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I have no side code projects to show you

codementor.io

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Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#441

Post by coldtea »

rootlocus wrote: post #433
coldtea wrote: post #422

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m not mad at you, but as the dude on the other side of the desk, I have to decide whether you can cut it and I’m fine saying no. I could make you do some whiteboard problems, but I think whiteboard problems are pretty far removed from your day to day development and I am uncomfortable relying on them as a proxy for your ability to ship code. So, are architects and engineers expected to have built side-houses, and…

Architects and engineers can usually show you what they've done in the past. Software developers can't if they don't have side projects. Artists have portfolios. Why shouldn't software engineers?

Because artists are usually sitting on their asses waiting for work, not already working 60 or 80 hours per week churning code.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#442

Post by nanodano »

rootlocus wrote: post #429

Seriously now, how many hours does it take to start a simple project in a technology you're familiar with? I get it, you want time for your hobbies and programming might not be one of them. However if getting a job is important to you, is it so hard to spend some hours writing a piece of software that's maybe related to your hobbies? > The silly art project that I launched in Austin. My dog business. Running, paintin…

This is basically the sentiment that I share. If you aren't willing to put in a couple hours on one Saturday of your life to putting up one script in an effort to help your career, you probably don't care enough about the job you are applying for.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#443

Post by ifhd »

59nadir wrote: post #356
ifhd wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work on internal tools for a major company. You can't see them, some I probably shouldn't even tell you about. When I get home I play video games and watch tv and play with my dog. sometimes I'll screw around with a new language or something else. I don't post stuff on github and keep a blog or anything else like that. I think your view is pretty myopic. Ask me to talk for 30 minutes about one of my projects and fo…

> When I get home I play video games and watch tv and play with my dog. sometimes I'll screw around with a new language or something else. I don't post stuff on github and keep a blog or anything else like that. Presumably you also don't think people should stop thinking side projects and public code is important in hiring. You've made a choice to not have these things and asking the world to change one of the few sa…

I think in the end it's all about having something to ask the person about.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#444

Post by rootlocus »

coldtea wrote: post #441
rootlocus wrote: post #433

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Architects and engineers can usually show you what they've done in the past. Software developers can't if they don't have side projects. Artists have portfolios. Why shouldn't software engineers?

Because artists are usually sitting on their asses waiting for work, not already working 60 or 80 hours per week churning code.

If you're working 60 or 80 hours per week churning code, surely you have some code to show.

Really now, the fact that you can't showcase what you've done for your previous company is an implementation detail. Using a portfolio to judge a candidate is perfectly valid and works great with other industries. The reasons why you don't have one are your own concern.

Like I said in other comments, interviewing is (for better or worse) a game / competition. You need to optimize for success.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#445

Post by protomyth »

pell wrote: post #437
crdb wrote: post #412

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't expect my surgeon to do surgery in his spare time. I really like it when my specialist has a prominent public profile. A recent case: tenure at a major university, had written or was quoted in many good journals and papers, and had a number of impressive accreditations (for example he was also head of his specialty's medical association for the country). This showed dedication and interest as well as some m…

While these points may well be examples of this person's ability, certain credentials don't have to mean as much. As an example, the head of an association is not necessarily chosen for their merit.

I knew of at least one department Dean at a college that was chosen for that position so he would not teach anymore students.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#446

Post by rootlocus »

nanodano wrote: post #442
rootlocus wrote: post #429

Seriously now, how many hours does it take to start a simple project in a technology you're familiar with? I get it, you want time for your hobbies and programming might not be one of them. However if getting a job is important to you, is it so hard to spend some hours writing a piece of software that's maybe related to your hobbies? > The silly art project that I launched in Austin. My dog business. Running, paintin…

This is basically the sentiment that I share. If you aren't willing to put in a couple hours on one Saturday of your life to putting up one script in an effort to help your career, you probably don't care enough about the job you are applying for.

> you probably don't care enough about the job you are applying for.

It's not even about th particular job you're applying for. Is having a job in general. If it's important for you to have a any job, then surely you can do something to help yourself.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#447

Post by oldboyFX »

ng12 wrote: post #71
TAForObvReasons wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Side projects are for software what a portfolio is for other creative industries. You don't hire a designer sight unseen -- usually you ask for a sample. It makes perfect sense to expect the same of technology.

I can take a 10 minute look at a designer's portfolio and get reasonably accurate insight into their style and abilities. Do you think a 10 minute scan of an arbitrary GitHub account is the same? I say decidedly not.

> I can take a 10 minute look at a designer's portfolio and get reasonably accurate insight into their style and abilities.

You can't because design isn't about style, it's not art. It's about solving problems and increasing your employers profit.

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#448

Post by walshemj »

tootie wrote: post #270
walshemj wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude as a Dude who knows a little about employment law all your work code belongs to your employer.

That's actually not always true. Usually, yes. Not always.

what you do at work absolutely is - there's a question about non related work done off the clock and with your own equipment - but its unlikely that most have the $$ to be be able to fight a lawsuit

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#449

Post by tome »

nanodano wrote: post #391
pjmlp wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some of us have NDAs as part of our job. Not everyone is happily doing FOSS projects.

I think the big misconception is that a side project has to be a prolific open source project. As someone who has interviewed developers, someone who has _anything_ on a GitHub page stands out in the crowd. Even just a folder with a few batch scripts can go a long way.

Or even just a webapp where you can say "I can't show you the code, but I made it [look, my name's at the bottom!]".

Re: I have no side code projects to show you

#450

Post by oelmekki »

eropple wrote: post #42
warcher wrote: post #31

I’m not mad at you, but as the dude on the other side of the desk, I have to decide whether you can cut it and I’m fine saying no. I could make you do some whiteboard problems, but I think whiteboard problems are pretty far removed from your day to day development and I am uncomfortable relying on them as a proxy for your ability to ship code. I don’t really disagree with your philosophy of working while you’re worki…

On the flip side? As somebody who has plenty of open source projects--the set of employers who actually looks at them is within epsilon of zero. I have not once, not once gotten a meaningful question from anything I have posted on Github in any interview or client meeting even after suggesting up-front that it's worth taking a look. And I used to interview on a monthly basis just to keep in practice! No--instead you…

Code is for tech reviewers (CTO or inside developers). Most often, they will look at your repos, but they are not the ones you will chat with.

It's still useful to have material for non tech people, though. That's why, additionally to my github profile, I maintain an angelList profile on which I document the why's and how's of my projects from a non developer perspective.

But of course, the single most important thing you can do in an interview with a non tech guy is to show them you understand their business, what they're trying to achieve, and that you find it exciting (provided it's true, obviously). From having been on the hiring side, I've learned that the worst thing to say is : "yeah, actually it doesn't really matter what we will do, I'm mostly interested in coding".

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