The online presence of Alan Johnson
It is always helpful to have a roadmap for an unfamiliar experience. I did not, as I embarked on an intense job search. But maybe my reflection will be useful to others.
I noticed that the process has followed an arc. Much like chess, it has a distinct opening, middlegame, and endgame. Each of these phases has a very different feel, and has required me to optimize in different ways.
Continue reading “Arc of a job search”
“I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.”
This is one of the big takeaways of my job search, as it nears its end. This is hard for me to acknowledge, as someone who can get along with nearly anyone and with a track record that highlights my versatility.
I don’t mean this in terms of getting along with interviewers. I mean in terms of people’s vision for the role they’re hiring for and whether I’m a high confidence match.
But I think that’s OK.
Continue reading “Rejection is a gift”
The reports of the its death are greatly exaggerated. While many jobs don’t require a cover letter anymore, or even give me an optional place to submit one, that doesn’t mean that I can’t or shouldn’t write cover letters. Especially if I take a broader, more modern view of what a cover letter is.
It is best not to think of a cover letter just as a discrete document, as it was in the old days. I remember the cover letter becoming a formality: required and written, but rarely read. The modern cover letter is the full body of writing I produce to pitch myself for a job. I give this a lot of careful thought. My communication skills may be what helps me stand out in the crowd.
Continue reading “The cover letter lives”
Never Down, Always Up 