I like it though. Right now it’s uncluttered and innovative, but I can see the potential for it becoming kitschy.

Congratulations on your new job, Jason! I’ve never heard of 37signals before, but now – thanks to you and Yan, I have. That’s marketing. If I pass this along to someone else – this is good marketing. If I start exploring your site – this is great marketing! :) If I buy anything from it – this is the right marketing.

You’re right that the days of the résumé and cover letter are over. When I first sent my pitch to 37signals the job was publicly available and I had to find a way to stand out from what I later found out was over 500 applicants. Maybe you won’t always face those odds, but you should always think about how you can stand out and show them your strengths. I knew that lots of people have the skills for the job, but I wanted to show me — my personality, how I think, how I work. I think that was the difference.

But don’t kid yourself – the job you target should be the right fit for your skills and personality. I’ve admired the work, philosophy, and people at 37signals for a long time so the biggest appeal for me was joining a company where I would find like minds in personality and work ethic, where I be in an environment to do my best work.

When targeting a job, look for those things over salary, perks, or notability.

And be patient. Especially with a company like 37signals that only rarely adds new people. I first spoke with them about a job almost a year ago. But the timing and fit weren’t quite right. I could have given up, but I kept the conversation open, and continued to look for ways to demonstrate my interest in the position and what I offered as a candidate.

It was a lot of work, but I think that getting something you truly want always is.