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Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

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Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#41

Post by gojomo »

chime wrote: post #22
cageface wrote: post #3

I always groan when I see it in job listings. The handful of real "rockstar" programmers don't need to scan job boards. I'm guessing what you're likely to attract with this kind of post is a lot of arrogant code cowboys that don't play well with others.

> The handful of real "rockstar" programmers don't need to scan job boards. The handful of connected real "rockstar" programmers don't need to scan job boards. One could be a completely awesome programmer at a company which does not realize his/her potential and could be looking for a new job. Of course, mentioning the word "rockstar" doesn't really mean anything if the pay/benefits are no different from average. My…

not every rockstar programmer has a fan-following, famous blog, and tons of open-source projects

This is a problem with the term. 'Rockstar' has pretty strong connotations of fame and confidence. 'Rockstar toiling in obscurity' or 'underappreciated rockstar' are contradictions in terms.

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#44

Post by calibraxis »

I find it ambiguous, but on the whole probably a good sign. A negative part is that it appeals to the needy ego. A postive aspect is that it maybe signals a knowledge of the Spolsky school of management, which is a clear improvement over average companies.

But it's not as informative as other signs. For example, programming language choices and transparency. In this regard, the most impressive company I know is Relevance:

http://thinkrelevance.com/

Other good companies include Freiheit and RethinkDB:

http://www.freiheit.com/tag/Jobs (note the google translator)

http://rethinkdb.com/jobs/

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#45

Post by watmough »

ewjordan wrote: post #37
andrewbadera wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's just it -- many of these listings are misnomers, targeting the naive and/or desperate. Why beat that horse any more than it already has been if it's not even an accurate use of the term?

That might be a little harsh. I suspect that what's going on is that rather than targeting the naive or desperate, it's naive HR folks that think they're "getting into our heads" or "speaking our language". It's sort of like a parent that really wants to be cool telling their kids that they really like those "Limp Biscuit" fellows - it's not that the sentiment is entirely unappreciated, but the attempt is so misguide…

Yeah, after a few weeks of a clueless founder, and surrounded by our fellow 'agile' and 'rockstar' programmers, you might be longing for reassuringly foosball-free break-room, and the steady whir and click as the TPS reports roll into the out-tray of the HP. Mmm. Kay.

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#46

Post by spitfire »

korch wrote: post #28

For me "Rockstar" is now a shibboleth. If you have to call yourself, your company, your product or your programmers "rockstars" then none of you are real rockstars. If you have to ask "what's different about rockstar's lifestyles compared to the small people?" then you definitely have no idea what you're even talking about. It's just like being called a "hacker", or a "gangster" or similar. You either have legit stre…

and if you're posting on a site called "hacker news", you are not a "hacker".

Even people who wrote an single excel script call themselves hackers here (and are defended for it! I've seen it happen)

EDIT: At this point in my life I'd be embarrassed to be called a hacker. So I don't feel ashamed being an impostor here.

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#47

Post by notauser »

spitfire wrote: post #46
korch wrote: post #28

For me "Rockstar" is now a shibboleth. If you have to call yourself, your company, your product or your programmers "rockstars" then none of you are real rockstars. If you have to ask "what's different about rockstar's lifestyles compared to the small people?" then you definitely have no idea what you're even talking about. It's just like being called a "hacker", or a "gangster" or similar. You either have legit stre…

and if you're posting on a site called "hacker news", you are not a "hacker". Even people who wrote an single excel script call themselves hackers here (and are defended for it! I've seen it happen) EDIT: At this point in my life I'd be embarrassed to be called a hacker. So I don't feel ashamed being an impostor here.

I'm not sure you deserved to be down-voted because it's a legitimate question.

Fortunately I don't think that anyone has tried to claim that posting to HN makes you a hacker. It's (news (of interest for hackers)) rather than (news of interest (for hackers)). So posting doesn't mean you are claiming to be a hacker, just that you are interested in the stuff hackers are interested in.

By the way in my view some of the most interesting hacks are done in Excel (for example the guy who wrote an Excel 3D engine - http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3563/microsoft_excel_r... - no one can seriously claim that this isn't a hack in the best sense of the word.) Making constrained systems do things they were never designed to do is practically the definition of hacking.

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#48

Post by neilk »

spitfire wrote: post #46
korch wrote: post #28

For me "Rockstar" is now a shibboleth. If you have to call yourself, your company, your product or your programmers "rockstars" then none of you are real rockstars. If you have to ask "what's different about rockstar's lifestyles compared to the small people?" then you definitely have no idea what you're even talking about. It's just like being called a "hacker", or a "gangster" or similar. You either have legit stre…

and if you're posting on a site called "hacker news", you are not a "hacker". Even people who wrote an single excel script call themselves hackers here (and are defended for it! I've seen it happen) EDIT: At this point in my life I'd be embarrassed to be called a hacker. So I don't feel ashamed being an impostor here.

Maybe, if you assume this is a clubhouse only for hackers. I think the purpose is more like "news that would be of interest to hackers", which implies others could have interest in the same topics. If a recruiter posted in this thread it certainly wouldn't be out of place.

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#49

Post by heresy »

I think the actual position almost never lives up to such a breathless description.

Back when the economy was a bit more dire, I interviewed with a place that called itself "funky", with a team of "ninjas".

Turned out to be an accountancy software house with some typical line of business apps that needed to be ported to the web because a local web startup was eating them up for breakfast and converting their customers like crazy.

Re: Ask HN: "Rockstar" job listings, yay or nay?

#50

Post by AmberShah »

cageface wrote: post #3

I always groan when I see it in job listings. The handful of real "rockstar" programmers don't need to scan job boards. I'm guessing what you're likely to attract with this kind of post is a lot of arrogant code cowboys that don't play well with others.

Under that theory, there isn't any point in using job boards, since there aren't any good programmers. Sure plenty of great programmers use networking, but plenty use job listings too. My best hire ever was from a free 5-line job post on craigslist.
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