(Image credit: New York Times)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, January 11 (game #679).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #680) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Appeal to a hire power

NYT Strands today (game #680) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• TIME
• TRACE
• PRINT
• WARD
• EXPECT
• CREAM

NYT Strands today (game #680) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #680) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 1st row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #680) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #680, are…

• NAME
• AWARDS
• SKILLS
• CONTACT
• EXPERIENCE
• EDUCATION
• SPANGRAM: RESUME

---

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

---

It took me three game words before I finally got today’s punned theme. 

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

I’m blaming the fact that I spent a year sending round my RESUME when I was out of work and I’ve shut all these headings out of my head – along with time spent in the LinkedIn hellscape. As an example: given a four-word hint I tapped out 'mean', instead of NAME.

Once I did finally understand the task at hand I labored my way around the board. Frankly, it’s no wonder I took so long to “appeal to a hire power”.

---

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, January 11, game #679)

• WHOOPEE
• HUZZAH
• BOOYAH
• HOORAY
• YIPPEE
• AWESOME
• SPANGRAM: THATSGREAT

---

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna's addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.