development

C# is extensively used for building scalable and secure cloud-based applications and services. Devs use Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, to create, deploy, and manage applications and services through a global network of data centers.

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What are the advantages of using C#? 

C# has a relatively low learning curve, so it’s great for beginners who may be intimidated by more complex languages. Experienced developers love it too since its syntax is simpler than many other languages’, which makes it easier to create complex stacks of code and add multiple features to an application. Other advantages of C# include: 

  • C# is a marketable skill. It’s a staple for many tech roles in the US, and even if it’s not a requirement, adding it to your tech stack can give you an edge. 
  • C# provides a large library with high-level functionality when compared to languages like C++ and Java. 
  • C# has an extensive memory bank that reduces the time it takes for development and deployment. 
  • C# is highly scalable. Developers depend on scalable programming languages that are easy to maintain, and C# offers several attributes that help keep​​ applications consistent and reliable. 

​​​How does C​​​#​​​ work?​​​​​​ 

C# is flexible with features that support both functional programming and object-oriented programming (OOP). This allows you to build Applications Performance Management (APM) software, which offers insights into how an application will perform and ways to troubleshoot issues that may arise. Developers can implement an APM solution to optimize app performance during the staging, production, and post-production processes. 

C# code needs to be compiled before it’s executed. C# compilers return inputted code as an intermediate language (IL). This output is saved as either a .exe or .dll file. A just-in-time (JIT) compiler translates the IL code into machine code (also known as native code) which is then run by the operating system. 

There are several compilers developers can use when writing C#, including: 

  • Microsoft Visual Studio 
  • Visual Web Developer 
  • Visual Studio Express​ ​ 

Learn more about C# 

C# is a great choice if you’re looking for your next programming language, and we’ve got a wide selection of courses, skill paths, and projects that’ll build your C# skills. Sign up now to get started. 

8 Tips For Applying To Jobs In Tech If You’re Really Busy

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8 Tips For Applying To Jobs In Tech If You’re Really Busy

If you’ve ever applied for jobs before, you know it can basically be a full-time job in and of itself. And it’s a long process that can sometimes take months.

Right now, you might be having an especially difficult time finding a job. A recent survey from ZipRecruiter found that it took workers longer to find a job at the start of 2024 than they did at the end of 2023. Only 46% of job seekers landed a new role in under a month, according to the data.

Some of the reasons why it’s such a time-consuming process are out of your control — you can’t get a hiring manager to devote more time out of their day to reviewing applications, and you can’t clear people’s schedules so they can do interviews sooner. Fortunately, there are some things that you can control when it comes to speeding up the job application process, even if you’re really busy.

Here are seven ways to make the job-hunting process more efficient and help you land your next gig.

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1. Get clear on your goals

When you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to your job search, it’s important to establish what your goals and expectations are so that you don’t waste precious time applying to a wide range of jobs that won’t actually line up with what you’re hoping to achieve.

The first step is figuring out exactly what you’re looking for in your next role. Try dedicating 30 minutes to putting your goals in writing. Are you looking for more flexible hours? The opportunity to manage a team? A new title that’ll help you advance in your career? What about your salary requirements? There’s a good chance that interviewers will ask you what you’re looking for in your next role, so be prepared and equipped with details.

You could also create a target list of companies that you’d love to work for and focus on their job boards. Thinking through the characteristics you’d like your employer to have is a good way to help you narrow down the companies for your list. For example, are you interested in working at a large company or a small company? Venture-backed or bootstrapped? Would you work for an international company?

Another way to approach this is by writing out your “must-haves” versus your “nice-to-haves.” Maybe health insurance, parental leave, and a 401k are in your “must-haves” column, and unlimited PTO and a sign-on bonus are in your “nice-to-haves” column.

Taking the time to figure this all out before you start sending in applications could save you time in the long-run so that you can narrow your search and focus on roles and companies that are more likely to be a good fit for you.

