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"Most companies favor hiring average programmers that fit the mold over "weird people" even if they are amazing at their work." Do they? At my company we half

"Most companies favor hiring average programmers that fit the mold over "weird people" even if they are amazing at their work." Do they? At my company we half-seriously joke when programmers are too socially well adjusted, that they won't fit in. We prefer a bit of spergy. I don't have any idea what 'most' companies think, or if large companies even have consistent trends in their own thinking.

p4wnc6 10y ago
Yes they do. Companies value organizational fealty above all else, and genuinely care little about productivity or talent. Sure, they talk and talk about caring for talent -- lip service necessary for various political pursuits -- but they don't actually value it. Even when an especially productive person is hired, their ability is more often talked about as a credential and used to win arguments from authority between rival political factions than to generate real business value. Large parts of the research book Moral Mazes talk about this and various pieces of evidence for it.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
nommm-nommm 10y ago
What's a "spergy"?
- nwatson 10y ago
  probably derived from Asperger ... Asperger --> Asperger-ish --> Aspberger-ey --> 'spbergery --> spergy
- PhasmaFelis 10y ago
  "Sperg" is a derogatory term for people with Aspergers. Jackmott clearly means well, but it's odd to use it in this context.
  - solotronics 10y ago
    I self identify as a sperg lord. The term is hilarious to me at least (wait.. not realizing something is offensive is a sign of Aspergers?)
    - PhasmaFelis 10y ago
      There's several things I self-identify as that I wouldn't want a stranger calling me.
duaneb 10y ago
It often goes under "culture fit", allowing subjective biases to dominate.
bjourne 10y ago
Would you rather have an average programmer or one that does twice as much productive work every day but is only in the office half as many hours per day, given that they are both paid equally? I have asked this question to people responsible for hiring and not one have answered that they would prefer the programmer doing double the amount of work. The "inconvenience" to the rest of the team that a peer is only working half as many hours is costlier than the benefit of doubled work. My conclusion: Fitting in >> Output. Maybe it is different in Silicon Valley. I don't know. :) Also, your joke is an oxymoron. If someone is socially well adjusted then they will fit in. One key characteristic of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is that it is hard for them to fit in and they may not even want to. You write "we prefer a bit of spergy" which probably means that your workplace has preferences for how employees should behave. Which means that there is something in your workplace to fit into which means trouble for employees with ASD. Given a person that does absolutely nothing but working. Like not communicating unless it is work related and necessary, not partaking in joking, not going to lunches, not talking, not chit-chatting... Would that person "fit in"?

p4wnc6 10y ago

Yes they do. Companies value organizational fealty above all else, and genuinely care little about productivity or talent. Sure, they talk and talk about caring for talent -- lip service necessary for various political pursuits -- but they don't actually value it. Even when an especially productive person is hired, their ability is more often talked about as a credential and used to win arguments from authority between rival political factions than to generate real business value. Large parts of the research book Moral Mazes talk about this and various pieces of evidence for it.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

nommm-nommm 10y ago

What's a "spergy"?

nwatson 10y ago
probably derived from Asperger ... Asperger --> Asperger-ish --> Aspberger-ey --> 'spbergery --> spergy
PhasmaFelis 10y ago
"Sperg" is a derogatory term for people with Aspergers. Jackmott clearly means well, but it's odd to use it in this context.
- solotronics 10y ago
  I self identify as a sperg lord. The term is hilarious to me at least (wait.. not realizing something is offensive is a sign of Aspergers?)
  - PhasmaFelis 10y ago
    There's several things I self-identify as that I wouldn't want a stranger calling me.

duaneb 10y ago

It often goes under "culture fit", allowing subjective biases to dominate.

bjourne 10y ago

Would you rather have an average programmer or one that does twice as much productive work every day but is only in the office half as many hours per day, given that they are both paid equally? I have asked this question to people responsible for hiring and not one have answered that they would prefer the programmer doing double the amount of work. The "inconvenience" to the rest of the team that a peer is only working half as many hours is costlier than the benefit of doubled work. My conclusion: Fitting in >> Output. Maybe it is different in Silicon Valley. I don't know. :) Also, your joke is an oxymoron. If someone is socially well adjusted then they will fit in. One key characteristic of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is that it is hard for them to fit in and they may not even want to. You write "we prefer a bit of spergy" which probably means that your workplace has preferences for how employees should behave. Which means that there is something in your workplace to fit into which means trouble for employees with ASD. Given a person that does absolutely nothing but working. Like not communicating unless it is work related and necessary, not partaking in joking, not going to lunches, not talking, not chit-chatting... Would that person "fit in"?