What I learned today: Never apply for a job • Hacker News Board

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#51

Post by pagefruit » Wed, Jul 06, 2011, 9:59 PM UTC

mgkimsal wrote: post #32

Last couple times I've gone through an interview process, I've been more than a little peeved because they didn't do any research on me beyond reading my resume. I'm the webspace - we're talking about a web-oriented job - Google me for goodness' sake! Asking surface level questions that could be Googled in 2 seconds borders on insulting. They certainly will judge me by how much I know about their company, and how ent…

It's even worse when they don't even read your resume until they enter the room.

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#52

Post by phlux » Wed, Jul 06, 2011, 10:16 PM UTC

guywithabike wrote: post #41

chc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's true. AFAIK, the anonymous listings are usually companies that haven't publicly launched yet and don't want to burn through their TechCrunch coverage early. It's PR, not HR. I do agree, though, that they're kind of annoying to read and I have trouble imagining what kind of desperate souls apply to these employment-roulette positions.

If your company's success largely hinges on a TechCruch article, you have much, much larger problems.

Heh, techcrunch writes every article as if their validity is wholly dependent on a techcrunch article.

I.e. Techcrunchs only reason for existence is to suck their own dick.

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#53

Post by kisielk » Wed, Jul 06, 2011, 11:44 PM UTC

euroclydon wrote: post #12

OliverSteenbuck wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd think that it would be the used car nobody who knew it wanted... When jobs show up in those sites, the company already failed at filling the position through trusted references. (or so is my impression) Doesn't have to be bad ofcourse, but propably warrants more due dilligence on the job seekers part than a good reference.

There are so many reasons why a company might not be good at recruiting employees. They run from not having enough time, to opening an office in a new city, or simply being willing to outsource networking so they can do stuff they like. If you're looking for a job as a place to make friends and work with interesting people, fine, that's good stuff. But, many places of work are simply businesses, trying to make money…

In our case our company is in an industry (biotech) that traditionally doesn't seem to attract a lot of developers. Most of the developers I know in my network are either game or web app developers.

When we have openings they're usually reluctant to apply because the positions normally benefit from a solid math or sciences background, or they'd rather be working on more general-purpose software than that used for drug R&D.

That's mostly why we use job posting sites and we've actually managed to find solid team members via StackOverflow and some local job posting sites.

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#54

Post by mgkimsal » Wed, Jul 06, 2011, 11:56 PM UTC

walexander wrote: post #47

mgkimsal wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I'm interviewing someone, I will go research them beforehand. I've been handed resumes, and gone and done a google search. If there's no blog, no sourceforge/github, no homepage, no mailing list chatter, I've had that weigh in my decision. Previous work is listed on the resume. I didn't suggest stalking a twitter feed, but googling for me would indicate I do have a twitter account. And a blog. And a github account…

If that's a criteria for you when looking for an employer, then that's your choice, but I personally would never expect such a thing. The last time I had to interview (being an engineer), I was sent 7 resumes on a Monday for interviews being conducted on a Wednesday. I checked out any links they put on their resume, apps in the appstore, etc. If they did not feel they could be bothered to tell me about something, the…

"I checked out any links they put on their resume"

So... you did research on someone that made themselves researchable. Good job. That's what I expect, and I'd expect that you'd expect that too.

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#55

Post by bpick » Thu, Jul 07, 2011, 12:13 AM UTC

m0nty wrote: post #35

Just recently, I took a couple of steps to enhance my job searching. First was to post my CV/resume to jobs like monster.com; the second was a very old skool writing-a-letter-on-goddamn-paper-and-mailing-it-out-to-would-be-employers. The first has produced nothing but clueless phone-calls from agents. The second landed me a job with >90% certainty; I have a second interview next week. I am very well-qualified for the…

What someone should do is create a site where you can email your resume/letter in and have it attractively handwritten on nice letterhead.

Who's with me?

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#56

Post by jdhopeunique » Thu, Jul 07, 2011, 12:29 AM UTC

cglee wrote: post #40

shawnee_ wrote: post #11

While we're on the topic, I'm just going to say that those "anonymous" job postings here on YC drive me nuts "YCW11 company hiring front end dev! New office space! We There are a only couple YC companies I wouldn't want to work for, period. Mainly from the recent crop, but those bad seeds kinda ruin the whole "work for a random anonymous YC company!" recruitment tool.

Why can't you email and ask them who they are?

It's kind of like online dating. You could email a potential candidate and ask for a photo, but it's really not worth it since everyone else posts a photo. You just naturally assume that posting a generic description without a photo means they have something to hide.

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#57

Post by fedorabbit » Thu, Jul 07, 2011, 1:05 AM UTC

hvs wrote: post #14

fedorabbit wrote: post #9

I kind realized that a while ago, but it is difficult for nerd like me to leave computer and go meet people... what's to talk about? "I just found this snippet it's kinda fun!" ? :(

Go out and talk with other nerds. The easiest way to network in our industry is to open Meetup.com and look for JavaScript, C++, whatever events to discuss technology with like-minded nerds. And where there are nerds, there are nerds that work for other companies that might be interested in hiring more nerds.

Thanks for the URL! I will look around!

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#58

Post by fedorabbit » Thu, Jul 07, 2011, 1:07 AM UTC

parfe wrote: post #16

fedorabbit wrote: post #9

I kind realized that a while ago, but it is difficult for nerd like me to leave computer and go meet people... what's to talk about? "I just found this snippet it's kinda fun!" ? :(

Then it might be time to explore some other hobbies. There are non-computer related things do that don't require you to be in shape and that includes actually getting in shape! Fly an RC helicopter, start hiking, volunteer at the soup kitchen. No one is going to care about some snippet of code but that's your fault for being so 1-dimensional If all you have for work and pleasure involves sitting at a computer then yo…

It's like addiction actually. need adjustment! Good advice!

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#59

Post by aik » Thu, Jul 07, 2011, 1:08 AM UTC

motters wrote: post #48

The trouble with this strategy is that it's really just cronyism - employing your friends and relations - rather than trying to do a less heavily biased search for the best candidate. Resumes/CVs, imperfect though they are, at least represent a sort of level playing field, whereas employing your friends via opaque methods is blatantly cronyistic.

Not necessarily. My company is often hiring and I have friends who potentially need jobs, however unless I don't think they would be a good (or great) fit, I probably wouldn't mention it to them.

Re: What I learned today: Never apply for a job

#60

Post by aaronblohowiak » Thu, Jul 07, 2011, 1:28 AM UTC

ecaron wrote: post #45

dpritchett wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First I've heard of your site. How is it different from Indeed?

I emailed you the details so I'm not taking this thread OT (and so I don't look like I'm spamming HN.) If anyone else has this question, eric at linkup dot com is a good way to reach me.

It is relevant and not spam; please share the answer here.