It is expected that you will package the “facts” of your career. Neatly select and present a list of credentials, previous employers and responsibilities held. Remember, they say, to sound professional. Inflated job titles. Humble brag your accomplishments. No harm in posturing?
I’ve been watching this. For a long time. Tried pushing significant things that I’ve done, across to my CV. The result seems formulaic. I’m bland & wooden. I’ve avoided most self-congratulatory discussions, where everyone reinforces each other’s opinions. But the mutual stroking in this echo chamber, filter bubble a mutual admiration society is very cringe worthy?
I’m not convinced anything better. I’ve colluded with the machines, so that they can read me*. I’m not blaming them. Rather, I’ve been thinking of other ways to lift the “fog” about me. I think that Michael Sacasas would say that our connected and corporate rodolex is an example of “perception-as-interpretation”, which builds up over time. LinkedIn’s assortments of “I cans” (or affordances) offers me a frame of refence that includes a global network, work connections and greater reach. These features assist the gate keepers (HR personnel). They don’t do much for the interview or the quality of conversation with the panel. Yes, I’m connected with 500 plus people on the platform. And another 20 saw my profile last week. Knowing my history may be important for your job search. However, I don’t like how this assemblage of bio pics, profile summaries or status posts are influencing the details of what I say I do, what skills I say I’ve gained (or haven’t) and who I say I am.
So, its not LinkedIn that’s responsible for my dissonance, for me feeling cringy or out of sync. Neither am I blaming the bulleted list of “accomplishments”, arranged in chronological order, the hyping up colleagues, or posting humble brags. I’m trying to look perceptually at the world at the world unfolding around me. Asking how I am guided by the grain and contours of the world, and not only the platform itself. Reviewing the feeedback loop that draws out certain actions, and alters the way I show up. Reconsider the perceptions generated with my professional communication choices. Not bowing to the pre-set attention patterns and practices that seem to define the modern day CV.
Job Fog: Explaining work to my kids
I’m calling these posts my job fog blog. They are not very structured. Neither should they be read for promotion purposes. I’m writing for my kids, my folks, for myself. When read from a distance, you’ll probably only see a haze. But, if you know me, and have a conversation, the mist might lifts. Maybe, perhaps, a less blurred or indistinct image will be replaced by a clearer picture.
CMALT Portfolio
You want to know what’s on my mind? I’m not sure if I can tell you, really. I don’t have space for self reflection. But I can tell you what’s on my plate. And I’ve arranged this information in a manner suggested by a professional group of peers. Not a platform.
* Applicant tracking software (ATS) used keyword matching or AI parsing to vet CVS