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Programmer search engine

joelonsoftware.com

61–70 of 89 posts

Re: Programmer search engine

#61
post #54
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it should be a combination of both GitHub and StackOverflow. GitHub is great to see if the person can code, and a very crucial part of hiring. StackOverflow is great to see if a person can communicate, which I think is as important as having the ability to code. I've come across many programmers that can code well, but had horrible communications skills. It's always difficult to interact with these programmer…

StackOverflow primarily exposes their addictive game-playing, not their communication skills. The rep/badge bullshit encourages inane responses, and the wiki aspects cover the tracks.

It seems to be more about the detailed and correct answer voted up the most that you find from searching something on Google, for that it works really well, not being part of the community there I don't care about that other 10 half assed replies for badges/points

Re: Programmer search engine

#62
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it should be a combination of both GitHub and StackOverflow. GitHub is great to see if the person can code, and a very crucial part of hiring. StackOverflow is great to see if a person can communicate, which I think is as important as having the ability to code. I've come across many programmers that can code well, but had horrible communications skills. It's always difficult to interact with these programmer…

"StackOverflow is great to see if a person can communicate ..." ... on StackOverflow. Meanwhile, the great bulk of programmer communication is happening on blogs, mailing lists, and IRC. You're very right that written and verbal communication is important, but you have to look in the right places for it.

The reality is that many people cannot communicate anywhere, so if they are writing good stuff on Stack Overflow, they are probably going to have some ability to explain to their team how their code works. (But it also means that they are the type of person who is happy to waste an hour replying in detail to some dumb person on the Internet.)

Re: Programmer search engine

#63

I would prefer a programmer search engine based on Github, where people write code, to StackOverflow, where people talk about code.

What happened to people who can write successful products but not yet been open sourced? This happened to John Carmack, Jamie Zawinski. They are probably too busy in making stuffs work then writing answers on Stack Overflow or committing code to GitHub.

Some people do both. Why gamble on someone who won't show any of his work when you can just pick someone who does?

Re: Programmer search engine

#64
This seems to be very good from the employers point of view, but if I am to pay to use the site then I expect to be able at least filter who can see my profile to only be the people who match my profile of an acceptable place to work.

I am impressed that they have people outside the states though, that seems to indicate that the place is not just a me too copy cat.

Re: Programmer search engine

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps it will be so lucrative because employers will get sick of paying percentages of salaries in recruiter's fees and so many of them will sign up for this more-modest subscription fee?

Roughly how many points does a recruiter get?

30 - 40% in my experience in the UK. It's pretty sickening.

That's the default. If you're crafty there are ways to force it down over the course of the arrangement.

Re: Programmer search engine

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps it will be so lucrative because employers will get sick of paying percentages of salaries in recruiter's fees and so many of them will sign up for this more-modest subscription fee?

Roughly how many points does a recruiter get?

I've heard 10% at my current company.

Re: Programmer search engine

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to take anything away from hotjobs, but I would argue that the real value Stack overflow careers offers is the fact that an employer can not only see your CV, but at least somewhat determine your level of expertise through your stack overflow account/reputation. I imagine Joel believes this has more value then just the data extracted from a resume.

> I would argue that the real value Stack overflow careers offers is the fact that an employer can not only see your CV What stops people from linking to their stackoverflow accounts? Many people already link their CV to their github accounts.

nothing at all, but sadly, I know some employers(HR people, etc) probably don't even go through that much trouble in the screening process. If you are paying for stackoverflow to list you you know the employers on the other end are discerning enough to actually care about your stackoverflow rep. This is the same value provided by GitHub's job profile.

Re: Programmer search engine

#70
post #43
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right. I wonder if this was part of the plan for stack overflow from the beginning. This is an ingenious way to monetize its existing user base while creating incentives for stack overflow users to keep creating valuable content for free.

Speaking of, I wonder how many millions an open HN job board could make? The people I'd like to hire are stackoverflow, github, and HN users.

PG can we please do this? We're looking to hire 15+ people right now and we are running out of good people in Toronto.
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