Live data from Hacker News

Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

holloway.com

31–40 of 50 posts

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#31
post #27

I'm surprised they are using "conscientiousness" exclusively in the sense of being careful and nothing about knowing right from wrong. There are so many jobs in the tech industry that a truly conscientious person should steer clear of. If you plan on hiring from the world's precious pool of conscientious people, please make damn sure that the job warrants that quality. Take a hard look at your employer's effect on th…

Conscientiousness means you do your duty, knowing right from wrong is called "conscience".

Agree they are not the same thing, but often can be related. If you get lazy or slack off on things like testing, handling edges cases, properly documenting. Your conscience will bother you when you are not being conscientious.

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#32
post #25
post #18

I've always been conscientious and it really backfired. When something breaks at 2am they call me to fix. They never call the recently hired slick-talking guru who experiments with the latest cool technology but can't actually deliver anything and who will leave before the end of the year anyway.

are you bragging about how you let your employer call you at 2am to fix things?

[deleted]

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#33
post #27

I'm surprised they are using "conscientiousness" exclusively in the sense of being careful and nothing about knowing right from wrong. There are so many jobs in the tech industry that a truly conscientious person should steer clear of. If you plan on hiring from the world's precious pool of conscientious people, please make damn sure that the job warrants that quality. Take a hard look at your employer's effect on th…

Conscientiousness means you do your duty, knowing right from wrong is called "conscience".

From the Oxford English dictionary:

> conscientious | ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs | adjective

> 1 wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly: a conscientious man, he took his duties very seriously.

> 2 relating to a person's conscience: the individual is denied even the opportunity to break the law on conscientious grounds.

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#34
post #27

I'm surprised they are using "conscientiousness" exclusively in the sense of being careful and nothing about knowing right from wrong. There are so many jobs in the tech industry that a truly conscientious person should steer clear of. If you plan on hiring from the world's precious pool of conscientious people, please make damn sure that the job warrants that quality. Take a hard look at your employer's effect on th…

Conscientiousness means you do your duty, knowing right from wrong is called "conscience".

Conscientious has more than one definition. Yes, that is one of them. I'm referring to the other definition which does involve right and wrong: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/conscientious

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#35
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conscientiousness means you do your duty, knowing right from wrong is called "conscience".

Conscientious has more than one definition. Yes, that is one of them. I'm referring to the other definition which does involve right and wrong: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/conscientious

That is also the same. See the clarified example:

"She's a conscientious judge, who does not let personal prejudices influence her decisions."

Basically she does her duty as a judge instead of letting her personal feelings influence her judgements. Conscientious people do things by the book.

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#36

I'm surprised they are using "conscientiousness" exclusively in the sense of being careful and nothing about knowing right from wrong. There are so many jobs in the tech industry that a truly conscientious person should steer clear of. If you plan on hiring from the world's precious pool of conscientious people, please make damn sure that the job warrants that quality. Take a hard look at your employer's effect on th…

Morality is not a solved problem. People who claim to always know right from wrong are sanctimonious, not conscientious.

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#37
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Conscientiousness means you do your duty, knowing right from wrong is called "conscience".

From the Oxford English dictionary: > conscientious | ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs | adjective > 1 wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly: a conscientious man, he took his duties very seriously. > 2 relating to a person's conscience: the individual is denied even the opportunity to break the law on conscientious grounds.

It means you follow the laws and do what you are supposed to do, but it isn't conscience in the other senses. A soldier carrying out orders is conscientious, but his conscience might not be clean. This works for both of those definitions.

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#38
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the Oxford English dictionary: > conscientious | ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs | adjective > 1 wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly: a conscientious man, he took his duties very seriously. > 2 relating to a person's conscience: the individual is denied even the opportunity to break the law on conscientious grounds.

It means you follow the laws and do what you are supposed to do, but it isn't conscience in the other senses. A soldier carrying out orders is conscientious, but his conscience might not be clean. This works for both of those definitions.

No it doesn’t. It violates definition 2.

Re: Hiring for conscientiousness (2019)

#39
post #18

I've always been conscientious and it really backfired. When something breaks at 2am they call me to fix. They never call the recently hired slick-talking guru who experiments with the latest cool technology but can't actually deliver anything and who will leave before the end of the year anyway.

Don't feel bad. Conscientious people earn more because people like them more. Just remember to negotiate well, because conscientious people often feel bad about negotiating hard. You shouldn't feel bad about asking for solid compensation for your work. Especially if you're getting up at 2am.
Post reply on HN