Have you considered practicing not stammering? I don't think it'll be easy, but it sounds like the obvious course of action.
Ask HN: What should I do?
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Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#12Have you considered practicing not stammering? I don't think it'll be easy, but it sounds like the obvious course of action.
I think that's what he's been practically doing all his life, or since whenever the stammer started... Of course professional help may improve some, so if he doesn't have that already he could apply for it, but it's not as easy as "practicing not to stammer".
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#131) Yes, you are vastly underpaid. (Unless it's 3 years with FrontPage Pro!)
2) Apply for big companies / public sector. They have massive HR departments who will send you an equal opportunities form. Disclose your disability and ask for support during the interview. That should help them prepare for you - they will also have the budget to support you if you do get the job and require extra help.
3) Build a portfolio. If your CV and Portfolio are good, then your interview is basically "can we work with this person." If people are sufficiently impressed with your work, it won't matter whether you stammer, have dreadful BO, and have a hobby of murdering kittens on the weekend.
4) Speak to your GP and see if you can get help. Speech therapy isn't perfect, but it can help.
Good luck!
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#14Wow, off topic I know but this is the kind of question and responses that give me faith in HN (and online communities in general) being a useful resource for people to participate in. This is a real world problem of someone who has had the courage to ask for help and they're receiving some decent responses and encouragement. My only words are yes I would say you are underpaid and I'm sure there's a better job out there for you so good luck with the job hunting.
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#15You're getting screwed at £15k, I've never been paid that little for developing web.
For reference, my salary history over my 6+ year career is as follows:
£20k->£26k->£45k->£450-£600/day
Note that I am a totally average developer, nowhere near as smart or knowledgable as a lot of the guys here on HN. I have a CS degree, barely (I got a 3rd), so that helped at the beginning, but most of my luck has been thanks to an extremely welcoming market.
If you have three years experience, you should be clearing £42k, if not £45k. I don't know much about speech impediments and how easy/hard they are to fix, but in this market, trust me, you can achieve £42k+ for fizzbuzz and a pulse.
EDIT: Modified figures in last paragraph on account of OP having three years of experience.
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#16Drop me a mail if you're interested in working on visionary products.
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#17Yes, underpaid (massivly).
Firstly are you sure the companies are not employing you because of your stammer? Just checking your not going to interviews and putting your feet upon the table etc (thats not going to get you a job).
To be honest many companies I have worked in have had a range of people and abilities but at the end of the day what got you the job was your ability to turn out code.
The best thing to do is apply for positions and arrange the interview, at this point let the interviewer know about your stammer.
More importantly if they know in advanced then they will be prepared. Let them know what can be done to make the situation easier for you and for them (i can guarentee they too will be feeling very awkward).
What will also help during the interview is to tell them how best to help you manage your stammer.
A friend of mine can speak a lot better down the phone than face to face so at his work place his boss uses the interval phone system or instant chat to work with him.
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#18You may be entitled to protection by disability laws ( http://www.stammeringlaw.org.uk/disability/disab.htm ) that will help you gain a raise or new employment.
Thanks for the link, I will take a look
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#191) Yes, you are vastly underpaid. (Unless it's 3 years with FrontPage Pro!) 2) Apply for big companies / public sector. They have massive HR departments who will send you an equal opportunities form. Disclose your disability and ask for support during the interview. That should help them prepare for you - they will also have the budget to support you if you do get the job and require extra help. 3) Build a portfolio.…
Thanks for your help. I hadn't thought about applying for bigger companies and disclosing, that should help and put me more at ease.
I have a personal website and github account which should show what I can do too.
Re: Ask HN: What should I do?
#20You are a programmer. You can make value by wiggling your fingers. (Stammering is just fine!) The solution: Build a micro product, turn it into a freedom business, and fire your boss. http://fourhourworkweek.com http://lifestylebusinesspodcast.com http://startupbook.net Fwiw, self-help products can be gold mines. You might try to develop a product to help other people with stammering, I have paid for "quit nailbiting…
Did the nailbiting thing work?