Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#31

Post by cageface » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 5:07 AM UTC

blasdel wrote: post #29

cageface wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess it depends on the question. If it requires previous knowledge of some kind of gimmick then I agree it's a turnoff. A good puzzle that challenges your thinking and tests some basic algorithmic chops is a good sign though, I think. For example, the puzzle in this ad is a good one: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sof/1927765905.html

A bonus question requiring previous knowledge can be fantastic as a shibboleth if crafted well — it reinforces to the potential applicant that there is a clever compatriot on the other side, and makes the job of screening resumes easier.

What would be an example of this?

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#32

Post by cageface » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 5:13 AM UTC

bhiggins wrote: post #30

What do you guys think of http://www.extrahop.com/jobs/ ?

I like it. Straightforward description, realistic requirements, an interesting but not unreasonably difficult programming problem, and an appeal at the end to lore probably not possessed by any but the genuine geek.

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#33

Post by j_baker » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 5:39 AM UTC

I have to admit, I like greplin's job posting: https://www.greplin.com/jobs

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#34

Post by wanderr » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 6:11 AM UTC

makmanalp wrote: post #25

* No time for bullshit, please just put the salary there. A range that is open to bargain is fine too. Prorated is fine too. We just want some idea as to how much you want us and how much we'll be making. No point beating around the bush. The 5k or so that you might lose from not having bargain space might actually turn a great investment if you end up hiring a better candidate. * Don't list every technology you may…

Upvoted for the upfront salary listing. I've ignored many a job posting due to this. Let me know if it's going to be worth my time up front.

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#35

Post by jamaicahest » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 6:27 AM UTC

adrianwaj wrote: post #28

40 hour work week.

With managers actively encouraging employees to go home to their families.

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#36

Post by sz » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 7:48 AM UTC

Marissa Meyer has a funny story on this:

http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1526

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#37

Post by cookiecaper » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 8:09 AM UTC

I wrote about this a while ago here: http://www.deserettechnology.com/journal/writing-a-good-job-...

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#38

Post by adrianhoward » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 9:27 AM UTC

I wrote this http://use.perl.org/~Adrian/journal/33295 a few years back on how to not write job adverts. I still mostly agree with it :-)

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#39

Post by DesignModo » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 9:47 AM UTC

DesignModo Jobs - Freelance designers, developers, photographers, artists http://jobs.designmodo.com

what do you think?

Re: Ask HN: What makes a job posting attractive?

#40

Post by bugsy » Mon, Sep 13, 2010, 10:10 AM UTC

cageface wrote: post #18

It's actually a huge plus for me if the company takes the time to put a novel programming puzzle in the post. It says a few things: 1. this wasn't posted by a recruiter or somebody clueless in h.r. 2. engineers at this company still care about hiring 3. a lot of buzzword bombing b.s. artists aren't going to be applying 4. the company recognizes that raw aptitude is more important than bullet list bingo In other words…

The puzzle question is an interesting one. I like solving puzzles, that's why I am an engineer. Based on this I used to think that puzzles are a good thing for posts and interviews.

In practice, it almost never works out very well. Puzzles are incompletely specified, impossible to answer unless you guess at assumptions that are sure to be wrong, or they take so much time to solve it's just not worth it.

Usually companies don't need complex puzzles for screening anyway. Something rather trivial and quick to answer like the fizz buzz problem eliminates 90% of the dud applicants anyway.