Jon Sachs
Shopify Hiring Manager(SHM): So, who are you again?
Jon Sachs(JS): I’m Jonathan Sachs. I just turned 26, and have been in Ottawa for nearly two years after finishing my Master’s degree 2009. My background is in health policy and knowledge translation, which is focused on the best ways to encourage policymakers and decision-makers to consult research evidence.
SHM: Hm, okay, well this does seems like a bit of a departure for you, no?
JS: Yes and no. The content area would definitely be something new for me, though I do have a significant interest in exploring how healthcare and health policy interact with the internet and social media. However, after hearing Liz describe her job (and reading the job description), I see a ton of overlap with my current position. Typically, at research foundations, evaluation is a bureaucratic process that receives little to no interest from staff. It’s seen as a burden. Since I started at the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) in 2010, I’ve helped to completely overhaul the system and make it useful and effective. I did this by building relationships with staff, being responsive and fixing issues when they arose, and by taking the initiative to listen to their needs and improve our processes to be more effective.
SHM: You sound like a bit of a nerd. Do you have a creative side?
JS: Yes! I have pet interest in filmmaking. In 2005, I made a 50-minute documentary about a volunteer trip I took to Rio de Janeiro. It’s on YouTube (though, at the time clip length was limited so its in 6 parts!).
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX-_iuXPJpM
I also read many articles about innovation in technology, e-commerce, and social media, but love thinking about how these ideas can be utilized in academia and the public policy world, two areas that traditionally change at a glacial pace. I’d love to investigate business development opportunities for Shopify in those fields.
SHM: Okay, well that’s a start. What about online shopping? Coding?
JS: Hm….well I’ve purchased many things online from Amazon, Etsy and eBay, but set up a store through Shopify’s free trial just for my application (see https://jonsachsyournewhire.myshopify.com/ ) Also, I’ve started a project at work that uses Google Analytics and have just been playing around with the stats, which has been a surprising amount of fun!
SHM: Wow, sounds pretty good. Are you available for an interview?
JS: Definitely. I’d be happy to chat with you in person after December 10th, as I am away on vacation for the next two weeks (to New Zealand!)
SHM: Thanks. In retrospect, this whole third-person dialogue cover letter was pretty cheesy, don’t you think.
JS: Agreed. I promise to never do it again.