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I went on a tour with my son's robotics club to a company that makes robotic arms and such for factories. At the end the CEO said if their is one thing he can

I went on a tour with my son's robotics club to a company that makes robotic arms and such for factories. At the end the CEO said if their is one thing he can recommend to all kids (I was ready for him to say take STEM classes), is for them to take public speaking. He said it's so critical for them to be able to properly share your ideas and listen to people. Quite interesting.

6stringmerc 11y ago
Very interesting anecdote. I wasn't able to compete in physical competitions so I did get support undertaking Speech & Debate, eventually earning enough points to become a National Forensics League member. Having the self-assuredness to stand in front of 5 people (waiter) or 300 strangers (movie theater employee) and deliver information and interact is a skill that can't be taught out of a book. Also, unlike calculus or basic physics, human interaction and social norms are very fluid. As in math through high school and college and in the professional field is pretty static. Human interaction in each of those spheres / times of life, not so much. I think in certain disciplines there's study in "code switching" which attempts to describe the phenomenon. Such as an educated, excellent speaking person sliding into a drawl and slang when hanging around family members which don't share the same expectations of communication.
drzaiusapelord 11y ago
While I don't necessarily disagree with this, its clear this is from a CEO's perspective where public speaking is a very important role. If you have 1000 hours of personal and technical development a year at your disposal and you spend 500 of those at toastmasters instead of learning libraries, tooling, and messing around with robotics projects, then who do you think will win out during an interview? You or the guy who had his nose in robotics textbooks and websites for that 1000 hours? I'd rather hire the guy who is a little mumble-mouthed and who knows his shit over the chatty guy who can't compete technically with the first candidate. The original guy can work on his social/speaking/managerial skills as his career develops. In the meantime, he needs to compete as a skill worker.
- Apocryphon 11y ago
  If that guy doesn't know how to convey that knowledge at all, and gets all nervous and trips up, he's at a far worse disadvantage. Which, I suppose, fits the narrative about how technical interviews are part of a broken hiring process.
- s73v3r 11y ago
  False dilemma. Who says one can't do both?

6stringmerc 11y ago

Very interesting anecdote. I wasn't able to compete in physical competitions so I did get support undertaking Speech & Debate, eventually earning enough points to become a National Forensics League member. Having the self-assuredness to stand in front of 5 people (waiter) or 300 strangers (movie theater employee) and deliver information and interact is a skill that can't be taught out of a book. Also, unlike calculus or basic physics, human interaction and social norms are very fluid. As in math through high school and college and in the professional field is pretty static. Human interaction in each of those spheres / times of life, not so much. I think in certain disciplines there's study in "code switching" which attempts to describe the phenomenon. Such as an educated, excellent speaking person sliding into a drawl and slang when hanging around family members which don't share the same expectations of communication.

drzaiusapelord 11y ago

While I don't necessarily disagree with this, its clear this is from a CEO's perspective where public speaking is a very important role. If you have 1000 hours of personal and technical development a year at your disposal and you spend 500 of those at toastmasters instead of learning libraries, tooling, and messing around with robotics projects, then who do you think will win out during an interview? You or the guy who had his nose in robotics textbooks and websites for that 1000 hours? I'd rather hire the guy who is a little mumble-mouthed and who knows his shit over the chatty guy who can't compete technically with the first candidate. The original guy can work on his social/speaking/managerial skills as his career develops. In the meantime, he needs to compete as a skill worker.

Apocryphon 11y ago
If that guy doesn't know how to convey that knowledge at all, and gets all nervous and trips up, he's at a far worse disadvantage. Which, I suppose, fits the narrative about how technical interviews are part of a broken hiring process.
s73v3r 11y ago
False dilemma. Who says one can't do both?