Ask HN: What should I do? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#121

Post by bradleyland » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:23 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #39

When you greet your interviewer, hand them this card: |=================================| | | | Hi, I'm John Doe and I'm happy | | to meet you. | | | | I have a stammer, but we should | | not let that interfere with our | | conversation. | | | | I'm an excellent web developer | | and I love what I do. My speech | | impediment does not affect my | | work. | | | | What can I do for you? | | | |=========================…

As someone responsible for interviewing technical candidates, I love this.

It might be a bit of a hyperbole to suggest that a stammer is an advantage in an interview, but you could view it as an opportunity. The entire purpose of an interview is to get a sense of the skill level of the interviewee. You want to know how they respond to problems. Are they able to arrive at solutions?

Your stammer is an opportunity to show that you know how to work your way through a challenge. And don't fool yourself in to thinking that using any of the solutions suggested here diminishes the accomplishment of working through your challenge. Knowing where to seek help, then taking the appropriate action based on that advice is a skill. You'd be amazed how many people do not know how to effectively seek outside help.

If I were interviewing someone with a stammer and they handed me this card, it would put a huge smile on my face. It would shift my disposition in a positive direction, which would definitely impact the interview. How could it not?

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#122

Post by Samuel_Michon » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:28 PM UTC

bradleyland wrote: post #117

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“The eyes have it, as they say, and when you have a conversation with someone suffering from strabismus, it can be extremely uncomfortable and distracting.” Very true. I have strabismus myself, and I only see with one eye. However, someone with strabismus can get surgery to correct the position of the eyes. When I was 19, I had the surgery done, and it made all the difference (it doesn’t help you see, but it certainl…

I don't disagree, but my point has little to do with whether or not someone has medical options to resolve their condition. Jack didn't have surgery to correct his condition, but he didn't allow it to limit his confidence.

I understood your point but I disagree that, when you have a stutter or a lazy eye, all that's wrong is lack of confidence. I didn't have surgery to fix my self image, I did it to be able to better communicate. When you're teaching or speaking in public in general, your eyes are very important tools. With strabismus, you can't communicate to someone in a crowd that you're watching them. Jack can joke and quip all he wants, but that doesn't change the fact that he has a handicap.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#123

Post by UK-AL » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:31 PM UTC

gigantor wrote: post #75

I'm a person who stammers (probably 7/10 on the severity scale) and make as much or more than my top peers. I'm also a contractor, go through and pass more interviews per year than the average full time developer, despite completely blowing some interviews in moments of silence. 1. Your compensation is directly correlated to the company you're dealing with, knowledge of market rates, and negotiation skills. 2. If you…

Do you have any recommendations for literature?

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#124

Post by piyas » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:34 PM UTC

Hi, I stutter, often badly. Think this way - it is the fear that does this to you even more. I have learnt to live with it, make it your way of doing things - make people to accept you as you are, you will see you will overcome it - I worked in UK before. The card idea is perfect. When I public speak, I declare that I have a speech impediment and offer to re-iterate when needed. I taught a bunch of college kids in a classroom, all saw me, not my stuttering

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#125

Post by polymatter » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:35 PM UTC

Here are some stats for you about the UK job market for web developers (http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/web%20developer.do). You can use that in your negotiations with your current employer or to encourage you to look further afield.

You're doing the right thing blogging and posting to github. I encourage you to continue. You are definitely worth more than £15k, even in Suffolk.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#126

Post by jborden13 » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:37 PM UTC

conductr wrote: post #116

jborden13 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Steve Jobs apparently had horrid BO (not sure about his affinity for cat murder).

he also didn't spend much time as an employee, most of his life he was a founder

Yes, but he did successfully interview and was gainfully employed for a period. The point of my comment is that obstacles can be overcome and employees shouldn't be filtered for only arbitrary reasons.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#127

Post by polymatter » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:39 PM UTC

petercooper wrote: post #6

pattle wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based in Suffolk, Yes definitely willing to relocate. Thanks, I'll be in touch

My e-mail is also on my profile page - if possible, could you send me a CV? :-) (To be honest, if you have a portfolio/CV online, you might do better posting it right here as I suspect there will be some interest.)

His personal site is on his HN profile page (www.chrispattle.com). LinkedIn at (http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrispattle)

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#128

Post by jdotjdot » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:41 PM UTC

goblin89 wrote: post #86

mryan wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about having this discussion in the preliminary emails? Take the card too, but let them know in advance so it is less of a surprise at interview time.

I'm not sure this is a good idea. From first communications HR may remember him as the programmer with a stammer , and will have some time to give the condition undeserved attention. Yet there's even no guarantee that the interviewer will be aware of that conversation (especially with larger companies, AFAICT).

They're likely to remember him as the programmer with a stammer anyway, aren't they? At least this way they remember him as the programmer with a stammer who was brave and addressed it up front.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#129

Post by netcan » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:44 PM UTC

I'm not entirely sure what this has to do with innovation vs iteration. It's more about why don't "third world" problems get solved by startups. There are a few answers to this:

a - It's where the money is. Most of the products in the world are manufactured for and sold to the rich. That's what rich means.

b - Startup founders are rich or come from rich communities. So are their investors and advisors. They are also young, urban, techie, etc. So, they see the things these markets need and make products for them. It's hard to design stuff for markets so removed from yourself.

c - It's easier to start at the luxurious end for all sorts of reasons and startups are starting up. Elon Musk gave a good explanation about doing it at Tesla (offsetting the high per-nit cost of new technology). There are other reasons that explain why you find many small chocolatiers selling $30 boxes but few competing with Cadburys. Making stuff cheap is often. harder and more expensive.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#130

Post by xoail » Tue, Apr 02, 2013, 4:52 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #39

When you greet your interviewer, hand them this card: |=================================| | | | Hi, I'm John Doe and I'm happy | | to meet you. | | | | I have a stammer, but we should | | not let that interfere with our | | conversation. | | | | I'm an excellent web developer | | and I love what I do. My speech | | impediment does not affect my | | work. | | | | What can I do for you? | | | |=========================…

90% of the time you'd have to go through a phone interview. A recruiter from the company or someone will first like to speak to you. I never had an in-person job interview without someone speaking to me on phone. Unfortunately, the situation is kinda hard sell. You should look for a company/team that values your tech skills, team player, writing skills, more than your ability to communicate verbally. A company that is more human. You should try to get recommendations from people who can attest your skills. I would love to hire you, if only I could.