5 ms·
> every "junior" job there wants 5+ years of experience. That sentence is the important clue you need. If you are still a junior programmer after 5+ years expe
by tchaffee 9y ago
> every "junior" job there wants 5+ years of experience.
That sentence is the important clue you need. If you are still a junior programmer after 5+ years experience, there is probably something wrong. You should mostly ignore the job requirements in terms of the years of experience they want.
There are even plenty of inside jokes around this. Jobs asking for 10 years javascript experience a couple of years after javascript was released!
Either they are looking for a senior programmer and are hoping to pay junior programmer rates (possible) or they are just putting their list of ideal requirements (more likely).
Sometimes the requirements aren't even written by IT staff, HR writes the requirements, and HR doesn't have a clue about IT.
Unfortunately, this means that it's very difficult to filter for "true" entry level jobs.
Applying to jobs is mostly a numbers game. Unless the job makes it clear that you need to be a senior developer, or a team lead, then just apply. Before traveling to an interview, see if you can set up an initial phone interview. If the interviewer doesn't do a great job of screening you, ask questions yourself to try to understand your responsibilities better. Will you be working under a senior programmer? That's a good sign that they aren't looking for someone who can work 100% independently and that they are willing to mentor you.
- ouid 9y agoI suspect they are encouraging people to lie on their applications, which gives companies a defense to any sort of fired for cause lawsuit.
- tchaffee 9y agoReally? That sounds a little paranoid. I always just tell the truth on the interview and application. "You asked for 5+ years experience, but I only have 6 months. I'm willing to learn if you are willing to train me".
- ouid 9y agoHow is that paranoid? You think there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for asking for more experience with a technology than is physically possible?
- borisj 9y agoYes, incompetence. I bet that such a defense would have trouble in court considering that your resume and interview would ideally cover the true amount of years of experience.
- striking 9y ago"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity"
- ouid 9y ago"never say never"
- striking 9y agoBieber's Razor?
- crypticlizard 9y agoIt's not malice, it's business and legal acumen.
- tchaffee 9y agoIf that's what the legal department recommended to me as a business owner to add in protections for being able to fire employees, I would fire the legal department. How many applicants will be inspired to lie because of my absurd requirement on the job spec? Of those applicants, how many will I hire? Do I only hire applicants who have lied in order to be protected so I can later fire them? I wouldn't hire someone who lied on their application in the first place! I've never had a legal department recommend something so silly as this, and I challenge you to find one that does. If you want certain protections for the company in an employment agreement, you put them in a contract.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- 9y ago