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- šļø The Art of No-Guilt OOO
šļø The Art of No-Guilt OOO
Also: Upskilling with AI, the sandwich squeeze + more workforce tidbits...
Hey, Career Builders! š If your out-of-office reply still leads to "just one quick question," are you really out of the office? This time, we're mastering the art of the hard off-grid OOOābecause vacations deserve fewer pings and more peace.
On the agenda:
šļø No-guilt OOO
š¤ Interview cheat sheet
šØāš» Upskill with AI
š„Ŗ The sandwich squeeze
 | ā WEEKLY GOODY |
ā IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Master the Art of the Guilt-Free OOO
Taking PTO should feel refreshingānot stressful. Yet a 2025 study of 860 U.S. employees found that 1 in 5 workers experience vacation guilt, causing many to shorten trips or hesitate to fully disconnect from work, with fear of returning to overflowing inboxes keeping vacations from feeling like true breaks.
A good out-of-office (OOO) message is just the beginning. The real secret is making yourself truly unnecessary for a few days. (Your inbox can survive without youātrust us.)
Here's how to unplug without creating chaos:
š Start preparing early. Wrap up priority work and let teammates know what's coming before you log out for your holiday.
š¤ Assign a go-to person. Give colleagues one clear contact for important issues that canāt wait instead of routing everything back to you.
š Leave a simple handoff. A one-page summary of deadlines, project status, and key contacts saves everyone time.
š« Set expectations. Your OOO should say when you'll return and who can helpānot hint that you're secretly checking emails.
š“ Stay off-grid. Unless it's a genuine emergency, resist "just a quick reply." The more consistently you disconnect, the more your team learns to operate without relying on you.
Your best vacations as a pro will not be measured by how quick you answer emailsāthey're measured by how refreshed you feel when you return.
ā TOGETHER WITH - iSpring
Keep AI in the course creation workflow without leaving the driverās seat
Join iSpringās webinar on Tuesday, August 18, with Frank Bergdoll, AI Project Lead at SAIT and the author of Learning with AI.
Explore how course designers can use AI to support development without giving up the judgment, context, and creativity behind authentic learning. See how Frank brings this approach to life with iSpring.
ā TODAYāS TASK
Build Your Brag List š ā Write down three accomplishments from this summer while they're fresh. They'll come in handy at review time.
ā THE CAREER SIGNAL
āEntry-level expectations are rising.ā
AI-related skills are appearing more frequently in internship and entry-level postings, even as companies reduce some junior hiring.
ā Your key takeaway: Early-career professionals should focus on building practical skills and demonstrating initiative, not just meeting minimum qualifications.
ā THE WORK PULSE - Headlines to take note of
š¤ Mentorship Gets a Major Boost ā BBBSA
Whatās unfolding: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has expanded its workplace mentoring efforts, reinforcing the growing role of mentorship in preparing people for successful careers.
Why it matters: Mentorship remains as an instrument to career growth. This is a reminder to seek out mentors inside or outside your organization and don't wait for a formal program.
š„Ŗ Younger Workers Feel the Sandwich Squeeze ā USAToday
Whatās unfolding: More younger adults are finding themselves financially supporting both children and aging parents while trying to build your savings for retirement.
Why it matters: If you're juggling multiple financial responsibilities, revisit your retirement contributions, emergency savings, and workplace benefits and make adjustments to can help reduce long-term financial strain.
š Purdue's Work-First Program Delivers ā WBIW
Whatās unfolding: Purdue University's guaranteed work experience initiative is already helping students gain hands-on experience and build career-ready skills before graduation.
Why it matters: Employers value practical experience alongside education. Look for internships, apprenticeships, stretch assignments, or volunteer projects that demonstrate real-world impactānot just credentials.
ā JOB BOARD - Trending job titles & searches
ā TOOL TO TRY
Meet the tool: Wispr Flow
What it does: Lets you dictate emails, documents, messages, and reports with AI-powered voice typing and editing.
Who should care: Executives, marketers, writers, recruiters, sales professionals, and busy knowledge workers.
Time to learn: 1-2 days.
ā CAREER PLANNING - Worth your reading
WordPress RƩsumƩ Sites for Modern Job Seekers
Your rĆ©sumĆ© tells employers what you've doneābut a personal website can show them who you are. From showcasing your portfolio and projects to improving your visibility in search results, a WordPress rĆ©sumĆ© site can help you stand out in a competitive job market.
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ā WEEKLY GOODY - Featured resource to grab
Walk Into Every Interview Ready to Impress
Nerves are normalābut scrambling for answers doesn't have to be. Our Interview Cheat Sheet helps you prepare for the questions employers ask most, organize stronger examples, and walk into every interview with more confidence and less guesswork.
Spend less time stressing and more time making a great first impression.
Download link available to email subscribers
ā SPEEDY SURVEY - Latest community poll
Which job trend are you watching most closely? |
LAST WEEKāS POLL:
 | ā REFERRAL CORNER |
ā BREAKROOM - Just to lighten up your work day
ā SMART READS - For those looking to excel further
āļø Summer Work Outfit Ideas
š» Workplace Tech Marketers Should Master
š§āš Guide to Higher Education Diplomas
š¬ Missed the previous issue on āIrreplaceable Career Shortcutā? Read it Ā»
āCreated with care by Vivienne Ravana
P.S. Maximize learning and upskilling with AI. Join iSpringās free webinar.