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It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

simonwillison.net

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Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#191

Post by gavinhoward »

midasz wrote: post #35
gavinhoward wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It can be any part. Usually, the problem is that companies find out that I'm not good as a cog in a machine. That can happen at any time, but once they do, they're not interested.

You seem like a super intelligent guy in regards to your profession, though (and perhaps it is my own bias) also super contrarian. I'd genuinely always pick the person who is easy to work with than someone who might cause conflict - even if the latter was way smarter. Collaboration is key in teams.

I never said that companies weren't right to not hire me.

I personally think I'm just not a good fit anywhere.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#192

Post by gavinhoward »

hef19898 wrote: post #62
Hermitian909 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Usually, the problem is that companies find out that I'm not good as a cog in a machine IMO this is the real problem - and it comes through in your blog posts. It's very risky to hire someone who can't be a cog, you need a lot of social proof that they're worth the risk.

There is being a mindless cog, and honestly, at the extremes, nobody eants that except for the most mindless, easiest manual jobs. And there is being a professional who does his job as part of a team, follows some basic rules and still speaks his mind, but also knows when it just doesn't do any good. Try being the second, because at the other extreme of the mindless drone (which people are forcedbto be and hardly are…

I went shooting with previous colleagues. They carried guns to the workplace too.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#193

Post by prawn »

gavinhoward wrote: post #189
prawn wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it possible that employers could think that your political aspirations may outweigh your commitment to working consistently for them into the future? Links from your site: https://gavinhoward.com/2020/06/i-am-running-for-office/ https://gab.com/gavinhoward

You didn't read far enough. My campaign has been terminated and will stay terminated. I lost the motivation to continue.

I can appreciate that plans and motivations change, but I read that page about intent and the update at the bottom was about getting a letter from Romney. FYI, I'd found the campaign content from the Gab link, which didn't have the campaign-termination announcement.

"If I lose, I will run for Senate of the United States against Mitt Romney in 2024. I will not go away."

"And if I lose, I will then run for President of the United States in 2028 since that is the first year I will be eligible. I will not go away."

This might reflect poorly on you in the eyes of an employer wondering if you were distracted by political priorities, and/or not seeing it through? Could explain the job fortunes.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#194

Post by gavinhoward »

teaearlgraycold wrote: post #31
emptysongglass wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does that actually mean? The fact you're using language like, "cog in the machine" is already telling me a lot about why companies don't want to hire you. If you told us exactly where the process breaks down for you and why with illustrative examples, we might be able to help you identify where it's going wrong for you. But tip 1, companies hire people who are positive about how they can contribute and work with…

Literally came here for the same thing. Went to their blog and saw that a programming language is "dead to [them]" because the organization behind the language doesn't like guns. WUT > "Why can't I get a job?" > - man with 30ft pole behind them with a red flag hoisted on it

I never asked why I can't get a job. I merely said that I can't. I know I'm not a good fit in sterile workplaces.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#195

Post by gavinhoward »

emptysongglass wrote: post #20
gavinhoward wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It can be any part. Usually, the problem is that companies find out that I'm not good as a cog in a machine. That can happen at any time, but once they do, they're not interested.

What does that actually mean? The fact you're using language like, "cog in the machine" is already telling me a lot about why companies don't want to hire you. If you told us exactly where the process breaks down for you and why with illustrative examples, we might be able to help you identify where it's going wrong for you. But tip 1, companies hire people who are positive about how they can contribute and work with…

There might be people outside of the conference targeting attendees.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#196

Post by gavinhoward »

flangola7 wrote: post #77
ahartmetz wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It could be when they see that https://git.gavinhoward.com/gavin/petty-tyrant-businesses

It gets worse. His website has subscribe links to Gab and Parler accounts, and a rant whining about lobste.rs banning him for being transphobic that is completely un-introspective. https://gavinhoward.com/2022/07/lobste.rs-will-become-an-ech... I don't care how good of a C whiz this person is, if I see that crap associated with an applicant their application is going straight to the incinerator. Even if I had no prob…

Un-introspective, huh?

People really don't read my blog posts very well.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#197

Post by themoonisachees »

czechdeveloper wrote: post #164
pcthrowaway wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yikes! https://gavinhoward.com/2023/04/rust-is-dead-to-me/ > Rust the language is dead to me. > why? > Because, quite literally, the Rust Foundation wants to make people like me unwelcome in any Rust event, not just official ones. > Don’t believe me? > Look at the draft Rust Trademark Policy that the Rust Foundation is asking for comments on and go to page 12: > > We will consider requests to use the Marks on a case…

I have to say that that part in Rust Trademark Policy also gave me a stop. It's just so weird to single it out.

It's good PR CYA. They ensure that there will be a much lower chance of an article headlined "mass shooting at rust conference" being written.

I am personal'y of the opinion that brands play it too safe in general and people aren't stupid and know that just because a brand happened to be near something bad doesn't mean the brand is responsible and therefore bad, but apparently brands don't agree and they're the ones calling the shots on where they're displayed.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#198

Post by gavinhoward »

slyall wrote: post #91
ahartmetz wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It could be when they see that https://git.gavinhoward.com/gavin/petty-tyrant-businesses

While he does feel that he "live[s] in a place where people generally share the same values" some of those values are probably a bit public for a "boring mainstream" company. I'd suggest separate technical/non-technical blogs and only referring people to the first. I'm mostly thinking of all the blog posts that explicitly point to the disclaimer.. You don't have to hide the personal blog but this is probably a bit mu…

I've thought about separating them. But by the time I thought about it, I was already famous for it.

I've come to expect it.

Notice that I never wondered why companies don't hire me. I merely said they don't. I know I'm not a good fit in a sterile work environment.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#199

Post by xena »

sph wrote: post #185
xena wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes but really, having a pseudonym that is wholly unrelated to you and letting you get things out on that side blog that way can be invaluable. I have at least two such side blogs. Statistically you've probably read one of those side blog articles without knowing.

Yes you might be right. Also the hacker culture has always been centered around pseudonyms and fake identities. My quest might be a bit quixotic in this day and age. Thanks for the level headed conversation

Remember: wordpress.com blogs are free. I put my email address in my Hacker News bio if you want to reach out.

Re: It doesn’t take much public creativity to stand out as a job candidate

#200

Post by gavinhoward »

raincole wrote: post #121
sph wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I disagree with the stance and tone of that repo, I appreciate that someone stops being a corporate lackey even on their personal websites; we've all become sterile, pleasant representations of the ideal worker just hoping for someone to have the decency to pay us for our programming ability and talent. Maybe be a little careful with the conspiracy theories, but I am quite done with the corporate-friendly perso…

This. I got a very mixed feeling after reading his blog. On one hand it looks like he lacks self-awareness to the point that he didn't realize the blog makes him quite unemployable. On the other hand, I don't want to live in a society where a blog can make you unemployable, and I kinda admire his audacity to keep it on.

Oh, I quite realize my blog is a liability.

My original post was refuting claims that a blog and public code could get you hired.

I know that companies will see me as not a good fit. That's a good thing for both of us because I've come to realize that I'm not a good fit for a sterile office environment.

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