Does your house seem smaller since the pandemic started? Many families feel more cramped with 2 adults working at home, especially if you need to share your workspace with your partner.
 
This may be the first time you’ve seen their work habits up close or counted how many dirty coffee cups they leave behind in their wake. Even if you’re used to having an office mate, it’s a different experience when you don’t say goodbye and go your separate ways at quitting time.
 
Protect your relationship and your productivity by mastering the modern rules for couples who share a home office. Try these tips for setting up your workspace and interacting with each other.

1. Divide your space. Each of you will probably need your own desk or workstation. It will help you to stay out of each other’s way and reduce distractions. There will be less risk of accidentally carrying off each other’s files or losing items too.
   
   
2. Separate your stuff. Figure out which supplies and equipment you can share and which you’ll need for yourself alone. You can probably save money by having one printer and shredder. On the other hand, you may need your own phone line and storage space.
   
   
3. Enable privacy. How will you handle tasks that require quiet and concentration? Maybe you can write or attend Zoom meetings in your sunroom or kitchen. Maybe you’ll be more comfortable with your desks facing away from each other.
   
   
4. Create ambience. Design your office for maximum comfort and cheer. Give it a fresh coat of paint and display some artwork and photos.
   
   
5. Minimize clutter. At the same time, open space and tidy surfaces are more relaxing, so be selective about your furnishings. Cleaning up after yourself helps too.
   
   
6. Stagger your schedules. If possible, you might work different hours. That way you can count on a private office for at least part of the day.

1. Establish boundaries. Planning ahead will avoid many conflicts, but you’ll still need ground rules. Share the vacuuming and agree on where to set the thermostat.
   
   
2. Talk things over. Resolve minor annoyances promptly to keep them from escalating. Be open to compromises and keep your sense of humor.
   
   
3. Wear headphones. Volume levels are one of the most common challenges in any shared space. Find the best tech gadget to work from home. Noise cancelling headphones may help you keep the peace if you prefer different styles of music. You may also need headsets if you make a lot of phone calls.
   
   
4. Eliminate odors. Unpleasant smells can be as intrusive as noise. You may need to step outside if you’re snacking on pizza with extra garlic. Use neutral cleaning products or check to see that you both like pomegranate scented air freshener.
   
   
5. Stay focused. Maintain balance by using your home office for work and dealing with personal matters elsewhere. Save personal conversations for after hours.
   
   
6. Take breaks together. While sharing an office with your partner takes some effort, it can also be a lot of fun. Drink your morning coffee on your patio. Take your dog to the park at lunchtime for a long walk or outdoor concert.
   
   
7. Be considerate. Overall, treat your partner with respect and courtesy. It’s easy to drift into taking each other for granted, so remember what you like about them. Show your appreciation and look for ways to make their life easier.

 There are many advantages to working from home, and the trend will continue long after lockdowns and quarantines end. Learning to share office space will help you and your partner to enjoy your relationship and your remote work experience.

You have sent your resume in response to a particular job advertisement and you are interested in the job, but you are not sure how to follow up, what to say, or even when to follow up.

 
Situation: Resume Follow Up
Use this script to follow up after sending a resume to see if interviews are being scheduled.
 
Preparation:

• Know the name of the person you’re calling (and how to pronounce their name) or, if you only know the title of the person responsible for hiring, call the company’s general number and get the name (and pronunciation). You may even be able to look for the names of personnel online.
• Note: Consider an email as your first follow-up. If it’s been more than a week and you haven’t received a reply to your email follow-up, then consider calling.

 
Make the Call:
Be prepared to leave a voicemail message if you don’t reach the person directly. Be sure to leave a phone number, but know that you may not get a callback. If you leave a voicemail, follow up 2-3 days later with an email.

Hi! My name is (your name).
 
[If you have a mutual connection or were referred to the position by someone specific, mention it. For example: “Jane Jones suggested that I speak with you.” People are more likely to take the time to talk to you if you mention a mutual friend or acquaintance, so always mention the common connection.]
 
Do you have a minute?
[If no: “When would be a good time for me to call back?”]
 
I submitted (my resume/an application) for the position of (name of job) on (date).
 
(Provide a one- or two-sentence summary of your qualifications and what you can offer to the company in this role.)
 
I wanted to make sure you had everything you need from me to consider me as a candidate for this position. And I wanted to ask if you have a date when you expect to start interviewing for this role.
 
[If yes: Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you today.]
[If no: Is it okay if I check back with you in a (timeframe – for example, a week)?”
 
How It Might Sound:
You: Hi! My name is Jim Adams. Our mutual friend, Jane Jones, suggested that I speak with you. Do you have a minute to talk right now?
 
Hiring Manager: Yes, but I have another call in 5 minutes, so I’ll have to make it quick.
 
You: I understand. This will only take a minute or two. I submitted my resume for the Public Relations Specialist role last Tuesday. I’m currently working for Acme PR and, as you require, I have 10 years of experience in pitching, account management, and media relations. I wanted to make sure you had everything you need from me to consider me as a candidate for this position. And I wondered if you have a date when you expect to start interviewing for this role.
 
Hiring Manager: No, we’re still accepting applications at this time. If you submitted your application online, I’m sure I have it, but if you want to send your resume to my email, you can do that too. My email is KarenSampson@macpr.com.
 
You: Ok. Would it be okay if I also check back with you again at the end of next week?
 
Hiring Manager: Sure.
 
You: Thank you, I’ll check back in on the 15th then and I’ll email you my resume. Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you today.

