Dear Recruiter,

Thanks for being a great recruiter and reading this — kudos to you!

I know your job is tough, and I have mad respect for those who’ve hung in there as a recruiter for many years.

This is a FAQ page I created for recruiters like you. It’s meant to replace that first phone call you’ll want to have with me. That way, we can have a head start for our first meeting.

Let’s start with a quick intro to who I am.

Who Am I?

My name is Luis Vazquez and I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I’ve been a Software Engineer and Consultant for the last 12 years specializing in custom software, custom integrations, and ETL pipelines.

This has made me a generalist. I pick up new technologies and programming languages quickly and apply good programming principles regardless of the tech stack.

Also, I have a bit more wisdom hairs in my beard nowadays, but beside that, I pretty much look the same, this is me:

Why Am I Looking for a Gig?

It’s a spiritual thing. I sense my professional season is changing.

My curiosity about AI and the role it eventually will play in everyday life sometimes keeps me awake at night — in a good way!

There’s so much to learn. I believe if I work for a company with a solid vision, then I can contribute value to something meaningful while evolving alongside people who are embracing this new AI-driven future.

What Skills Can You Sell to Your Client?

Below are skill and keywords that you’re probably looking for:

  • Architecting and managing scalable systems — Azure micro services, Azure Functions, Azure Durable Functions, ETL Pipelines
  • Backend development and API Design — C# / ASP.NET Web API, Python
  • Database & cache design and development — Azure Database, MSSQL, MySQL, Redis
  • Frontend development — React, Angular, Typescript
  • DevOps — Docker, GitHub Actions

Note: Please refer to my resume for more specific details on past projects and work I’ve done.

What Sets Me Apart From Other Engineers?

Besides the fact that I’m probably the only software engineer you’ll recruit who was a professional and competitive breakdancer… more on that later along with proof…

Below are 5 things that set me apart based on feedback from past clients, coworkers, and contractors (happy to provide reference after an offer is extended):

  1. Excellent Communicator & Storyteller — I’ve spoken at conferences, I’ve written a newsletter, produced a podcast, and also wrote, directed and narrated in a mini docuseries. Here’s a top performing article (3k+ visits per month) I wrote many years go. Here are some more recent newsletters I’ve written to my email list.
  2. First Principle Thinker — Since I didn’t go to a university, I’m good at questioning assumptions, which often helps bring clarity in any given project.
  3. Holistic Engineer — I can handle end-to-end solutions (ideation to deployment) and project leadership — even selling!
  4. Generalist — I’m not married to any tech stack. I believe in using what makes sense to not only finish a project but to also make it maintainable and scalable.
  5. Low-Maintenance — I take ownership of my work, run with whatever ball is given to me, and am always ready to support whatever I’ve developed.

Alright, as promised, back to the breakdancing — my apologies for the poor representation at the most recent Olympics, it was a shock to use all, lol.

Here’s the proof  I promised you (click to play video):

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Luis Vazquez (Goya) (@luiscreates)

Imagine what holiday parties are like with me around 😎

Okay, enough dancing around and let’s get back to business!

What’s My Ideal Job Setup?

  • I prefer C2C / W-9, but am also open to W-2 (with competitive benefits and comp).
  • Remote is my preference, but I’m also open to hybrid or onsite if the company is right.
  • Open to relocation.

What’s the Minimum Compensation for Me?

Ah, and now the part you’re probably most interested in 😏 lol.

Milwaukee (local baseline)

  • $75+/hr (C2c or W-9)
  • $145k+ for base salary (W-2)

Other Locations

  • Please use Milwaukee’s cost of living as a baseline to calculate the equivalent in another area.

What’s Next?

If you still believe I’d be a good fit for the role(s) you’re recruiting for, then let’s move onto next steps. We can hop on a phone call, or you can send me the information via email (most likely how we first connected).

I’ll send you a Calendly link with my availability.

Also, if you have any feedback, it would be much appreciated — it could be about this page you’re reading now, my resume, or whatever really. All feedback is a gift and I’m thankful for any and all of it.

Thanks,
Luis

PS — Here’s a downloadable one-pager you can use for future reference. Also, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if we haven’t already.