INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In most cases, your interviewer will tell you at the end of the interview how much time the decision-making process with take and how long you should expect to wait for a response. However, if he or she doesn't volunteer this information, don't hesitate to ask.  In addition to asking about how long the decision-making process will take, you should find out who within the company will be contacting the candidates and what method of communication they intend to use (phone, email, etc.) It's important to request this information, as it gives you an idea of the appropriate time to follow-up, along with who you should be following up with. Before you leave the interview, be sure to ask for your interviewer's business card.  This will provide you with the correct spelling of their name, their exact position within the company, their phone number and their email address. This is essential information to have when you want to send a thank you note or email. Asking for these details may feel a little awkward, but it will actually leave a positive impression on the interviewer and let then know how interested you are in the job.

SUMMARY: Politely ask for a timeline. Ask for your interviewer's business card.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Some mentoring relationships may operate on a consistent weekly schedule, while others are less rigidly structured.  In any case, try not to force mentoring sessions into times or places full of distractions, or when one or both of you are exhausted or preoccupied.  Pick a good place to mentor them in. You want to keep their attention on you, without them getting bored or their attention wandering. For school students, a library would be the traditional choice, and a good one too - it will be quieter than other places, there may be room to spread out books or papers, and if you need a book you're in the right place! Make sure you are always prepared for a mentoring session.  Don’t try to squeeze in some mentoring when you’re distracted by a dozen other things, and reschedule a weekly session if necessary when you’ve been unable to properly prepare.  A delayed but fully engaged session is far more beneficial than a half-hearted but on-schedule one. Even if you combined the world’s most effective mentor with the world’s most eager mentee, you wouldn’t see some sort of immediate transformation.  Mentoring is about incrementally laying the groundwork for lasting change and self-improvement.  It’s not a race or a competition; it’s a process, and it requires patience from both sides.  Rome wasn’t built in day, and your mentee won’t be transformed after one session either.  Whether they are fast or slow learners, remain calm.  If they're not getting something, try to explain it in different ways until they do - or just come back to it later. Establish ground rules early on regarding mutual respect and accountability.  Create an atmosphere in which some degree of personal sharing can occur and so-called “stupid questions” can be asked, but define the roles of mentor and mentee and the proper nature of interactions between the two. The mentee isn’t the only one who might question their abilities or results.  There will be times when you’ll feel like you’re not doing a good enough job, or simply feel down because the results your mentee is working so hard for don’t seem to be paying off.  Remind yourself that you are doing your best, and you are making a positive difference in this other person’s life.  You don’t have to brag about your own success and experience in your field, or assume that such things mean that you are automatically a great mentor.  However, you should draw on these realities as confidence-boosters in your ability to achieve your goals, including mentoring.  When your mentee is struggling, keep smiling and offer to help them.  When they do succeed, feel proud of what they have accomplished with your help and congratulate them.  Give yourself a pat on the back as well.  Their success is something for both of you to be proud of. There will be times when you can’t meet with your mentee face-to-face, and some mentoring relationships may in fact be conducted entirely from a distance.  Even if you do lose out on some of the interpersonal connection in such instances, you can develop and effective mentoring partnership regardless.  Stay focused on the core concepts of support, guidance, constructive feedback, and accessibility.  In an online or similar distance-based mentorship, be available to your mentee but set boundaries as well.  You don’t have to respond at 2 am if that is not the nature of your mentoring relationship. Use online resources to your advantage in distance mentoring.  Locate helpful links, pages, forums, videos, documents, games, and so on.  But don’t expect these to replace the core mentor-mentee connection that needs to be forged and maintained.

SUMMARY: Choose a time and place that’s good for both of you. Be patient and polite, and expect the same. Encourage yourself as well. Be a mentor even at a distance.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Sharing more of your emotions with your partner and encouraging your partner to do the same with you will help strengthen your bond. Make it a habit to confide in each other every day. Some opening questions for confiding in your partner include:  “Remember when we used to go walking and talking around the neighborhood, walking the dogs together? Let’s do that tonight… How about it?” “What happened yesterday between us didn’t go so well, and I want to try another way — can we start over, and this time I will take some deep breaths and listen more patiently.  I also want to say what works better for me and find out what you are hoping for.” In order to move forward in your relationship, you will both need to learn how to understand each other’s needs. The best way to uncover what your partner needs, and let them know what you need, is to talk about it. If you are not sure what your spouse wants or needs, the best way to find out is to ask questions and listen. If you still are not sure, ask more questions. For example, you could say something like, “I think that what you need from me is ________. Is that what you mean?” Showing appreciation through sincere compliments is an important part of a healthy relationship. Make sure that you and your partner are aware of the importance of complimenting each other and that you both know how to do it well. Good compliments should not only be sincere and specific, they should also be phrased as an “I” statement rather than as a “you” statement. For example, if your partner cleans the kitchen, don’t say “You did a nice job of cleaning the kitchen.” Instead, say "I appreciate that you cleaned the kitchen.” Using I instead of you lets your partner know how you feel, not just that you noticed. If you decide that you are ready to move forward in your relationship with your partner, you should ask your partner to promise you that they will not follow the same pattern of behavior that led to the affair. Ask your partner to articulate or even write out what that behavior includes and commit to change. Since there is a possibility that your partner may cheat again, you should work together to establish consequences for another affair. These consequences may include things like divorce or other repercussions. You may want to get these consequences in writing and work with a lawyer to make them legally binding. If things don’t improve despite all of your best efforts and the help of marriage counseling, you may have to accept that the relationship cannot be repaired. Signs that the relationship may be beyond repair include:  Constant fighting Inability to connect with your partner Inability to empathize with or receive empathy from your partner Hurt and anger that does not subside with time Inability to forgive your partner

SUMMARY:
Encourage your partner to be more open with you. Be considerate of each other’s needs. Appreciate each other. Ask your partner to commit to change. Establish consequences to deal with the possibility of another affair. Know when to end the relationship.