Ask HN: Having trouble getting senior applicants, wondering what to do about it

Post by lbrito » Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 8:40 PM UTC

corrral wrote: post #21

> Take-home technical assignment (~4h) or similar at candidate's choosing If I can get a similarly-paying job at a place that doesn't do this, I'll skip you. Many seniors ( actual seniors, not 3-years-of-experience seniors) have a network and can say "hey I'm looking" and instantly have multiple options that won't have them do more than talk to the team and manager for an hour or two. If that.

Post by shadowofneptune » Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 8:42 PM UTC

corrral wrote: post #190

shadowofneptune wrote: post #170

I do not work in software, so I find how hiring works in it really odd. The amount of weight put on the interview compared to accreditation is unusual, and people in this thread consider that normal. There's no certification or examination for minimum competency. Looking online, there were attempts at making one, but they failed. How did it come to be this way?

I suspect the very horrible interviews at top-comp places exist in no small part to make it painful to switch between them, to reduce upward pressure on wages. I think it's version 2.0 of the earlier wage-fixing scheme they got busted for. That's why even a rigorous standardized examination isn't acceptable as a replacement for their painful interviews, even though spending all that time on whiteboard quiz interviews…

Post by ghaff » Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 8:43 PM UTC

the_watcher wrote: post #180

bonzini wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> perhaps pay people to complete the assignments. Assuming this is legal at all according to current employment contracts, it's a huge pain for the new employer's payroll and more stuff to keep track for the employee's income tax.

Two companies have offered me Amazon gift cards, one of them told me that it’s far easier for tax purposes (my understanding is that this is why user research often offers them, rather than cash). I assume they could give prepaid debit cards too, for people who prefer not to shop at Amazon.

Post by ghostpepper » Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 8:44 PM UTC

user00012-ab wrote: post #179

anon291 wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing with 4hr technical assignments is that you're saying no to anyone with kids, which I'm going to venture applies to more senior people than juniors. I used to do these assignment. Now I simply don't sorry. My schedule is 6:30 AM wake up with youngest daughter, to let wife sleep in (she takes care of her all night) 9:00 AM hand off youngest daughter to wife, who takes both girls the rest of the day. I go to m…

Seems like a good way to weed out people that are constantly taking time off to deal with kid issues.

Post by pclmulqdq » Mon, Jun 20, 2022, 8:44 PM UTC

corrral wrote: post #21

> Take-home technical assignment (~4h) or similar at candidate's choosing If I can get a similarly-paying job at a place that doesn't do this, I'll skip you. Many seniors ( actual seniors, not 3-years-of-experience seniors) have a network and can say "hey I'm looking" and instantly have multiple options that won't have them do more than talk to the team and manager for an hour or two. If that.