Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#141

Post by hkmurakami » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 10:37 AM UTC

GuiA wrote: post #124

j45 wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offence, some of this is dubious and degrading advice at best. Don't mean to be mean below in deconstructing the above, only clear. Current heritage CEO of Google and Microsoft prove some things. You don't choose things like the family you're born into or the colour of your skin. It's humiliating to be treated in a way to try to cover it up like you made a mistake of choosing those things. Americanized name - If p…

A few of your remarks are solid in an ideological sense, but sadly the bulk of your comment comes across as "white dude mansplaining to an indian dude why he doesn't have to worry about racism". Racism is alive and well, and a real problem that people have to deal with. Advice like "embrace your proud geek culture and be your own person learning and pursuing the things that interest you" is generic feel good woowoo t…

10x

Especially the American name thing. You can only know the disadvantages of having a non-western name if you've actually used one. There's a reason why so many ethnic (particularly Asian, from what I understand) lawyers use American "professional names".

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#142

Post by sonirico » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 10:39 AM UTC

throw_xyz wrote: post #132

throawayname wrote: post #87

What are you willing to sacrifice? I can give you an answer, but you won't like it. As an Indian man you'll be discriminated against. Period. Lots of empirical proof for that, not just job wise but in lots of other cases (dating, etc). While folks here will give you lots of tips on the professional side, here are a few actionable things you can do to minimize racial bias: - Change your name to an americanized version…

Amen. There are very strong racial stereotypes. They also vary by who holds them. I'm a 40+ yo Russian system programmer, moved to States when I was 25, worked in a bunch of places from smaller startups to Fortune-500 shops. Here are my stereotypes: * Russians are frustrated know-it-alls with strong NIH syndrom wanting to redo everything from scratch. The language barrier often makes it hard for them to clearly expre…

Just for curiosity, I would like to hear your thoughts about western europeans ;)

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#143

Post by posterboy » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 10:48 AM UTC

catshirt wrote: post #62

alex- wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've gotten every job I've ever interviewed for I once said this to a friend. He then suggested maybe I wasn't being as ambitious as I could be in the roles I was seeking. Gave me some food for thought.

woah... woah. don't cut off that sentence. > I've gotten every job I've ever interviewed for that I really wanted. the point is not that "i get every job i interviewed for because i'm that good" -- i think the point is "i get every job i really want because the enthusiasm fuels the interview". i can say with certainty it has nothing to do with a lack of ambition. enthusiasm is the only thing i can attribute to offers…

> the point is not that "i get every job i interviewed for because i'm that good"

I'm not reading that in the quoted comment. But still

> "i get every job i really want because the enthusiasm fuels the interview".

why lead with that, to display confidence? Very well, interesting though that confidence is the argument to be made and so the presentation of the response has to agree with the argument. But that still lacks some sympathy and isn't constructive, when it's addressed at the lack of confidence (which admittedly seem obvious from posting about the issue on HN).

> nothing to do with a lack of ambition. enthusiasm is the only thing

Interesting, I'm not aware of the difference. I'd say ambition subsumes enthusiasm.

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#144

Post by dragandj » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:08 AM UTC

throw_xyz wrote: post #132

throawayname wrote: post #87

What are you willing to sacrifice? I can give you an answer, but you won't like it. As an Indian man you'll be discriminated against. Period. Lots of empirical proof for that, not just job wise but in lots of other cases (dating, etc). While folks here will give you lots of tips on the professional side, here are a few actionable things you can do to minimize racial bias: - Change your name to an americanized version…

Amen. There are very strong racial stereotypes. They also vary by who holds them. I'm a 40+ yo Russian system programmer, moved to States when I was 25, worked in a bunch of places from smaller startups to Fortune-500 shops. Here are my stereotypes: * Russians are frustrated know-it-alls with strong NIH syndrom wanting to redo everything from scratch. The language barrier often makes it hard for them to clearly expre…

Too bad you've posted from the throwaway, otherwise I'd give you an UPvote :)

Curiously, if I had to come up with stereotypical descriptions, I'd say I'd come with something similar. :)

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#145

Post by bborud » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:32 AM UTC

First question: what is the feedback from the people you have interviewed with?

