Living in two worlds can require a lot of explaining. When poets and poetry aficionados ask me what I do for a living, I usually just say, “technology.” Often, that one word is enough to make them change the subject. Most people don’t want to know the details once I utter the t-word. You’d think I worked in a slaughterhouse.
But even for the tech-savvy, an elevator pitch or traditional resume doesn’t really begin to tell the full story of what I do. That’s why, when I discovered VisualCV through Guy Kawasaki’s blog some months ago, it seemed like the perfect way to explain what I do, in a more rich and compelling way, to technologists and poets alike. I added screenshots of websites, narratives with hyperlinks, technical articles, and video to my VisualCV page using their super-easy, web-based interface. Then, I posted a link to my VisualCV page in the community forums, thus entering myself in to the VisualCV best resume contest.
A few weeks later, I got notice that I made the finals. My wife, Valerie, whose career story is equally complex and compelling, actually did as well. They generously issued Amazon gift certificates to both of us. I used mine to buy books for my final semester of the MFA. Then, a few weeks later, during my fourth MFA residency, I got notice that I won one of the grand prizes for best resume. How cool is that? My prize, an 8GB iPod Touch, arrived yesterday. It’s basically all the fun of an iPhone without those annoying cell phone features. I have nicknamed it the iFaux. Say it fast, while holding it up to your ear, and nobody will know the difference.
Big thanks to VisualCV for both a great application and a fun new toy.
12 Comments
God, you are so cool, my techno-god, and congrats on winning! I wish I had one. Not that I’d make enough good use out of it, but who knows?
xo
Mich
Thanks, Michelle. Took me an hour to type this reply on the touch screen keyboard.
How cool!
Thanks, Greg. Getting faster with this touchscreen. Light touch.
I thought the point of a resume was to ultimately win a dream job not to win a mere toy to distract you from writing poetry describing the unmitigated barren ugliness of existence. [squints, adjusts beret]
Here, in Marseilles, we have no use for such things.
Mssr. Le Sid,
Toys are fun. So is VisualCV. After you pass the bar, I will explain to you this thing we call “fun.” You might enjoy it.
P,
R
congratulations Robert. Who knew a resume could turn around to that end so directly.
Thanks, Pearl. Funnily enough, I don’t think I’ve ever used one to get a job. Just an iPod.
hey robert! congrats on the cv and the awards/prize. my daughter just gifted me with an itouch 16gb and i love it. i agree re the no interrupting phone calls. it’s just a tiny little computer with lots of amazing tunes/videos/my outlook stuff and space to do writing… sure does make long plane trips more pleasant. your cv is too much. massively coolio dude! xo
Hey Shar — good to see you! Isn’t the iPod Touch great? I’m already scheming about how to rig up an external battery pack so I can use it all through our next long-haul flight.
great idea! let me know what you come up with. i’ve started carrying this thing with me everywhere i go — even w/o the headphones — for connectivity. haven’t done the audioboks yet, but i sure do love the music and videos etc.
Hey Shar,
Me too! It just fits next to my wallet, and is slim enough that I can carry it in my pocket everywhere that I carry my wallet (i.e. everywhere). Regarding battery packs, this one looks quite good:
http://www.boxwave.com/products/batteryadapter/
Hope all is well with you!
Best,
Robert