2. Optimize your LinkedIn presence

When you’re trying to make the most out of the little time you have for job-hunting, one thing you can do is focus your energy on doing the things that lead recruiters and hiring managers to you, instead of the other way around. In other words, let the employers do some of the work. “This is a very competitive job market, so we — the recruiters — are doing more proactive searching than ever,” says Danny Roberts, Senior Technical Recruiter at Codecademy.

Danny recommends starting with LinkedIn. “The secret is optimizing one’s internet presence as much as possible for SEO, especially LinkedIn profiles,” he says. A good place to start is setting yourself “available” for work on LinkedIn. When you turn this feature on, you can select to share your status with recruiters only or share with all LinkedIn members.

Another great way to get on recruiters’ radars is by using keywords in your LinkedIn headline and summary. You’ll want to pick out keywords that are directly related to the position you’re trying to get. You can find these keywords in job descriptions, and you can also get ideas by looking at the profiles of people who have the job you want. Pay attention to what keywords they decided to use and the phrasing they used.

Also, it may sound obvious, but keep your LinkedIn experience updated. When a hiring manager finds you on LinkedIn, they’ll scan your experience section to see if you have the background they’re looking for in a new hire. So you want to keep this section up-to-date with relevant details and measurable results to make sure you don’t miss out on any potential job opportunities.

Want more LinkedIn advice? Here are more tips about the do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn profiles.

3. Use job descriptions to help revamp your resume

When you’re starting out with the job-hunting process and want to revamp your resume, it can be hard to know exactly what skills and experience to include to get noticed, especially since hiring managers increasingly use applicant tracking systems (ATS), software that scans resumes for specific keywords and phrases.

But one way to make sure you’re including the right keywords is to find a few job postings that pique your interest and pull words and phrases from them to use on your resume. You’ll also want to include any specific tools, software, or technology that are often noted in the “Requirements” section. This way, you’re upping your chances of the ATS finding those keywords and flagging your application as a promising one. Learn more about how to read a tech job description and incorporate details from it.

Once you have a revised resume, run it through our job-readiness checker tool. All you have to do is copy and paste the job posting URL from LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter, enter details about your experience and skills, and the job-readiness checker will generate a report that identifies your knowledge gaps for a specific role.

4. Practice answering interview questions

You want to feel completely prepared for the interview before you get an interview request in your email inbox. Interviewing is a skill that you can get better at with practice.

Check out our Interview Simulator, your personalized tool to ace any job interview. Just input details about your experience, and the AI generates questions that simulate a real interview environment. You can tailor your practice session to match the specific role, your career level, and the company you’re targeting. Practice answering questions either verbally or in writing, and you’ll receive detailed feedback highlighting your strengths and areas for improvement. All you need is a free Codecademy account to get started. (For unlimited access, allowing up to five practice sessions a day, consider upgrading to a Pro or Plus plan.)

5. Set up a cover letter template to make quick edits

While many tech companies are moving away from cover letter requirements, it can be a helpful way to showcase what differentiates you from other applicants, especially if you’re just starting out or making a career shift. Thankfully, it’s not necessary to write a completely new cover letter for each job you apply to. But unlike your resume, where you can use one version to apply to similar jobs, you’ll need to make small tweaks to each cover letter you submit.

One way to make these edits as quickly as possible is to set up a template and highlight the text that needs to be edited, like who your letter is addressed to, the title of the role, and the name of the company. Here’s an example from the first paragraph of a cover letter.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I’m excited to apply for the Full-Stack Developer position at Reddit, Inc. My experience with both the back-end and front-end stacks, as well as my proficiency in Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery, would be a great addition to your team and company.

Good to know: You can use ChatGPT to help edit your cover letter template so it aligns with a job description, or you can have ChatGPT write you a first draft that you refine later. If you have the bandwidth, it’s also a good idea to include a slot for a sentence that addresses why you’re particularly excited about the specific role or company. When you’re strapped for time, you want to avoid doing time-consuming edits, so the other details in your cover letter, like your experience and skills, can remain the same.

6. See if someone you know is connected to the company you’re applying to

Open positions are often filled by referrals. Sometimes the referral can come from someone already working at the company or from someone connected to the company in some way, like a former employee or a friend of the hiring manager. Take a look at the company’s employees on LinkedIn and see if you know anyone or have a mutual connection with someone there.

