Computing how do you use technology in everyday life?

[alasdairm]

i've been thinking about this a bit recently.

i've worked in tech for my entire career so i suppose i have a techier than average household. i have home internet through a local cable provider - i pay for 400mbps but typically get just over 500 which is plenty fast for most of what i do.

i have a wifi 6 router with a bunch of connected devices:

• 2 desktop pcs running windows 11 (one is my main machine for personal stuff, the second i use to test apps and hardware, etc.)
• 2 macbook pros (mostly use my main macbook pro when travelling. the other for backup)
• xbox one s (mostly used for media - youtube tv, youtube and plex. i also game a little)
• nas (a pretty low-end wd mycloud ex with 12tb. it runs my plex server)
• brother printer and scanner (it's a cheap mfc-l2710dw which i have had for about 9 years and it's been rock solid)

everything is connected to the network and the pcs and macbooks all have file sharing set up for moving stuff between machines.

i'm currently job hunting and i have a bunch of sites i use to find opportunities. i track all my tuned resumes, cover letters, application answers, etc. in a folder on my desktop. i track progress in a google sheet. when i find an opportunity to apply for, i run a simple windows script to create a new folder to keep the relevant docs and copy over templates ready to use. it's just this:

d:
cd \Libraries\Documents\jobhunt
md %1

cd \Libraries\Documents\jobhunt\resume
copy "Alasdair Manson resume (template).docx" \Libraries\Documents\jobhunt\%1
copy "Alasdair Manson resume (template).pdf" \Libraries\Documents\jobhunt\%1
copy "Alasdair Manson cover letter (template).docx" \Libraries\Documents\jobhunt\%1

cd \Libraries\Documents\jobhunt\%1
ren "Alasdair Manson resume (template).docx" "Alasdair Manson resume.docx"
ren "Alasdair Manson resume (template).pdf" "Alasdair Manson resume.pdf"

so i run that for each job and then i'm ready to tune the resume and write a cover letter.

i have another script that opens up gmail and google drive ready for tracking. i use 2 different accounts (don't ask ) so i run this in PowerShell to open the correct gmail inbox and tracking sheet:

$chromePath = "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
$sheetURL = "[url of my tracking sheet]"
$folderPath = "D:\Libraries\Documents\jobhunt"
Start-Process $chromePath "--new-window `"$sheetURL`""
Start-Sleep -Seconds 2
Start-Process $chromePath "--new-window `"https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/`""
Start-Process explorer.exe $folderPath

when i first started job hunting, and i was creating my process, copying templates, and opening tracking pages, etc. took me a couple of minutes. now it's about 10 seconds

finally, i use claude to tune my resume (based on my template) and draft a cover letter based on the job description. the prompt has evolved quite a bit - here it is:

Context: I’ve attached a Job Description and my Resume.

Task: Please "tune" my resume for ATS optimization and write a short, compelling cover letter (<200 words) for this role.

The Strategy:
1. Tone: Professional but familiar. Write as if I’m speaking to a friend of a friend who works there. Authentic, confident, and warm. Avoid stiff corporate-speak and banned AI buzzwords/phrases (e.g., "passionate," "delighted," "dynamic," "testament to," "seasoned professional," "proven track record").

2. Resume Focus (ATS & Impact):
- Update the Professional Summary (<200 words) to seamlessly integrate the core hard skills and keywords from the job description without sacrificing a natural, human voice.
- Tune the [company B] and [company V] roles (max 6 bullets each), ensuring, if possible, every bullet focuses on a quantifiable impact, problem solved, or metric achieved rather than just listing tasks. Use the Action + Problem + Result formula where possible.
- Mandatory Line: In the Professional Summary, include as the final line of the section: "Remote work is second nature to me - I've been doing it successfully for over a decade across different time zones and company cultures."

3. Cover Letter Framework (The Fix for "Flatness"):
Do not just summarize my resume. Instead, use this three-part micro-narrative:
- The Hook: Start with a strong, unconventional first sentence that connects my background directly to a major challenge this specific role solves. Avoid generic openings like "I am writing to express my interest." Instead, start directly with an observation about the industry, the role's primary challenge, or a core professional philosophy.
- The Proof: Highlight one specific "win" or approach from my [company B] or [company V] experience that proves I can handle their specific environment.
- The Close: A brief, high-energy wrap-up expressing genuine interest in how they operate.
- Mandatory lines: End the cover letter exactly with these two lines:
"I would love the opportunity to discuss further.
Thank you for the consideration."

4. The "No-Repeat" Rule: Do not reuse phrases or exact descriptors between the Summary, the job bullets, or the cover letter. Each section must use unique phrasing.

Output: Just provide the formatted text. Do not include any conversational intro or outro text (e.g., "Sure, here is your tuned resume"). Start directly with the updated Resume text.

From now on, when I say "do the usual," please apply these exact constraints to the files I provide.

what technology are you using day to day to make things better, easier, etc.?

alasdair