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Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

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Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#71

Post by codegeek »

Volundr wrote: post #70
codegeek wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't have to know. But if you won't take a job because of OS, you should ask upfront in the interview. Better to end it right there instead of continuing further. Heck, ask before the interview through email and get it over with.

> But if you won't take a job because of OS, you should ask upfront in the interview. If working the job requires a specific OS you should mention it right upfront in the interview, or better yet the job description. Why is it the candidates job to telepathically guess at what hard requirements might exist? You have a requirement, state it.

I don't understand what you mean. It is not a requirement necessarily but unless you are a very small flexible startup, most companies provide standard computers with OS standardized and employees don't have the freedom to install whatever they want.I wouldn't call that a requirement. So no, I wouldn't mention that we require a certain OS.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#72

Post by biglyburrito »

Only Linux is a dealbreaker for me, simply because I've never worked with it & most of the GUIs I use aren't built to support it. I've worked on both macOS and Windows over the past decade-plus... I'm less familiar with macOS, but I'm more at ease using it with each new job.

Supporting multiple OSes means extra complexity & work for MIS, IT, and DevOps departments. Also, there are sometimes issues that crop up due to OS-specific work (e.g. newline characters) or tools that are only supported on certain OSes. So I understand why some companies are more prescriptive about which OSes they are allowed to use.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#73

Post by cassianoleal »

I'm a contractor and mostly work in BYOD settings. My computer is my work tool and it's been set up in a way to maximise my workflow and productivity.

I don't need to think in order to interact with it and the tools I have installed on it. Anything different and it gets in the way. A little is fine but each annoyance compounds on the others.

If the client requires me to use their machines, my preference would be Mac first, Linux second. Windows kills my productivity, my mood and my will to work.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#74

Post by ldarby »

codegeek wrote: post #67
sshine wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is nothing correct or incorrect about preferences. You choose industries as a matter of preference, too. Is it correct or incorrect to work in healthcare?

Preference is not the same thing as "I wont take the job if you do Windows" etc. We all prefer things of course. I prefer Macs for example. But will I refuse a job because it uses Windows ? Naah. I will look at everything else that is more important to me which are the team, the work, the goals, whats in it for me, do I see a career path here etc.

That is the same thing as preferences. Different things are important to different people, these are preferences by definition.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#75

Post by ldarby »

I've used Linux as my primary OS for > 20 years. My current job supports Mac and Windows and I accepted it with the understanding that I'd have to use windows, but couldn't get used to it, so switched to a Mac. Maybe I could have gotten used to this, but switching between the Mac UI and Linux at home always felt like switching between a normal bike and one with reversed steering (see e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzDaBzBlL0). Luckily Linux is unofficially supported at work so I've switched back to that now.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#76

Post by drewcoo »

Foisting an OS on you can be more than just an OS.

Mandatory Windows is highly indicative of push-button GUI-centric IT, separate from development and managing everything.

If that's the case, see if you're allowed to install anything you want, whenever you like. Quite possibly things are locked down and dev-frustrating.

If you take the job, be sure to find out if they automatically install updates and reboot your machine at night . . . that can hurt if it's not expected.

And maybe find out how much they spy on your activity (without asking directly because that will draw scrutiny).

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#77

Post by ldarby »

Volundr wrote: post #70
codegeek wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't have to know. But if you won't take a job because of OS, you should ask upfront in the interview. Better to end it right there instead of continuing further. Heck, ask before the interview through email and get it over with.

> But if you won't take a job because of OS, you should ask upfront in the interview. If working the job requires a specific OS you should mention it right upfront in the interview, or better yet the job description. Why is it the candidates job to telepathically guess at what hard requirements might exist? You have a requirement, state it.

You're not getting that most employers treat the requirement to use windows like the requirement to wear pants, i.e. they're not going to state it.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#78

Post by kyriakos »

No problem whatever OS is needed but what I find annoying is how badly IT departments setup their OS policies. Especially if you get a job at a company that is not primarily a tech company as as software engineer you get to suffer with locked down big brothered Windows. I don't mind Windows when it's clean and debloated and wsl2 works nicely but when you have the same blanket group policy for all employees regardless of what kind of work they do its a hurdle I cannot stomach.

Re: Is primary OS a dealbreaker for you (when taking a new job)?

#79

Post by Cockbrand »

Like others said, a well configured and not too locked-down Windows machine would probably be bearable, although I’ve only had Macs, Linux machines and Chromebooks in the last few decades.

But I’d certainly think twice about starting at a company running on MS365, as I’m well spoiled by using Workspace for almost a decade now.

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