“Nothing you can do impresses me”
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“Nothing you can do impresses me”
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Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#2I'm a bit confused how the interview came in at the end? Did the author use their project in a job application?
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#3I'm used to this?
I'll be leaving my job here in a few weeks for what I consider my dream gig. I expect to be criticized on nearly every project, because that makes me a better coder.
I'm not sure if it's just adapting to the environment or if I actually like the general cynicism. A pat on the back is nice, but I strongly believe in the "this is always shit" mantra of software dev. There is always something that can be improved, and beating around the bush with flowery language doesn't really help to fix it.
> but it’s pretty tough to come back from, “I don’t know” on your first interview question.
Argh, don't ever answer a question with just "I don't know". At least speak to how you would figure it out.
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#4I have learned a similar lesson over the past few months - I was thrust into a leadership position by part circumstance, and when it came to working with junior developers, it clicked that I needed to be building them up & increase their confidence in the correct approaches to engineering, not be hyper critical. I am indeed hypercritical of my own work, always striving for self-improvement, but I recognize that different people are at different stages of their lives, and it does no good to expect that everyone is the same as me.
There is a lack of empathy in the industry at large for people attempting to enter as a software engineer, and on a human level, it is an awful thing - many of them are people like us trying to make their way in the world and live a better life. It is a forgotten point, and I wish more would contribute towards the future.
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#5I'm used to this? I'll be leaving my job here in a few weeks for what I consider my dream gig. I expect to be criticized on nearly every project, because that makes me a better coder. I'm not sure if it's just adapting to the environment or if I actually like the general cynicism. A pat on the back is nice, but I strongly believe in the "this is always shit" mantra of software dev. There is always something that can…
Humans in general have a serious problem saying "I don't know." Someone who is able to admit that they don't know something deserves your respect, at the very least.
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#6This article conflates programming and making a product. The example of creating 'an app that would save the planet' most likely has little to do with who programmed it, and more to do with what it is, and how it is applied in the world.
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#7I'm used to this? I'll be leaving my job here in a few weeks for what I consider my dream gig. I expect to be criticized on nearly every project, because that makes me a better coder. I'm not sure if it's just adapting to the environment or if I actually like the general cynicism. A pat on the back is nice, but I strongly believe in the "this is always shit" mantra of software dev. There is always something that can…
But this is exactly the point of the article: There is an entire world in between "only interested in finding holes to poke" and "a pat on the back". It's a wonderful place, full of bridges and people working together that DOESN'T imply "I assume this is already perfect or else you wouldn't be wasting my time telling me about it."
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#8If you want to see real delight in your work, do it for someone who needs it!
They are usually not your co-workers :)
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#9I'm used to this? I'll be leaving my job here in a few weeks for what I consider my dream gig. I expect to be criticized on nearly every project, because that makes me a better coder. I'm not sure if it's just adapting to the environment or if I actually like the general cynicism. A pat on the back is nice, but I strongly believe in the "this is always shit" mantra of software dev. There is always something that can…
When I feel like I'm doing good work, I'm a lot more productive, and I care more about doing things right vs just getting them done. Obviously constructive criticism needs to happen -- the author isn't disputing that. In fact, she says "it's been tough to get useful feedback" because people care more about cutting the other person down than actually evaluating the work.
It's very easy to couch constructive criticism in a few words of sincere praise/recognition of their work, and it generally results in them doing better work in the future. In fact, they'll be much more likely to listen to your criticism if you haven't immediately put them on the defensive. Once either side gets at all defensive, it's extremely difficult to have any kind meaningful conversation. If you always say "this is crap", then you're literally asking them to defend themselves.
If you haven't already, I would recommend reading "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.
Re: “Nothing you can do impresses me”
#10> Let me give an example — say a new coder had somehow, impossibly, in their first month of coding, created an app that would save the planet, plunging us into a permanent state of world peace and 100% clean energy. What’s the first thing that you as a senior developer would say to that person before seeing or testing their project? Let me guess — you’re thinking, “Is it responsive?”
You built an email visualizer and are comparing it to some sort of utopian omnisavior.exe
This reads as an incredibly defensive diatribe about someone who didn't get a job because she interviewed poorly in her space.
You don't need validation at every turn, and providing that kind of false validation only cheapens actual accolades.