Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#11

Post by lumost » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:29 PM UTC

giantg2 wrote: post #6

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Other than that, your side project will be seen as a hobby and not an achievement, and will be disregarded. I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers. They’re supposed to be hobby projects that demonstrate the developer’s abilities as well as their commitment to following through on projects. The OP’s projects are perfect for listing as completed side projects on a Senior Engineer res…

"I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers. They’re supposed to be hobby projects that demonstrate the developer’s abilities as well as their commitment to following through on projects." Most managers at my company view side projects positively. One of the main reasons is that it shows the person has a creative mind and is at least a little passionate about technology/coding and learni…

aye - I don't list inactive projects, but some hobbies/side projects provide a small sense of what kind of person you are like and what it will be to work with you.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#12

Post by TameAntelope » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:30 PM UTC

I've been hiring a couple of senior positions, and so far the most appropriate way I've seen side projects highlighted is with a link to the applicant's GitHub.

Honestly, finding a well maintained and substantive project in a person's GitHub would impress me, and that candidate would certainly stand out. So often people link their GitHub accounts, but when I visit, I only see toy projects and book exercises.

As part of my hiring process I've been giving out a simple take home coding challenge, but I offer to instead review a project you've already been working on if that's your preference, because I feel bad making people do work for a job they don't even have yet (I haven't been able to convince my boss to let me pay people for their time on the take home challenge yet).

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#13

Post by giantg2 » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:34 PM UTC

lumost wrote: post #11

giantg2 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers. They’re supposed to be hobby projects that demonstrate the developer’s abilities as well as their commitment to following through on projects." Most managers at my company view side projects positively. One of the main reasons is that it shows the person has a creative mind and is at least a little passionate about technology/coding and learni…

aye - I don't list inactive projects, but some hobbies/side projects provide a small sense of what kind of person you are like and what it will be to work with you.

I wonder how I would fair in your evaluation of what I'm like if I have Android apps for ballistic energy calculations and a calculator for determining the alcohol needed for a party.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#14

Post by jacob_rezi » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

As echoed from others, if the project is relevant and communicated in a way that brings value. Page space is an important consideration too.

We've been working hard to build a library of the best engineering resumes we've seen - you can get an idea for best practices here - https://www.rezi.ai/resume-templates?search=developer&resume...

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#15

Post by presidentender » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:40 PM UTC

Historically when interviewing candidates I put more weight on side projects the shorter the resume was. A brand new college grad who made an impressive-looking portfolio web site got extra consideration.

But interviewers are still human beings, and so a link to a visually impressive, interactive and accessible side project will probably get you some credit. My favorites were multi-player games.

If the side project makes money, that's a whole 'nother consideration. Everyone is likely to be impressed.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#16

Post by bryanrasmussen » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:44 PM UTC

I think the takeaway was actually Roger Sterling was mistaken there, and it later came back to bite him.

At any rate one question I have had in the last few years (maybe due to age) is how do you keep up on latest technologies - I then have side projects and articles I can point to as a way to learn new things.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#17

Post by victorvscn » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:45 PM UTC

giantg2 wrote: post #6

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Other than that, your side project will be seen as a hobby and not an achievement, and will be disregarded. I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers. They’re supposed to be hobby projects that demonstrate the developer’s abilities as well as their commitment to following through on projects. The OP’s projects are perfect for listing as completed side projects on a Senior Engineer res…

"I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers. They’re supposed to be hobby projects that demonstrate the developer’s abilities as well as their commitment to following through on projects." Most managers at my company view side projects positively. One of the main reasons is that it shows the person has a creative mind and is at least a little passionate about technology/coding and learni…

I'm not even an engineer but I have some HR training as a Psychologist and this resonates with me.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#18

Post by incrudible » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:45 PM UTC

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #4

xcambar wrote: post #3

You want your side projects to help you get the job. They must demonstrate as achievements instead of hobbies. For this reason, I'd default to no, don't list side projects, unless you make it a strong argument for the position you're applying to. Are you a major contributor to a tech used in company? Have you written a book about it? Did you grow a community? Have you reached significant traction or revenue? Any yes…

> Other than that, your side project will be seen as a hobby and not an achievement, and will be disregarded. I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers. They’re supposed to be hobby projects that demonstrate the developer’s abilities as well as their commitment to following through on projects. The OP’s projects are perfect for listing as completed side projects on a Senior Engineer res…

> I think you’ve misunderstood the purpose of a side project for engineers.

Perhaps, but you have to assume that many of those who are hiring will do exactly that. That's the meta-game.

There's a basket of opinions in this thread and they are all valid and informative, even if they are mistaken.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#19

Post by relaunched » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:51 PM UTC

There are two plays you can make by listing a side project. For example, if the project is in some way commensurate to the role. For example, if you are applying for a VP of engineering job at a large technology company and your side project is co-author and commit rights to a major open source project, say Python or a well known and use library and you're actively involved.

Or, if it's on the resume to demonstrate you're still actively hands on and you believe that is valuable to the role.

However, if you wouldn't talk about it in an interview, don't put it on your resume. If it wouldn't help you get the job, I wouldn't talk about it in the interview.

Re: Ask HN: for senior positions is it advisable to list side projects on your CV?

#20

Post by lumost » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 1:53 PM UTC

giantg2 wrote: post #13

lumost wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

aye - I don't list inactive projects, but some hobbies/side projects provide a small sense of what kind of person you are like and what it will be to work with you.

I wonder how I would fair in your evaluation of what I'm like if I have Android apps for ballistic energy calculations and a calculator for determining the alcohol needed for a party.

This isn't part of the evaluation, but it's a useful item to include for conversation starters. Whether these are useful conversation starters in a particular company is up to your judgement.

If you are interviewing for an Alcohol friendly company then the calculator might be a fun side project that shows you know Android development. Raytheon would probably love the ballistic energy calculator. If your interviewing with the quaker church then both items will probably have you rejected for culture fit.