Letter from the Internet #7
My casually curated collection of neat things from around the internet. Fridays at π o’clock.
For a bit of fun: Man forks (SFW). Related: I gave a fascinating speech on the history of forks during my Toastmasters training. Candidly, I rocked it.
A compelling visual story: What happened to us? What happened to the “we”? Without knowing what n-grams are or ratios, the chart below tells a story that’s immediately accessible: we used to use the word “we” much more than “I.”
Work in Progress: I’m working on a free “Data Office Hours” program, launching this quarter. Advice given, questions answered, and ideas explored.
Someone wrote something interesting: The physics of clapping.
A podcast I enjoyed: “All he had was a scalpel and a goat.” Cautionary Tales is an excellent series on engineering, political, business, and social failures and what we can learn from them. This episode, though, about the placebo effect, is hilarious.
What I’m reading: The Upswing, prompted by the chart above.
This week, I’m grateful for: health insurance. When it works, it’s fantastic. I’m abundantly aware of the good fortune I enjoy, not just having it but also being able to find care and afford to access it.
Job Hunt Guide
Job hunting is challenging. Each week, I’ll provide a couple of helpful references. It’s a new year, and 2025 is shaping up to be somewhat better than 2024.
Last week, I talked about "Friend of a Friend." It’s an excellent method to expand your network by connecting with former acquaintances or colleagues. You’ll likely connect with them on LinkedIn.
You want a compelling, short LinkedIn note or email with a seamless call to action. There are three critical elements:
Tell them the purpose of the outreach in your first line. Example: “Wanted to reach out as part of my job search.”
Tell them the purpose of your outreach in the second. Example: “I’d love to update you on what I’ve been up to.”
Make it easy for them to meet you. “I’m happy to find time on your calendar or, if it’s more convenient for you, here’s mine.” All they have to do is click.
This is not a social email. If you’re using LinkedIn, it’s for business - in this case, the business of you getting a new role. People will appreciate your brevity and will be likelier to act if you make it easy. Check out this article I wrote last year on “good versus bad” outreach messages. (It’s also quite bad writing. I’ve been working on that).
So, your to-dos:
The logistics: calendar and invitation management
Create 30-minute meetings. Don’t forget to include Zoom or Google Meet links
Connect it to your calendar
Create a short note template similar to what I suggested. Ask Claude or ChatGPT to make it as brief as possible. Here’s an example, together with Claude’s feedback.
Alistair Cooke was a beautifully polished writer whose column, Letter from America, was a cornerstone of my weekends. He was a master of his craft and wrote for over 60 years until he was 95.
Comments & Feedback
What do you think? Where am I wrong? Informed debate can be a beautiful learning process. I'd love to hear from you. Here's my calendar.