Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#1

Post by blizkreeg » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 6:29 PM UTC

If you're a hiring manager, have you felt the burn trying to find and attract people to full-time roles? And if so, what are you seeing?

Sourcing has become near impossible with most candidates bombarded by recruiters, so even as hiring manager, your message is likely being ignored. Inbound applications are down and convincing experienced folks to switch jobs has become harder than ever.

The pandemic has also made moonlighting more universal and more people looking for remote/part-time/fractional work.

I wonder if anyone else is noticing this too. On the flip side, I wonder how folks looking for full-time roles are faring.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#2

Post by altdataseller » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:08 PM UTC

Yes, nobody is even applying if the job opening doesn't state that remote work is allowed. People have so many opportunities these days, including side gigs.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#3

Post by larrykubin » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:12 PM UTC

If the interview process weren't so exhausting, then it'd probably be easier to get people to switch jobs. Getting a ton of emails lately, but have zero desire to grind leetcode, do take home tests, and interview with 6+ people when I already have a job.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#4

Post by harshalizee » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:25 PM UTC

larrykubin wrote: post #3

If the interview process weren't so exhausting, then it'd probably be easier to get people to switch jobs. Getting a ton of emails lately, but have zero desire to grind leetcode, do take home tests, and interview with 6+ people when I already have a job.

You make a great point. I have a job, a good manager who's already told me I can work fully remote, or office or a mix of either. The company has decent work life balance and perks. Sure, the work does get a bit boring sometimes and I could try for a bigger paycheck. So, unless the hiring company can offer a substantially large amount of money, flexibility and interesting work, I don't really care to go through their "dance monkey, dance" interview process.

It's like the tides have changed. I want to know what the hiring company is offering to make a switch attractive.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#5

Post by willcipriano » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:29 PM UTC

larrykubin wrote: post #3

If the interview process weren't so exhausting, then it'd probably be easier to get people to switch jobs. Getting a ton of emails lately, but have zero desire to grind leetcode, do take home tests, and interview with 6+ people when I already have a job.

Same here, talked to some folks but they want me to spend a weekend on a example project before getting into any of the specifics of the job. I don't really want to waste my time to find out I don't even want the job.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#6

Post by olegious » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:31 PM UTC

For me, someone that left the SF/NYC grind during the pandemic and don't want to return, I'm not looking at anything non-remote or mostly remote.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#7

Post by jason2323 » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:40 PM UTC

larrykubin wrote: post #3

If the interview process weren't so exhausting, then it'd probably be easier to get people to switch jobs. Getting a ton of emails lately, but have zero desire to grind leetcode, do take home tests, and interview with 6+ people when I already have a job.

Me as well. I absolutely enjoy reading technical books and working on some projects. I feel competent enough to produce good work at any company i go to, but the thought of wasting my weekends away on puzzles is harrowing

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#8

Post by tolbish » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:40 PM UTC

Perhaps you would gain some insight by turning your question on its head: Why haven't you switched companies? What it is about the job market that makes you unwilling to leave your current gig?

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#9

Post by AnimalMuppet » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 9:54 PM UTC

tolbish wrote: post #8

Perhaps you would gain some insight by turning your question on its head: Why haven't you switched companies? What it is about the job market that makes you unwilling to leave your current gig?

I'm with harshalizee. I've got good pay, good benefits, good co-workers, and sane management. Work's a bit boring. But I've been around the block enough times to know that things can get far, far worse, and not much better.

So if you want me to move, you'd better have something spectacular. Not just good - I've already got good.

And if you think that you have something spectacular... are you over-rating or over-selling what you've got? Sure, you think it's spectacular, but am I really going to think so? If not, I'm not interested in your position.

Re: Ask HN: Has it suddenly become exceedingly hard to attract full-time employees?

#10

Post by silisili » Mon, Jun 07, 2021, 10:31 PM UTC

larrykubin wrote: post #3

If the interview process weren't so exhausting, then it'd probably be easier to get people to switch jobs. Getting a ton of emails lately, but have zero desire to grind leetcode, do take home tests, and interview with 6+ people when I already have a job.

Same. I have a job. When a recruiter says well first do a call, then a take home test, then a live code, then fly in to interview...uh...no. You contacted me, if you did your DD then hire me. I don't have the time, energy, or will to play your games.