Normally, when you are setting up your LinkedIn privacy settings, you’re selecting the audience you want to be able to see your LinkedIn profile. But there is a particular LinkedIn setting that you will want to select to ensure that LinkedIn doesn’t share your content.

When Microsoft purchased LinkedIn in 2016, the integration of the social media platform with Microsoft’s products was alluded to in the announcement. In an internal memo published on TechCrunch.com, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner identified some specific areas where the two companies would work together. These included:

• LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office Suite.
• Enabling members drafting résumés in Word to update their profiles, and discover and apply to jobs on LinkedIn.​​

With the announcement of a new Microsoft Word feature called “Resume Assistant,” that integration is becoming even more apparent. When this feature is enabled, it shows what other people in similar roles say about themselves in their LinkedIn profiles, allowing users of the word processing software to incorporate that content directly into the résumé they are creating for themselves.

While it has always been possible to view profiles of individuals in similar roles for inspiration when constructing your résumé, LinkedIn Headline, and profile content, this new feature allows users to directly copy content from other peoples’ LinkedIn profiles. And, in fact, it is encouraged by Microsoft/LinkedIn.

Fortunately, with the introduction of this new feature, LinkedIn has also recently added a new privacy setting to allow you to omit your LinkedIn profile from showing up in Microsoft Word’s Resume Assistant. 

Disabling the sharing function makes it harder for others to “plagiarize” your LinkedIn content — whether you wrote it yourself, or had assistance from a professional résumé writer.
​
One of the best things you can do to keep your content from being plagiarized is to make it uniquely about you and branding yourself so distinctively that your content couldn’t possibly be used to describe anyone else but you!
​

• LinkedIn identity and network in Microsoft Outlook and the Office Suite.
• Enabling members drafting résumés in Word to update their profiles, and discover and apply to jobs on LinkedIn.

• Here’s how to turn on the LinkedIn privacy setting to disable Resume Assistant.
• When logged into your desktop LinkedIn account click on “Me.”
• Look for instructions on how to do this on your mobile device, listed after Step 7.

• Click “Settings & Privacy.”

• The default setting is “Yes” — “Choose whether work experience from your profile can ve shown in Resume Assistant.”
• Change the default option from  “Yes” to “No”
• Changing the setting to “No” keeps LinkedIn from sharing your descriptions with Microsoft Word users.

• Here is LinkedIn’s explanation of the Resume Assistant integration.

• Note: Even though you have disabled the sharing of your content with the Resume Assistant, LinkedIn Privacy Policy and Terms of Service explicitly warn users that the information that you share can be seen, copied, and used by other members.
• One of the best things you can do to keep your content from being plagiarized is to make it uniquely about you — branding yourself so distinctively that your content couldn’t possibly be used to describe anyone else but you!

• You can also change this setting in the LinkedIn mobile app.
• In the app, go to the “Settings” gear in the upper right-hand corner and click “Privacy.” Scroll down to “Microsoft Word” and display the setting.
• Change the slider to “ No. ”
• Resume Assistant is a new feature that is only available to Office 365 subscribers who are part of the “Office Insider” program. Resume Assistant pulls suggested skills and work experience descriptions from LinkedIn profiles when the Resume Assistant setting is set to “Yes.”​

Use this script to follow up after an interview if you haven’t heard anything back.
 
PREPARATION:

• Send a written thank you note within 48 hours after the interview.
• If you were given a timeframe in the interview for a decision or next step and that time has passed (at least one day after the date you were told — but preferably 2-3 days afterwards, since people are busy), it’s a good idea to follow up.
• Note: Consider an email as your first follow-up unless the hiring manager gave you permission at the end of the interview to call OR if it’s been more than a week and you haven’t received a reply to your email follow-up.

 
MAKE THE CALL:
Be prepared to leave a voicemail message if you don’t reach the person directly. Be sure to leave a phone number, but know that you may not get a callback. If you leave a voicemail, follow up 2-3 days later with an email.

If you do reach the person directly, use the scenario below:

Hi. This is (your name) and I interviewed with you for the position of (job title) on (date).
 
I wanted to reiterate that I’m very interested in the job, and I wondered: Are you close to making a decision yet?
 
[If no: I wanted to be sure you had all the information you needed from me. Is there anything else I can provide you with to help you make your decision?]
​
[If yes: That’s great. Am I still being considered?
 
Do you have a timetable for when you expect to make the decision? What is the next step?
[If the answer is “I don’t know” or you are given a future date, ask if you can follow-up.]
 
When would be an appropriate time for me to check back with you? I’m excited about this opportunity, but I know these things take time.
 
[Hiring manager may give a specific time or may be noncommittal.]
 
Thanks again for the opportunity to be considered for this job.
 
HOW IT MIGHT SOUND:
You: Hi. This is Jim Jones, and I interviewed with you for the position of Business Analyst on the 28th. I wanted to let you know I’m still very interested in this job, and I wondered if you are close to making a decision yet.
 
Hiring Manager: I’m sorry, I’ve been swamped and haven’t had time to schedule the next round of interviews.
 
You: No problem. Am I still being considered for the job? And if so, is there anything else I can provide you with to help you make your decision?
 
Hiring Manager: No, I think I have everything I need.
 
You: Great. When would be an appropriate time for me to check back in with you? I’m excited about this opportunity, but I know these things take time.
 
Hiring Manager: Maybe in a week or two?
 
You: Thank you, I’ll check back in on the 17th then. Thanks again for the opportunity to be considered for this job.

Aside from all the details, it is important to know WHEN to follow up after interview. Follow up in the right time frame and outshine your competition this way.