Jump The Line

While it’s not an absolute guarantee, there are a few ways to get my attention when applying for an open role for which I’m responsible.

First, read the job description and the minimum requirements. If you don’t meet them but want to take a chance anyways, don’t shy away from where you fall short. Address any gaps head-on in your cover letter and how you can mitigate.

Speaking of a cover letter, you should absolutely write one. Yes, actual you, not an LLM. I value engineers who can communicate effectively, especially in writing, given the realities of remote work. This isn’t about nitpicking spelling or grammar (though in 2024 there’s little excuse for stumbles here, given the tooling available), nor is it about quantity. It’s about concisely communicating what you value in a job and what excites you about the role enough to apply.

When describing what you value, show don’t tell. I love to see an example of work you’re proud of in a cover letter, because the way you discuss what’s important really matters: are you enamored with technology as an end in itself, or do you value impact on a customer? And what kind of impact do you value?

Finally, be sure to follow the instructions in the application process. Employers may have specific reasons for their requests; deviation does you no favors. For example, RIPL asks for an email to a specific address that goes to a shared inbox. If you send your info directly to an individual it might be missed. And if you DM me in LinkedIn instead, well, I get a lot of DMs, so don’t expect a response.