Github is my resume

#1

Post by craigkerstiens » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 5:58 PM UTC

Github is my resume
pydanny.blogspot.com

Re: Github is my resume

#2

Post by abahgat » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:12 PM UTC

I tend to agree with this point of view: whiteboard interviews fail to predict how you will write real code once you are hired, your actual code is definitely a better indicator.

Asking candidates their github usernames is starting to seem a common trend, in my experience.

Re: Github is my resume

#3

Post by eggbrain » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:22 PM UTC

One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about?

I don't mind a Github being used in conjunction with other resources (the projects I've worked on / Linkedin / etc), but god help me if it ever becomes the standard -- I'll be unemployable.

Re: Github is my resume

#4

Post by klochner » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:25 PM UTC

github complements your resume in providing evidence that you can write good code.

Anyone who's been employed for a while will not be able to share the bulk of their source code, and source code doesn't typically give a high-level overview of career development and accomplishments.

Re: Github is my resume

#5

Post by daenz » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:28 PM UTC

eggbrain wrote: post #3

One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about? I don't mind a Github being used in conjunction with other resources (the projects I've…

> One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him the my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about?

The not-so-easy answer is: find time to contribute to the open source community. This is difficult if your time is already spent though.

Re: Github is my resume

#6

Post by audreyr » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:31 PM UTC

eggbrain wrote: post #3

One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about? I don't mind a Github being used in conjunction with other resources (the projects I've…

Not all employers care for open-source code samples. But the ones who do are looking to hire people with a deep passion for programming: developers with a passion so strong that they're willing to spend hours of their free time writing open-source libraries and contributing to the open-source world.

Re: Github is my resume

#7

Post by CJefferson » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:37 PM UTC

daenz wrote: post #5

eggbrain wrote: post #3

One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about? I don't mind a Github being used in conjunction with other resources (the projects I've…

> One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him the my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about? The not-so-easy answer is: find time to contribute to the open source community. T…

Weirdly, I find myself contributing to about 6 open source projects, and none are on github.

I imagine few large projects have moved their infrastructure to github. Therefore my github page is almost empty.

Re: Github is my resume

#8

Post by eggbrain » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:40 PM UTC

daenz wrote: post #5

eggbrain wrote: post #3

One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about? I don't mind a Github being used in conjunction with other resources (the projects I've…

> One of the most frustrating things for me, I feel, is that hardly any of the code I have written is on Github for various reasons (NDA, proprietary code, etc). So when an employer asks me for my Github, what do I do? Do I send him the my account showing off my code from 3 years ago containing only a script I didn't really care about? The not-so-easy answer is: find time to contribute to the open source community. T…

   This is difficult if your time is already spent though.

Exactly. In my spare time I program, but many times it's on client projects that are on top of the 40 hours I work at my job, both of which probably wouldn't want me to post my code on Github. I have a passion for programming, but I'd rather a potential employer focus on what I've done -- just because my Github is empty doesn't mean my portfolio is as well.

Re: Github is my resume

#9

Post by reidmain » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:41 PM UTC

From the comments it seems like there are three points of view:

1) Yeah this is dead on. Employers should only care about the code you've written.

2) No your always need a resume because your job history is more important.

3) GitHub complements your resume.

I'd say that this is totally situational. It is like a cover letter. You position yourself for the jobs you want. A lot of startups would probably put more emphasis on your GitHub account then on a resume. If you want to get into the enterprise world then they'd probably care more about your resume.

None of this is needed. It is simply your way of showcasing yourself to get the job you want.

Re: Github is my resume

#10

Post by MatthewPhillips » Wed, Feb 22, 2012, 6:47 PM UTC

reidmain wrote: post #9

From the comments it seems like there are three points of view: 1) Yeah this is dead on. Employers should only care about the code you've written. 2) No your always need a resume because your job history is more important. 3) GitHub complements your resume. I'd say that this is totally situational. It is like a cover letter. You position yourself for the jobs you want. A lot of startups would probably put more emphas…

What GitHub (and others) are for the developer is leverage. There's nothing worse than going into a job interview that you know you are (over-) qualified for and being given fizzbuzz because the person interviewing you doesn't know if you are a rock star or a fraud.

Handing them your GitHub commit log lets you walk in on more equal terms. If they are interviewing you, they already think you're good enough for the position from a coding perspective.