5 ms·

Yes, many things. Interviewers are often ecstatic about my skills and experiences, but ultimately say they would prefer to hire people less-skilled who are chea

by p4wnc6 11y ago

Yes, many things. Interviewers are often ecstatic about my skills and experiences, but ultimately say they would prefer to hire people less-skilled who are cheaper and (especially) more willing to sublimate away basic human needs (such as for privacy or vacation) while still working for lower wage.

ktRolster 11y ago
Suggest working on your interpersonal skills (soft skills)
- p4wnc6 11y ago
  I do work on communication skills and I will continue to do so. This is solid advice for all technical workers. But I would also like to add that I have often been complimented by my bosses on my ability to communicate technical concepts in very entertaining and understandable ways. At one recent interview, an HR representative from the firm told me that the only feedback she received that was better than the feedback about my technical skills was the feedback that I would "mesh instantly" with the team and they all enjoyed my sense of humor. Sadly, that role was only budgeted to pay around 50% of what I had earned previously and there was no way to compromise. I have occasionally worked in situations where a manager disapproved of my proactive nature and I need to improve my communication skills in those situations. It is very reminiscent of the type of situation from a recent research paper [0] about how extraverted managers tend to suppress the talents of proactive, introverted subordinates. Thus far, I feel my communication skills have been one of my strongest assets and strongest attractive features for potential employers. But I do agree that I (like anyone) need to continue to work on them. [0] "Reversing The Extraverted Leadership Advantage: The Role of Employee Proactivity" (2011); Grant, Gino, and Hofmann < http://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/Reversing-the-Extraverted-Leadership-Advantage_The-Role-of-Employee-Proactivity.pdf http://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/Reversing-t... >
  - ktRolster 11y ago
    > Thus far, I feel my communication skills have been one > of my strongest assets and strongest attractive features > for potential employers. Well, you are absolutely wrong. Your communication comes across as defensive, angry, defiant, and self-important. It's a major turnoff.
    - p4wnc6 11y ago
      I am not claiming that my communication is good. I am only saying that in all the jobs I have had and many interviews, my communication and explanatory skill has been praised and cited as a positive attribute by others. It has been a strong asset for me ... that much is simply empirical fact. But I thank you for saying that you find my communication style defensive, angry, defiant, and self-important. I apologize to you for coming across that way. It means I am failing to write my true feelings and I am not living up to the high standard of communication that I set for myself even in a medium like Hacker News comments. It is helpful to hear this criticism from you, even if it's uncomfortable, because it gives me the chance to reflect on what I've written and try to discover how I could communicate it in a way that still expresses my personal values (such as the failure of open-plan offices) but without giving the incorrect impressions of e.g. defiance or self-importance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it with me. I sincerely appreciate it.
      - ktRolster 11y ago
        > Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it with me. I sincerely appreciate it. That's rather open minded of you. Since you like it, I can add: you come across as arrogant and judgmental as well. If a company would rather get things done quickly instead of high-quality, that is their choice. Would you look down on me for driving a 20-year-old car because I want to save money? We all want to work on interesting jobs all the time, but that's not what work is about. Work is about producing things other people want (otherwise no one will pay you).
        p4wnc6 11y ago
vinceguidry 11y ago
Might I suggest giving Ruby a shot? Companies that use Ruby generally look for more experienced devs.
- p4wnc6 11y ago
  I would love to learn Ruby -- it is a beautiful language. But I am unaware of the scientific and data-science world for Ruby. I am not seeking front-end work, and Ruby has a (perhaps undeserved?) reputation of mainly providing jobs of that variety.
  - vinceguidry 11y ago
    I interviewed on Friday for a company called Emcien that does data science work. http://emcien.com/ http://emcien.com/ If you're willing to move to Atlanta, they're an option. Send me an email if interested, look in my profile. Heck, even if you're not, they're still worth talking to.

by p4wnc6 11y ago

ktRolster 11y ago

Suggest working on your interpersonal skills (soft skills)

p4wnc6 11y ago
I do work on communication skills and I will continue to do so. This is solid advice for all technical workers. But I would also like to add that I have often been complimented by my bosses on my ability to communicate technical concepts in very entertaining and understandable ways. At one recent interview, an HR representative from the firm told me that the only feedback she received that was better than the feedback about my technical skills was the feedback that I would "mesh instantly" with the team and they all enjoyed my sense of humor. Sadly, that role was only budgeted to pay around 50% of what I had earned previously and there was no way to compromise. I have occasionally worked in situations where a manager disapproved of my proactive nature and I need to improve my communication skills in those situations. It is very reminiscent of the type of situation from a recent research paper [0] about how extraverted managers tend to suppress the talents of proactive, introverted subordinates. Thus far, I feel my communication skills have been one of my strongest assets and strongest attractive features for potential employers. But I do agree that I (like anyone) need to continue to work on them. [0] "Reversing The Extraverted Leadership Advantage: The Role of Employee Proactivity" (2011); Grant, Gino, and Hofmann < http://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/Reversing-the-Extraverted-Leadership-Advantage_The-Role-of-Employee-Proactivity.pdf http://homepages.se.edu/cvonbergen/files/2013/01/Reversing-t... >
- ktRolster 11y ago
  > Thus far, I feel my communication skills have been one > of my strongest assets and strongest attractive features > for potential employers. Well, you are absolutely wrong. Your communication comes across as defensive, angry, defiant, and self-important. It's a major turnoff.
  - p4wnc6 11y ago
    I am not claiming that my communication is good. I am only saying that in all the jobs I have had and many interviews, my communication and explanatory skill has been praised and cited as a positive attribute by others. It has been a strong asset for me ... that much is simply empirical fact. But I thank you for saying that you find my communication style defensive, angry, defiant, and self-important. I apologize to you for coming across that way. It means I am failing to write my true feelings and I am not living up to the high standard of communication that I set for myself even in a medium like Hacker News comments. It is helpful to hear this criticism from you, even if it's uncomfortable, because it gives me the chance to reflect on what I've written and try to discover how I could communicate it in a way that still expresses my personal values (such as the failure of open-plan offices) but without giving the incorrect impressions of e.g. defiance or self-importance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it with me. I sincerely appreciate it.
    - ktRolster 11y ago
      > Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it with me. I sincerely appreciate it. That's rather open minded of you. Since you like it, I can add: you come across as arrogant and judgmental as well. If a company would rather get things done quickly instead of high-quality, that is their choice. Would you look down on me for driving a 20-year-old car because I want to save money? We all want to work on interesting jobs all the time, but that's not what work is about. Work is about producing things other people want (otherwise no one will pay you).
      - p4wnc6 11y ago

vinceguidry 11y ago

Might I suggest giving Ruby a shot? Companies that use Ruby generally look for more experienced devs.

p4wnc6 11y ago
I would love to learn Ruby -- it is a beautiful language. But I am unaware of the scientific and data-science world for Ruby. I am not seeking front-end work, and Ruby has a (perhaps undeserved?) reputation of mainly providing jobs of that variety.
- vinceguidry 11y ago
  I interviewed on Friday for a company called Emcien that does data science work. http://emcien.com/ http://emcien.com/ If you're willing to move to Atlanta, they're an option. Send me an email if interested, look in my profile. Heck, even if you're not, they're still worth talking to.