Depending on how close you are with the person, you could reach out and let them know you’re applying for a position at the company and ask if they could bump your application to the recruiter and/or hiring manager. Here are some tips for how to contact someone on LinkedIn in a professional but effective way. Sometimes companies offer bonuses for employee referrals who get hired, so your contact may even want to upload your application into the system themselves.

7. Network efficiently

A feature like Open to Work on LinkedIn is a really efficient way to let recruiters and your professional network know when you’re job-hunting — but of course, you can’t always broadcast that you’re looking for a new role. If that’s the case for you, doing some individual outreach as early as possible in your job search is a good idea, especially since someone in your professional network could already be looking to fill a position or know of an opening that might be a good fit for you.

If you’re super busy, you could write one general BCC email to your personal and professional network letting people know you’re looking for your next job opportunity. Just make sure that these are all people who you trust and have a good relationship with. In your email, you want to include details like the positions you’re open to taking, the types of companies you want to work at, and when you can start your new role. Also, include a 2-3 sentence professional bio that your network can use to describe you in any referrals, and make sure to provide all relevant links for them as well, like your portfolio, professional website, and LinkedIn.

Here’s an email template you can customize and send to your network to communicate your job search status (of course, add in details about your own experience):

Subject: Seeking New Job Opportunities: Your Help Appreciated

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well.

I am writing to let you know that I am currently looking for my next opportunity as a software engineer. After [X] years of experience in [specific areas of expertise, e.g., backend development, front-end development, full-stack development, etc.], I am excited to find a new role where I can leverage my skills and continue to grow professionally. I am open to positions such as [list specific roles, e.g., Software Engineer, Full-Stack Developer, Backend Developer, etc.], and I am particularly interested in companies that [describe the types of companies, e.g., are innovative, have a strong tech culture, focus on impactful projects, etc.].

I am available to start a new role [mention your availability, e.g., immediately, within the next month, etc.].

Here is a brief professional bio that you can use if you know someone who might be able to assist:
“[Your Name] is a skilled software engineer with [X] years of experience in [specific areas of expertise]. They have a proven track record of [mention key achievements, e.g., leading successful projects, improving application performance, developing new features, etc.]. [Your Name] is proficient in [mention specific technologies, programming languages, or methodologies you excel in, e.g., Java, Python, Agile, etc.] and is passionate about [mention any specific interests, e.g., developing scalable software, solving complex problems, working in collaborative environments, etc.].”

For more details about my work and experience, please feel free to visit my [LinkedIn Profile](your LinkedIn URL), [professional website](your professional website URL), and [portfolio](your portfolio URL).

I would greatly appreciate any leads, advice, or introductions to potential opportunities that you might have. If you know of any openings or can connect me with someone who might, please let me know. Additionally, I am open to any recommendations or guidance you might have as I navigate this transition.

Thank you so much for your support and consideration. I look forward to catching up with you soon.

Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
[Your LinkedIn Profile]
[Your Professional Website]
[Your Portfolio]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]

If there are any people in your network that you’d prefer to reach out to 1/1 — like mentors, former managers, or any colleagues you’re particularly close with — you could also take the time to send a few personalized emails. Just remember: Before sending any 1/1 emails, do a few minutes of homework about the person. Where do they work now? Do they know anyone on LinkedIn you might want to be connected with? Take a look at their company’s career page or LinkedIn jobs page to see what roles are open. Who knows? Maybe there will be a great role for you, and your note can mention that you’re interested in applying for it.

8. Use calendar reminders to stay on top of communication

Once you launch into the interview process, it can be easy to lose track of time when you’re trying to fit applications, emails, and interviews into an already-busy schedule. Remember: Technology is your friend when you’re trying to save time and reduce the stress of keeping up with communication. Get the information out of your head and onto a reminder app (like Google Calendar) so that you don’t have to worry if you missed an opportunity to show your interest in the role.

