Hey Recruiters! Read this First!

This slide deck will reveal the secret code to make sure I see your e-mail!

Transcript

1. Hi, Recruiters! Read this first!
2. I Get Lots of Recruiter Email 📥 • Most of it comes from algorithms matching buzzwords • Often recruiters don’t even read my profile • This generates a lot of recruiter noise • Noise makes it harder to notice the positions that sound interesting
3. Set Yourself Apart! • All of my LinkedIn email goes directly into the trash via filters… • …unless the subject contains a very specific phrase. • This slide deck will tell you the phrase! • All you have to do is read it!
4. Good Matches 👍 I am most interested in the following kinds of positions: • JVM Work ◦ Most of my expertise is in JVM languages like Java, Scala, and Groovy ◦ I’m happy to work with Python, Go, Ruby, or other languages but not if it’s 100% of my day • Senior/Leadership Positions ◦ I’m an industry veteran, I prefer roles with some mentoring or team leading responsibilities ◦ I do not have direct people management experience, I prefer IC work • Remote Work ◦ I’ve been doing the work-from-home thing since 2011, it’s my preferred work environment ◦ Hybrid approaches are acceptable but less enticing, I prefer 5 days a week in my home office
5. Bad Matches 👎 I will not even consider these kinds of positions: • Relocation Requirement ◦ I live in Colorado and I’m not willing to move • Contract or Contract-to-Hire ◦ Full-Time positions only, I like to feel like a part of the organization • Exploitative Industries ◦ Nothing in fintech, crypto, or gambling. ◦ That includes gaming that relies on gambling mechanics
6. Bonus Points! 🤩 Though not hard requirements, I consider the following particularly interesting: • Companies with a widely recognizable name ◦ I really like working on products that everyday people use ◦ Major bonus if I myself am a user of the product(s) • Publicly-held companies ◦ I prefer liquidity in equity-based compensation ◦ Smaller startups tend to be too chaotic/immature for my taste • Direct revenue models ◦ Ads are common revenue sources, but products that users pay for are extra cool ◦ The less your users are tracked, the better
7. Compensation 💸 Don’t bother asking, I won’t disclose my current compensation • If you want to talk money, give me a range for the position • Try to talk “total comp” if possible, base salary alone is only part of the picture • I look at the whole package of compensation when considering a new position including salary, bonuses, equity, benefits, paid leave, retirement, assistance programs, perks, and career opportunities. • Happy to discuss compensation later in the process
8. Still A Good Fit? 󰱹 If you still want to contact me after reading all that, feel free to reach out: • Put “Alan Turing is my Homeboy” in the subject of your email • This will bypass my filter that will otherwise dump it in the trash • Yes, I’m serious ◦ I’ve been doing this for years and it’s extremely effective ◦ Emails that include this are vastly more likely to be good matches ◦ If you do this but send a position so poor of a fit that it’s clear you skipped to the last slide, you will be blocked permanently. • Thank you!