Live data from Hacker News

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

news.ycombinator.com

31–40 of 52 posts

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

#31
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whenever I see such an ad, all I can think of is this: http://bit.ly/XosCo

Since this is not Twitter, here's the actual URL of the above link: http://johnstamosfever.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/ninjas-an...

Nice 404 you have there.

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

#32
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.

Exactly. David Bowie doesn't scan job boards. But he does do drum programming on his own tracks, on a Roland 707 http://www.discogs.com/David-Bowie-Outside-Earthling-Hours/r.... Even if he did know Haskell, one doesn't see him responding to job ads. Real rockstars have too much of their own thang going on.

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

#33
I maintain a blacklist of recruiters who annoy me. Mostly it's the ones who call me up repeatedly, or who call me about ridiculously bad fits. However, I also keep a special section in that black list for any recruiter that uses the term "Rock Star" or "Ninja", and I openly mock the companies who use the term. I also find smugness later on when they fail, because they clearly were prima donnas trying to attract other prima donnas.

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

#34
post #31
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since this is not Twitter, here's the actual URL of the above link: http://johnstamosfever.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/ninjas-an...

Nice 404 you have there.

I get a nice 200 OK. Maybe someone has installed a ninja-filter in your firewall?

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

#37
post #5

If you are shooting for the kind of people who aspire to be rockstars (i.e. teenagers, mostly?), why not?

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 misguided and cheap that it's a bigger turnoff than if they'd just embraced their un-coolness to begin with.

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

#38
When I see a job posting looking for a "rock star" I immediately think "OK, but are you willing to pay for a rock star?" If the ad indicates that they are looking for skills way above average, they better be willing to pay way above average. Otherwise, it seems to me they either aren't sincere or are only really looking for a bargain.

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

#40
I hate the idea of the term "Rockstar," (or "Ninja") because it implies that by just showing up, you've already done your part; by extension, it implies that you don't need to improve.

I'd much rather see a job ad looking for a "Software Samurai," already possessed of great competency, but eager to learn new tricks and improve himself as a developer.

Post reply on HN