4 ms·

I'd highly recommend patio11's fantastic post Don't Call Yourself A Programmer, And Other Career Advice, in particular this section: "Read ad. Send in resume.

by otras 8y ago

I'd highly recommend patio11's fantastic post Don't Call Yourself A Programmer, And Other Career Advice, in particular this section: "Read ad. Send in resume. Go to job interview. Receive offer.” is the exception, not the typical case, for getting employment. [0]: https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-pr...

peterburkimsher 8y ago
I agree entirely. I don't expect that my real persona can succeed on a typical job board (e.g. Indeed, Seek, TradeMe, 104). After trying with that method, I experimented with many other routes. Most expect me to already have a work visa. I've been trying since March. I rewrote my résumé twice. I updated my LinkedIn. I asked recruiters for help. I put side projects on the web to try to get attention. I asked friends who I worked with at a local company when I was there before. I found random people on Github and offered to work for free on open-source projects just to get an introduction. I contacted computer repair shops and asked them to put up posters advertising data migration services that I could do with my old Apple II. Nothing has worked. Now I'm spamming every company on the Accredited Employers list (whether in the tech industry or not), just to try to get some new ideas of how to approach the application process in that country.
- jtchang 8y ago
  Why do you think nothing has worked? Also you don't have an e-mail contact or anything in your profile for anyone who might actually be interested in your background!
  - peterburkimsher 8y ago
    Valid point; I've added contact details to my HN profile. I think that nothing has worked because although some people reply, the answers are always negative. I've had only a single interview. Writing custom cover letters and tailoring my résumé for each separate application is very time consuming and involves exaggeration to the point of stretching the truth. What I'm considering in this project is to build a bot that could take over that process. Blatant lying, just not in my name. I think that fraud is wrong for a human, but for a bot, passing the Turing Test is a feature.
    - davelnewton 8y ago
      Your very premise is fraudulent: "You wanted to talk to this bullshit person some software invented, you will talk to me instead." No, no I won't. The bot created the resume under your direction: you're not presenting the resume as a science project or submitting it to a Turing Test, you're submitting it to an HR person, or hiring manager, as a potential candidate, and wasting their time. It's just rude.
    - PascLeRasc 8y ago
      "I think fraud is wrong for a human, but if it's the human pressing a button that tells a lie, no harm done."
      - davelnewton 8y ago
        The armed drone approach to resumes.
yesenadam 8y ago
Thank you for the link! Gold. Uh except for "You’re in the business of unemploying people. If you think that is unfair, go back to school and study something that doesn’t matter."

by otras 8y ago

peterburkimsher 8y ago

I agree entirely. I don't expect that my real persona can succeed on a typical job board (e.g. Indeed, Seek, TradeMe, 104). After trying with that method, I experimented with many other routes. Most expect me to already have a work visa. I've been trying since March. I rewrote my résumé twice. I updated my LinkedIn. I asked recruiters for help. I put side projects on the web to try to get attention. I asked friends who I worked with at a local company when I was there before. I found random people on Github and offered to work for free on open-source projects just to get an introduction. I contacted computer repair shops and asked them to put up posters advertising data migration services that I could do with my old Apple II. Nothing has worked. Now I'm spamming every company on the Accredited Employers list (whether in the tech industry or not), just to try to get some new ideas of how to approach the application process in that country.

jtchang 8y ago
Why do you think nothing has worked? Also you don't have an e-mail contact or anything in your profile for anyone who might actually be interested in your background!
- peterburkimsher 8y ago
  Valid point; I've added contact details to my HN profile. I think that nothing has worked because although some people reply, the answers are always negative. I've had only a single interview. Writing custom cover letters and tailoring my résumé for each separate application is very time consuming and involves exaggeration to the point of stretching the truth. What I'm considering in this project is to build a bot that could take over that process. Blatant lying, just not in my name. I think that fraud is wrong for a human, but for a bot, passing the Turing Test is a feature.
  - davelnewton 8y ago
    Your very premise is fraudulent: "You wanted to talk to this bullshit person some software invented, you will talk to me instead." No, no I won't. The bot created the resume under your direction: you're not presenting the resume as a science project or submitting it to a Turing Test, you're submitting it to an HR person, or hiring manager, as a potential candidate, and wasting their time. It's just rude.
  - PascLeRasc 8y ago
    "I think fraud is wrong for a human, but if it's the human pressing a button that tells a lie, no harm done."
    - davelnewton 8y ago
      The armed drone approach to resumes.

yesenadam 8y ago

Thank you for the link! Gold. Uh except for "You’re in the business of unemploying people. If you think that is unfair, go back to school and study something that doesn’t matter."