Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#41

Post by vaksel » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:06 PM UTC

the problem is that for every good programmer there are a hundred that are just horrible, so I find that the whole "Rock Star/Guru" thing is just there to weed out the guy who has to lookup in his book how to do a hello world application

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#42

Post by sutro » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:07 PM UTC

I used to love reading John Carmack's finger-based blog (flog?). "finger @idsoftware.com" still yields the company directory listing (not sure if it's still up-to-date). With the exception of the CEO, everyone has a simple, functional title like Programmer or Artist. The humility and understatement implicit in the listing -- John Carmack, Programmer -- is something that more companies and individuals should aspire to. He isn't a rock star, ninja, or even an engineer, architect, or developer. He's just a programmer. One of the best.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#43

Post by dangoldin » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:09 PM UTC

byrneseyeview wrote: post #32

steveplace wrote: post #19

Clearly we need to develop some new titles 1) Code Baristas 2) Python Jockeys 3) CrackerJack Developers (retro!)

Java Zeppelins.

Perl Bandits.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#44

Post by aaronblohowiak » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:11 PM UTC

immad wrote: post #14

transburgh wrote: post #10

I have to listen to the "ninja" term all the time in my office. It drives me up the wall.

Is that because you don't want your ninja identity exposed?

Why would he be climbing walls if he didn't want to be exposed?

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#45

Post by fallentimes » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:28 PM UTC

blogimus wrote: post #8

To paraphrase from a popular movie: "When everyone is a rock star, no one is."

In general, when people use cliche, uncreative analogies to describe something, it comes off as ridiculous.

Everything from GE calling their Six Sigma employees "black belts", to sales forces looking for "movers and shakers", to Fortune 500 companies overusing sports analogies, to people looking for "rockstar" developers.

It's trite and makes them look awful.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#46

Post by jws » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:30 PM UTC

We've solved that another way. Our employees get to choose their own title (except they can't use a legally significant name or VP without permission).

We have:

   * Head Greenskeeper
   * Mighty God of Thunder
   * Princess

... along with the usual "senior software engineer" and such. You might think that would remove the meaning from titles, but I can tell you... I'll take a Mighty God of Thunder or a Head Greenskeeper for my project any day over someone that put Senior Software Architect on their business card.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#47

Post by rfunduk » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:41 PM UTC

I don't see the big deal. Especially if it's just a job post title. Think of it as just another way to say 'Senior' without implying any specific years of experience or worse, age.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#48

Post by incomethax » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:43 PM UTC

dangoldin wrote: post #43

byrneseyeview wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Java Zeppelins.

Perl Bandits.

Ruby Wranglers.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#49

Post by drewcrawford » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:46 PM UTC

Alternatively, are there any "fun" job titles that are actually decent? Our founders are trying to think of something to call themselves that's not as boring as CEO/CTO/etc.

Re: Ask YC: "Rock Star" Job Titles

#50

Post by pjackson » Thu, Jul 24, 2008, 8:52 PM UTC

When I see ads that advertise for RockStar Developers(!!!!!) I think about companies that describe themselves as "cool".

If you have to say you're cool....you're probably not.