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Ask HN: What should I do?

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Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#141

Post by bradleyland »

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #122
bradleyland wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Ok, I still don't understand the point you're arguing though? What advice do you have for the OP that will help him. Painting him in to a corner isn't going to help.

You're reading too far in to what I've said. I never said that confidence is "all that's wrong". I said that confidence can outshine his condition. That doesn't make the condition go away. I have empathy for his situation, and I acknowledge that he's got a challenge ahead, but I don't think that's a very good reason to lay down and give up.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#142

Post by eitally »

Just to add a useful, encouraging data point. My DBA supervisor has a really challenging stammer, and he's fantastic -- both as a technical leader and a people manager. We value him highly and his stammer has never, ever been a problem (or changed the way people interact with him). There is hope!

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#143

Post by chris_dcosta »

I conducted a technical telephone interview with someone who had a strong stammer. I can't say it was easy, but he was the best person I interviewed, and so he got the job.

You will find the right person to employ you, and ditch the current employer because like others have said, you are not being paid enough.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#144

Post by anonbit »

Well I don't recommend doing drugs but this is what I did and it absolutely worked. Take ecstasy. I am absolutely clinically unable to do any type of interview, phone or in person. I have a hard time even remembering my own name during an interview. I flew to an a high level interview in person and for an engineering position and I taped ecstasy to my crotch. About an hour before the interview I popped that sucker and let the magic happen. I got the job. Everyone is different and I don't recommend abusing drugs and do not do this unless you know how it affects you. But for me it absolutely works.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#145

Post by jdotjdot »

goblin89 wrote: post #138
jdotjdot wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Or he may come out as insecure about his impediment, fearing it may affect their decision to hire him. I have two friends who stutter, and it never occurred to me that their condition could be worth mentioning[0]. Maybe it isn't as bad as OP's, though. [0] Unless one goes for an acting career, of course. On a serious note—I know it's easier to say, but maybe it would help OP stammer less if he didn't perceive it as s…

He does fear it will affect their decision to hire him.

All I can say, I had an interaction today that reinforced my view. Was at a friend's house and her boyfriend announced at the beginning of lunch, "Please just know I have severe hearing problems, so if I don't respond or continue a conversation we're not actually having, it's not you or me being rude, please just correct me." I really appreciated him being honest and upfront and it enables me to better cater the conversation to suit his needs as we spoke. I recognize that a studder is different in that the interviewer doesn't have to adjust his way of speaking but rather his listening, but I still think there's a benefit from the heads up. Maybe just say so instead of giving a card, then.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#146

Post by netcan »

gamegoblin wrote: post #132
netcan wrote: post #129

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…

Is this comment in the wrong thread?

yes. sorry.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#148

Post by KiwiCoder »

drdeadringer wrote: post #106
duck wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds simple, but the key is to avoid phone interviews. I'm terrible on the phone as well, and when I was looking for my last job I thought about this a lot. Looking back, I had received a job offer about 90% of the time when I had a face to face interview, but for phone interviews it was more like 10%. With that in mind, I focused on getting in person interviews the last time and found that even if someone ask…

Is there such a thing as an interview over IM?

I've done this twice for candidates with speech impediments. It works well.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#149

Post by Samuel_Michon »

bradleyland wrote: post #141
Samuel_Michon wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Ok, I still don't understand the point you're arguing though? What advice do you have for the OP that will help him. Painting him in to a corner isn't going to help. You're reading too far in to what I've said. I never said that confidence is "all that's wrong". I said that confidence can outshine his condition. That doesn't make the condition go away. I have empathy for his situation, and I acknowledge that he's got…

“What advice do you have for the OP that will help him.”

I will give him the same advice that others have suggested. Namely, apply for jobs with large enterprises and governmental agencies. Disclose your handicap before going to the first interview, don't allow for phone interviews. Ideally, your first interviews would be done over IM or email.

Don't feel you need to change anything about yourself before applying for jobs. Work on your portfolio, tidy up your Github profile, those should do the talking for you. Working on confidence in speaking and possible speech therapy are endeavors that you should want to pursue separate from your job search.

“I acknowledge that he's got a challenge ahead, but I don't think that's a very good reason to lay down and give up.”

I agree.

Re: Ask HN: What should I do?

#150

Post by mjdn »

My organisation in london is hiring. I'll pop you an email with details tomorrow when I get into the office. Would be happy to meet up in london to talk about it. I don't work in that department and have no pull with HR but the organisation does have a big focus on accessibility and diversity so they'd be happy to make reasonable adjustments
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