Assume that they
1) Are fully qualified for the position, and
2) Dropped out to purse self-employment/self-education/work, not because they couldn't handle school
Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
1–10 of 20 posts
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#2Based on your description, why wouldn't you? If those are your requirements, and a degree is not, then I don't see the problem.
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#3I would add a question: how many jobs ads are asking for a degree?
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#4Depends on the job requirements. For a R&D related or senior position, I might be a little on the edge. School is not just about the degree it has a lot to do with development of the core educational foundations.
Remember anyone can program, not everyone can find a solution.
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#5A part of the problem is the difficulty in distinguishing people with 2 from those without 2 who simply claim it.
Any difficulty distinguishing people with and without 1 is more important, but is present regardless.
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#6Absolutely, hackers don't need degrees. In fact, we frown upon them.
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#7Yes, given these assumptions. But that person needs to be better than the other candidates (not JUST qualified for the position). I would also like to understand what he/she did after dropping out of school.
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#8You mean like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs?
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#9Yes.
Then again, I'm biased.
A proven track record of being self motivated and being persistant with their goals are far more valuable traits in an individual than a piece of paper saying they went to some college or university for several years.
Re: Ask HN: Would you hire a dropout?
#10The first is hard to ascertain without a conversation, and it's very hard without a conversation to convince many people (myself included) that you didn't just drop out because you couldn't handle school.
I try to shun away from dropouts because school signals, more than anything else, an ability to slog through tedious tasks. And unfortunately, not everything you will do is glamorous.