Have you considered looking for jobs that aren't in product management? Do you have any other strengths you could leverage? Could you learn and develop a skill that would open up more jobs to you while at your current job (eg in your spare time)?

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#146

Post by joericky233223 » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:35 AM UTC

dragandj wrote: post #144

throw_xyz wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amen. There are very strong racial stereotypes. They also vary by who holds them. I'm a 40+ yo Russian system programmer, moved to States when I was 25, worked in a bunch of places from smaller startups to Fortune-500 shops. Here are my stereotypes: * Russians are frustrated know-it-alls with strong NIH syndrom wanting to redo everything from scratch. The language barrier often makes it hard for them to clearly expre…

Too bad you've posted from the throwaway, otherwise I'd give you an UPvote :) Curiously, if I had to come up with stereotypical descriptions, I'd say I'd come with something similar. :)

What's wrong with posting as throwaway. Probably the author of the post want to avoid racial bias over his name ?

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#147

Post by throwawaynxtday » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:38 AM UTC

sonirico wrote: post #142

throw_xyz wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amen. There are very strong racial stereotypes. They also vary by who holds them. I'm a 40+ yo Russian system programmer, moved to States when I was 25, worked in a bunch of places from smaller startups to Fortune-500 shops. Here are my stereotypes: * Russians are frustrated know-it-alls with strong NIH syndrom wanting to redo everything from scratch. The language barrier often makes it hard for them to clearly expre…

Just for curiosity, I would like to hear your thoughts about western europeans ;)

I would like to hear your thoughts on:

* Israeli jewish people

* non-Israeli (eg US) jewish people

(edit: Formatting)

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#148

Post by throwaway_374 » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:43 AM UTC

misja111 wrote: post #135

throawayname wrote: post #87

What are you willing to sacrifice? I can give you an answer, but you won't like it. As an Indian man you'll be discriminated against. Period. Lots of empirical proof for that, not just job wise but in lots of other cases (dating, etc). While folks here will give you lots of tips on the professional side, here are a few actionable things you can do to minimize racial bias: - Change your name to an americanized version…

I am not denying that discrimination is an issue in the US but I think in OP's case in doesn't look like this is his main problem. Here is why not: - OP is not hiding the fact that he his Indian. It probably shows in his name, on his CV and in his slight accent during phone interviews. Nevertheless, he has been invited for interviews and has even frequently made it to the final round. If being Indian was such an issu…

Sorry, that's overly simplistic. We don't live in the 1950s. Modern discrimination is "he doesn't really fit into the team culture" ie can't really fist bump him and have a few kegs after work bro. The fact of the matter is teams are tribalistic and often that's synonymous with racially homogenous.

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#149

Post by gaius » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:47 AM UTC

throawayname wrote: post #87

What are you willing to sacrifice? I can give you an answer, but you won't like it. As an Indian man you'll be discriminated against. Period. Lots of empirical proof for that, not just job wise but in lots of other cases (dating, etc). While folks here will give you lots of tips on the professional side, here are a few actionable things you can do to minimize racial bias: - Change your name to an americanized version…

Change your name to an americanized version. I know someone who did this. Lots of research that proves this point

That is clearly not the problem, since the OP is making it to on-site, and even being offered other roles.

Re: Ask HN: 50 job applications, 15 interviews, 7 onsites, and no offer – what next?

#150

Post by rmetzler » Sat, Mar 04, 2017, 11:48 AM UTC

dragandj wrote: post #144

throw_xyz wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amen. There are very strong racial stereotypes. They also vary by who holds them. I'm a 40+ yo Russian system programmer, moved to States when I was 25, worked in a bunch of places from smaller startups to Fortune-500 shops. Here are my stereotypes: * Russians are frustrated know-it-alls with strong NIH syndrom wanting to redo everything from scratch. The language barrier often makes it hard for them to clearly expre…

Too bad you've posted from the throwaway, otherwise I'd give you an UPvote :) Curiously, if I had to come up with stereotypical descriptions, I'd say I'd come with something similar. :)

> Curiously, if I had to come up with stereotypical descriptions, I'd say I'd come with something similar. :)

That's the whole point of stereotypes, isn't it? ;)