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> I'll interview only people who graduated from these 10 schools Hiring biases create a lot of problems. I can speak to this issue. I interviewed and was turne

> I'll interview only people who graduated from these 10 schools Hiring biases create a lot of problems. I can speak to this issue. I interviewed and was turned down by several well-known Silicon Valley tech companies, from big boys to trendy up-and-comers. I did that because I was undecided about accepting a faculty job in a STEM field at a major university. It has worked out for me because not only am I enjoying being a professor but some months later I joined a non-SV startup who was happy to have me. My startup is on a trajectory to outdo all the trendy SV startups where I "wasn't a fit". Without even launching into to biases in university hiring/admissions (so many it's shameful), I can say with good confidence that a large part of the problem is the employers.

aidenn0 10y ago
You should see the other side of the interviewing seat before dismissing hiring biases. Yes they are bad, but they exist for a reason. I've seen some incredibly incompetent people apply, and my experience is not unusual: https://blog.codinghorror.com/why-cant-programmers-program/ https://blog.codinghorror.com/why-cant-programmers-program/ Remember, everybody that gets hired stops interviewing, while everybody who doesn't get hired keeps on applying for jobs.
- untilHellbanned 10y ago
  I understand that a surprising number of people don't appear to be qualified. Though in the majority of cases succeeding in a job doesn't have to do with qualifications rather it boils down to determination. See any Paul graham commentary if you don't believe me (though I have considerable experience managing from high school to doctorate level). I suggest we stop kidding ourselves on how hard most jobs are. Most jobs aren't hard and can be trained with a surprisingly low amount of effort. Though most people instead choose to spend that effort sifting through candidates holding out for the 10x engineer. I think we'd be better off seeking out determined individuals and getting on with the actual work.
  - droopyEyelids 10y ago
    I think you’re settling an unreasonable standard for discussion by mentioning the 10x engineer as hiring target. It’s often difficult to find someone that doesn’t outright lie on their resume. It’s hard to find someone that will be able to contribute to your team rather than make a negative impact. I try and hire engineers and we have to go through dozens of candidates to find someone who just seems motivated and competent
    - _asummers 10y ago
      > I try and hire engineers and we have to go through dozens of candidates to find someone who just seems motivated and competent This has been our experience as well.
    - ryandrake 10y ago
      > I try and hire engineers and we have to go through dozens of candidates to find someone who just seems motivated and competent This statement is dependent on one's definition of motivated and competent. Additionally, I think in general a company gets the candidate stream that its job description/offered salary deserves. Pay peanuts, expect a line of monkeys applying.
      - GrumpyYoungMan 10y ago
        >Pay peanuts, expect a line of monkeys applying. While that might be true, if you pay six figures, all you get is an even bigger line of monkeys applying.
  - throwwit 10y ago
    If a company thinks it can hold off hiring through 10 interview rounds for a 10x, it will have the same ROI and the added benefit of statistics to prompt government action/assistance. Unfortunately, in turn, catering to increase the supply of workers causes a longer tail of unemployment so a certain socioeconomic tragedy of the commons ensues. Seems like a runaway effect. Not to mention the compounding effects of the work experience catch-22 as for any job, AND a hidden requisite of unofficial apprenticeship experience.

aidenn0 10y ago

You should see the other side of the interviewing seat before dismissing hiring biases. Yes they are bad, but they exist for a reason. I've seen some incredibly incompetent people apply, and my experience is not unusual: https://blog.codinghorror.com/why-cant-programmers-program/ https://blog.codinghorror.com/why-cant-programmers-program/ Remember, everybody that gets hired stops interviewing, while everybody who doesn't get hired keeps on applying for jobs.

untilHellbanned 10y ago
I understand that a surprising number of people don't appear to be qualified. Though in the majority of cases succeeding in a job doesn't have to do with qualifications rather it boils down to determination. See any Paul graham commentary if you don't believe me (though I have considerable experience managing from high school to doctorate level). I suggest we stop kidding ourselves on how hard most jobs are. Most jobs aren't hard and can be trained with a surprisingly low amount of effort. Though most people instead choose to spend that effort sifting through candidates holding out for the 10x engineer. I think we'd be better off seeking out determined individuals and getting on with the actual work.
- droopyEyelids 10y ago
  I think you’re settling an unreasonable standard for discussion by mentioning the 10x engineer as hiring target. It’s often difficult to find someone that doesn’t outright lie on their resume. It’s hard to find someone that will be able to contribute to your team rather than make a negative impact. I try and hire engineers and we have to go through dozens of candidates to find someone who just seems motivated and competent
  - _asummers 10y ago
    > I try and hire engineers and we have to go through dozens of candidates to find someone who just seems motivated and competent This has been our experience as well.
  - ryandrake 10y ago
    > I try and hire engineers and we have to go through dozens of candidates to find someone who just seems motivated and competent This statement is dependent on one's definition of motivated and competent. Additionally, I think in general a company gets the candidate stream that its job description/offered salary deserves. Pay peanuts, expect a line of monkeys applying.
    - GrumpyYoungMan 10y ago
      >Pay peanuts, expect a line of monkeys applying. While that might be true, if you pay six figures, all you get is an even bigger line of monkeys applying.
- throwwit 10y ago
  If a company thinks it can hold off hiring through 10 interview rounds for a 10x, it will have the same ROI and the added benefit of statistics to prompt government action/assistance. Unfortunately, in turn, catering to increase the supply of workers causes a longer tail of unemployment so a certain socioeconomic tragedy of the commons ensues. Seems like a runaway effect. Not to mention the compounding effects of the work experience catch-22 as for any job, AND a hidden requisite of unofficial apprenticeship experience.