One way to help you stay on top of communication is to use calendar reminders to nudge you to send thank-you emails after interviews. Whenever you add an interview to your calendar, also add a reminder to send that person a thank-you note. While you’re doing that, you could even add a calendar reminder to let you know when to check in with the recruiter if you don’t hear back after a certain amount of time (at least a few days).

If you need some help drafting your follow-up email, here are some tips on how to write a professional follow-up email after a job interview.

Want more job-hunting advice? Here are some tips for writing a technical resume that will catch the hiring manager’s attention, plus tips for navigating a career change. And check out our Career Center, which is full of tools and resources to support you along every step of the job-hunting process.

This blog was originally published in April 2022 and has been updated to include new features and tips for job seekers.

Word of the Day: facade

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Word of the Day: facade

The word facade has appeared in 350 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on May 8 in “Dan Stevens and the Allure of Kooky Characters” by Carlos Aguilar:

The kookiest characters onscreen this season may be the ones played by Dan Stevens.

… Right now in theaters he can be seen as a winning monster veterinarian in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and as a corrupt cop turned bloodsucker in the horror comedy “Abigail.” This summer, he will appear in “Cuckoo,” a sci-fi horror mash-up set in the Alps, in which he plays a German scientist whose welcoming facade hides a fascination with a bizarre endangered species.

Can you correctly use the word facade in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

If you want a better idea of how facade can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

Promoting Far Transfer in Medical Education: An Experiment

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Promoting Far Transfer in Medical Education: An Experiment

Students in the experiment read the explanations and completed their practice cases with feedback in the way outlined by their particular experimental condition (i.e., interleaved with one context, interleaved with two contexts, blocked with one context, blocked with two contexts).

Measuring Learning and Transfer

The students were then tested to see how much they could remember by answering multiple-choice and short-answer questions that assessed their knowledge about the concepts they learned.

Students were then given 15 transfer cases. These cases were clinical vignettes similar to those from the practice session. Students had to identify the physiological principle that applied, and provide an explanation for how the concept accounted for the clinical signs and symptoms presented in the vignette. Some of the transfer cases involved systems that were previously learned (e.g., fluid dynamics and respiratory disorders), or that were not previously learned (e.g., fluid dynamics and urinary tract cases).

Results

The researchers present a lot of data, but I summarize what I think are the main findings here.

First, the students answered about 70-80% of the knowledge questions, and performance did not depend on the experimental manipulations. So, at least for these questions, interleaving vs. blocking and context of examples didn’t really matter.

The results on the transfer cases are much more interesting. The students who learned with interleaving and two contexts had the highest scores on the near and far transfer cases. For the far transfer cases, having practice with two contexts was particularly important. There was no significant difference on the far transfer cases between the blocked and interleaved learning conditions as long as two contexts (i.e., two different organ systems) were used.

Conclusion

Overall, the results suggest that giving students practice with multiple contexts seems to be particularly important for far transfer, and when that happens, interleaving the examples is better than blocking.

 The authors write about the importance of transfer for medical education, and specifically discuss transfer of premed knowledge to later clinical training (presumably undergraduate medical education, more casually referred to as medical school). But plenty of students take physiology for other reasons other than preparation for formal medical school. For example, in my department at Rhode Island College the behavioral health studies program students take physiological psychology and should be able to transfer the knowledge to their internship courses and work in mental health. And, these findings are in line with other research we have presented in other domains.

These findings make sense in light of the other research we have covered on our blog related to interleaving vs. blocking, and related to concrete examples and transfer of knowledge to other domains more generally. We know, for example, that using multiple concrete examples with different surface features is particularly helpful in helping students transfer the concept to other new examples (check out this blog: two examples are better than one). We also know that novices tend to focus on surface details more than experts (check out this blog: what do students remember from our examples?).

Essentially, multiple examples with different surface features is what the researchers did here for the two contexts conditions. When they gave students practice cases in two contexts, the underlying principle (e.g., fluid dynamics) was the same, but the surface features (e.g., respiratory system cases, cardiovascular system cases) were different. Thus, students in this condition were likely better able to clearly see the underlying principle and how it functioned in different contexts. This led to better performance applying the concept on their own in a third, new context (e.g., urinary tract cases).

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