As soon as you get the email you’ve been anxiously awaiting, make an effort to sit down and type out a response at your earliest convenience. Getting back to the sender as quickly as possible shows that you’re prompt, and that you take their busy schedule seriously. It will also give you more time to find out everything you need to know in order to get prepared.  Get in the habit of checking your inbox once or twice a day for work-related emails.  Turn on email notifications on your phone so that you’ll be alerted every time you receive a new message. Before you send your response, read back over it from top to bottom to make sure there are no grammar or spelling mistakes. Pay particular attention to your use of capitalization, punctuation, and spacing. A professional email riddled with typos isn’t the kind of first impression you want to make!  Your email platform’s built-in spellcheck feature can come in handy for catching goof-ups that might otherwise go unnoticed. Consider having a friend or coworker proofread your message for you. Other people are sometimes better at detecting errors in a piece of writing than the person that wrote it. If there are other names attached to the email, choose the “reply all” option rather than replying to one sender individually. This will help ensure that everyone who is supposed to see your response does, and is kept in the loop about your place in the interview process.  Exceptions to this rule include instances when the invitation asks that you reply to a particular person or address, or if the other names copied on the email are applicants like yourself. It’s not uncommon for hiring coordinators to copy other company representatives, like office managers and human resources personnel, on correspondence directed to potential recruits. Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your response, hit the send button. Then, head to your sent messages inbox and look for the email there. If there’s an issue with an incorrect mailing address or unexpected internet outage, you’ll want to be aware of it before it causes a problem. A lengthy delay in your response time could reflect poorly on your communication skills, or even result in a missed opportunity.

Summary: Respond to the invitation right away. Check for typographical errors. Copy all other intended recipients. Double check that the email has gone through.


The studs are heavier lengths of wood that attach to the porch walls, running vertically from the floor plates to the ceiling plates. As with the plates, nails can be used to affix the studs to a wooden structure, while a masonry nail gun or masonry screws are necessary to secure the studs to brick or other types of masonry walls. Be sure to check the width of your screens. Most screens are three feet wide, so space your studs three feet apart, measuring from the center. Important: For door frames, use two wall studs on each side of the door. One for attaching the screen, and one for the door hinges. These are the horizontal pieces that help to provide stability to the overall frame.  Use the measuring tape, chalk line, and level to make sure the rails and balusters are positioned properly before securing the pieces in place with the hammer and nails. Each individual frame piece needs to be screwed (or nailed) together. Make sure you attach the balusters to the rest of the frame to allow for maximum stability. Once the rails and balusters are firmly affixed to the sole plates and wall studs, the frame is complete.

Summary: Add the wall studs to the sill plate frame. Install the wall studs. Position and attach the balusters and rails within the screen frame. Attach all pieces together.


Caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide, is an extremely strong chemical that will dissolve most blockages clogging up your sink.  Caustic soda can be purchased at most hardware stores. Dilute 3 cups (750 ml) of caustic soda with 3/4 gallon (3 L) of cold water in a large mop bucket. Mix the chemical and the water together with a wooden spoon. Do not use any container or utensil you plan to use for food later on. Do not stir the water and caustic soda together with your hands. The water and caustic soda should begin to "fizz" and heat up as you mix the two together. Carefully pour the solution directly into the clogged sink drain. Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes without touching it. Boil 1 gallon (4 L) of water on the stove and use it to flush the drain. Repeat the procedure if necessary. If you are connected to a public sewer system and not to a well or septic tank, you can use bleach to both clean and deodorize a clogged sink.  Pour 1 cup (250 ml) of undiluted bleach directly down the sink drain. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn your sink on and let water rush into the drain. Make sure that the water is as hot as possible and as strong or rapid as possible. Let it run up to 5 minutes. If your sink begins to back up and fill with water, turn the water off and let it drain before attempting to unclog the sink again. Do not use bleach if you use a septic tank. Bleach kills bacteria living in the tank, but the bacteria it kills eats solid waste, thereby preventing the lines from clogging. Commercial drain cleaners can be purchased at most grocery stores, and there are caustic, acid, and enzymatic cleaners available.  Read the label carefully to determine which cleaner is right for your particular type of blockage. For instance, some cleaners might work better in bathroom sinks, while others might work better for kitchen sinks. Follow the instructions on the label carefully when you use it. Caustic drain cleaners rely on chemical reactions caused by hydroxide ions. Acid drain cleaners use a chemical reaction between hydrogen ions and the material clogging the sink. Acid cleaners tend to be harsher than caustic drain cleaners. Enzymatic cleaners are the least potent and rely on bacterial enzymes to eat away organic blockages.

Summary: Pour caustic soda down the drain. Try bleach. Use drain cleaner.


Individuals who have satisfying interpersonal relationships and friendships show reduced depression, a more positive outlook, and a better ability to deal with challenging situations and feelings overall. Social support can help reduce stress that is associated with feeling lonely.  Going to therapy and going to family therapy are good ways to work on your relationships. Focus on engaging in social activities that can lead to friendships. Keep away from cynical and negative people if they bring you down. Ask for help when you need it. Rejection can be more of a worry when you feel lonely. Try not to put pressure on yourself to make a new best friend or a fantastic conversation with each social interaction. Instead, try to enjoy the feeling of connecting in the moment.  Social networking allows you to connect without having to worry too much about rejection. Try leaving a comment on someone's post, or sending someone a short message. When you're socializing in person, whether with someone you know or a stranger, try making small talk. You can start with the friendly question, "How is your day going?". Asking someone how their day is going may not seem like the start of a profound conversation, but it allows you to make a small connection with anyone you meet. If it leads to a deeper conversation, that's fine; if not, you've still shared a moment with another person. Signing up for a dating website, joining a group or club, volunteering, or taking a class are just a few ways to put yourself in situations where you'll meet new people who share common interests.  If you are interested in and connect with someone, a great way to follow up is by adding him or her on a social networking site (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). Remember that the relationships you form may not grow deeper right away, and that's OK. For now, focus on how it feels to connect with people in the moment. It can be tough to get out there and socialize. Each time you make a connection, whether it's making small talk with a stranger or asking someone in your class out for coffee, be proud of yourself for reaching out.  Feeling positive about your social achievements will help you continue making an effort to connect with people. As your social needs are increasingly met, you'll begin to feel less lonely.
Summary: Develop healthy relationships. Have realistic expectations when you socialize. Be open to meeting new people. Be proud when you make progress.