First and foremost, it's been a freaking while since we don't connect... GOSH!
Hope you're doing well.
Yeah, no easy path here, unfortunately. Especially when we weigh the emotional toil many carry from not hearing feedback or getting nowhere. Finding sanity under these circumstances is tougher than it should be.
But I believe there are variables we cannot control. And focusing energy into them is a waste of time... and mental health. So, under my situation, what can I control? What can I change? It becomes more intentional, and "lighter".
It really has been a while, hasn’t it? I’m glad we’re talking again, Raphael :)
I get what you mean… that emotional weight can sit pretty heavy, especially when you’re putting energy out and not sure where it’s landing. I like the way you’re trying to focus more on what you can actually control. It sounds like a kinder way to move through things, even if it doesn’t suddenly make it all easy.
I hope things have been feeling at least a little lighter on your side. It’s really good to hear from you.
The funny thing about having the experience of being a hiring manager is, sometimes you're on one side of the desk, sometimes on the other.
When I'm hiring, it doesn't matter if it's job-hiring or contract/freelance, there's one word that gives me the immediate ick: “passionate".
A close second is "obsessed”
The funny thing is, I've used both myself. And I don't believe in either.
“I’m passionate about helping teams fix their printers".
No. Fuck off.
Unless it's a super-niche position, like "gamer headset tester” or "Ultra-modern Slovakian art curator” that ties directly into a hobby or a real endorphin-releasing activity, you're not passionate about it.
You may like it. You may enjoy seeing the thing working (as I do with quirky, unusual automations). You may even recognize that you're valuable and that if that damn invoice isn't printed, the whole business stalls.
But if you say “passionate" , there's a 93,27% chance you're lying. Maybe you fit the 6,33% who aren't, but I cannot take that chance when business outcomes and money in my pocket are tied to this.
All that to say: write a nice, personal intro. Create a summary that makes me stop and say, “wait a minute, WTF is going on here?"
I was interviewing a few hours ago, and the candidate literally dropped the mix of both... passionate and obsessed... IN THE SAME SENTENCE!
I do understand the market is not great at the moment, and that the competition is kind of crazy. And this is driving people nuts. They are anxious, and they are trying to sound (stupid) great. Perfect.
I agree with you on liking your job or task... but passionate? I don't know. Maybe I'm just too cold, or too emotionally detached from my job... but yeah, I like it.... sometimes I support it... Sometimes I just turn on my survival mode and hope the day ends.
I don't feel miserable or unhappy. I mean, I don't expect my work to produce happiness. I believe this is a more mature way to look through the topic... but anyway, this is me.
Now, I disagree with you on the 93,27% and the 6,33%. Even though I value your precision, the correct numbers in 2026 is 96,38% and 4,35%. Please, do the research properly hahaha
I like that this doesn’t promise an easy way out.
It pushes the reader to look at their approach and make deliberate changes instead of just doing more.
Thank you for sharing this, Raphael :)
First and foremost, it's been a freaking while since we don't connect... GOSH!
Hope you're doing well.
Yeah, no easy path here, unfortunately. Especially when we weigh the emotional toil many carry from not hearing feedback or getting nowhere. Finding sanity under these circumstances is tougher than it should be.
But I believe there are variables we cannot control. And focusing energy into them is a waste of time... and mental health. So, under my situation, what can I control? What can I change? It becomes more intentional, and "lighter".
Great to hear from you.
It really has been a while, hasn’t it? I’m glad we’re talking again, Raphael :)
I get what you mean… that emotional weight can sit pretty heavy, especially when you’re putting energy out and not sure where it’s landing. I like the way you’re trying to focus more on what you can actually control. It sounds like a kinder way to move through things, even if it doesn’t suddenly make it all easy.
I hope things have been feeling at least a little lighter on your side. It’s really good to hear from you.
The funny thing about having the experience of being a hiring manager is, sometimes you're on one side of the desk, sometimes on the other.
When I'm hiring, it doesn't matter if it's job-hiring or contract/freelance, there's one word that gives me the immediate ick: “passionate".
A close second is "obsessed”
The funny thing is, I've used both myself. And I don't believe in either.
“I’m passionate about helping teams fix their printers".
No. Fuck off.
Unless it's a super-niche position, like "gamer headset tester” or "Ultra-modern Slovakian art curator” that ties directly into a hobby or a real endorphin-releasing activity, you're not passionate about it.
You may like it. You may enjoy seeing the thing working (as I do with quirky, unusual automations). You may even recognize that you're valuable and that if that damn invoice isn't printed, the whole business stalls.
But if you say “passionate" , there's a 93,27% chance you're lying. Maybe you fit the 6,33% who aren't, but I cannot take that chance when business outcomes and money in my pocket are tied to this.
All that to say: write a nice, personal intro. Create a summary that makes me stop and say, “wait a minute, WTF is going on here?"
I really enjoyed yours.
YES!!!!! I'm not alone on this fucking thing haha
I was interviewing a few hours ago, and the candidate literally dropped the mix of both... passionate and obsessed... IN THE SAME SENTENCE!
I do understand the market is not great at the moment, and that the competition is kind of crazy. And this is driving people nuts. They are anxious, and they are trying to sound (stupid) great. Perfect.
I agree with you on liking your job or task... but passionate? I don't know. Maybe I'm just too cold, or too emotionally detached from my job... but yeah, I like it.... sometimes I support it... Sometimes I just turn on my survival mode and hope the day ends.
I don't feel miserable or unhappy. I mean, I don't expect my work to produce happiness. I believe this is a more mature way to look through the topic... but anyway, this is me.
Now, I disagree with you on the 93,27% and the 6,33%. Even though I value your precision, the correct numbers in 2026 is 96,38% and 4,35%. Please, do the research properly hahaha
Thanks a lot for adding your insight here, mate.
> I really enjoyed yours.
Very much appreciated, sir.