Ask HN: I actually need a job now • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#11

Post by berrypicker » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:44 PM UTC

swalkergibson wrote: post #9

Who cares about what languages HN likes or doesn't like? If you have bills to pay, get a job and let go of the need to "please" some random people on the Internet, whatever that means. Imperative, object-oriented languages are all very similar, so just go get a job doing that. All you have to do is make clear to the interviewer that you may not have the precise pedigree in $FOO_LANGUAGE, but are willing to learn.

Just want to clarify, I added the HN comment because I was a little surprised (having been in the startup cultural bubble for so long) at the jobs available, not because I'm complaining at the tools these businesses use.

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#12

Post by rashthedude » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:46 PM UTC

As a coder, refreshing other languages is a breeze. Do not despair and stick to coding.

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#13

Post by jiggy2011 » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:47 PM UTC

Look at mature PHP frameworks like symfony2 , if you know rails you should be fairly at home.

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#14

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:47 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#15

Post by rosspanda » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:49 PM UTC

In Bath/Bristol (UK), we can't get rails guys, they are as rare as hens teeth. Where are you based?

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#16

Post by aidos » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:49 PM UTC

kennethtilton wrote: post #5

As a hirer I can tell you, if you can code in any language just create a cover letter and resume that proves you can code. Do not be intimidated by laundry list of acronyms you find in job listings, but acknowledge them and talk about your confidence in your ability to get up to speed. hth.

I would second this. Obviously it depends on the position but I'd take someone inexperienced (in a particular technology) who looks like a good learner over someone experienced in just a single technology.

Often you're hiring someone because of the potential they demonstrate.

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#17

Post by hellosmithy » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:49 PM UTC

berrypicker wrote: post #10

workaholic wrote: post #3

Would that I could offer you a job, but I'm curious, how did you "fail?" Did you just have trouble finding another job in London to keep you afloat?

Well the startups weren't doing too well (two failed) and I was getting paid a relatively low salary... I could probably have found another job but I didn't wanna burn up the little money I had saved up just being 'between jobs' in a really expensive city.

My experience as a developer in London right now is that there is a huge shortage of talented developers, compared to demand. You shouldn't have had trouble finding a well-paid job, especially if you have experience with a front-end framework like Angular.

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#18

Post by sn0v » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:49 PM UTC

berrypicker wrote: post #11

swalkergibson wrote: post #9

Who cares about what languages HN likes or doesn't like? If you have bills to pay, get a job and let go of the need to "please" some random people on the Internet, whatever that means. Imperative, object-oriented languages are all very similar, so just go get a job doing that. All you have to do is make clear to the interviewer that you may not have the precise pedigree in $FOO_LANGUAGE, but are willing to learn.

Just want to clarify, I added the HN comment because I was a little surprised (having been in the startup cultural bubble for so long) at the jobs available, not because I'm complaining at the tools these businesses use.

IMO most interviewers don't look for a very specific skillset in a particular language. If you have experience with a wide range of languages and a number of projects, I don't see how that isn't a plus. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#19

Post by aidos » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:50 PM UTC

berrypicker wrote: post #10

workaholic wrote: post #3

Would that I could offer you a job, but I'm curious, how did you "fail?" Did you just have trouble finding another job in London to keep you afloat?

Well the startups weren't doing too well (two failed) and I was getting paid a relatively low salary... I could probably have found another job but I didn't wanna burn up the little money I had saved up just being 'between jobs' in a really expensive city.

Would you travel in to London for work or are you totally away from the city now?

Re: Ask HN: I actually need a job now

#20

Post by eranation » Thu, Nov 21, 2013, 4:53 PM UTC

My company was looking for a Scala dev in the UK desperately. Yes, perhaps there are not too many Scala jobs out there as there are Java, .NET and PHP, but good Scala developers are not easy to find either. So adding a bit to your list of which language to add to your resume, I would go and spend more time on Scala than on PHP personally.

Why Scala? well, if you came from Ruby, I bet 9/10 you'll like it more than Java, and I bet 10/10 you'll like it more than PHP.

More and more enterprise software companies adopt it (citation needed, but I know my company does). at least it has more chance in being adopted in the enterprise than Ruby

Also it is not completely uncool for startups, you can find your handful of Scala based startups, and I think there is a trend of more and more using it (as it's not as bad as Java in terms of fun, and much better than Ruby / Python in terms of performance)

Sorry I can't offer you a job at the moment, but as a middle ground between cool startup technologies and boring corporate Java EE / Spring etc... I think Scala might be a niche that will get you that job you want (perhaps not the one you need to get immediately)