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> I think it's fair to say that, generally, breadth is valued more at smaller companies where people have to multi-task. IME, not at all during the hiring proc

> I think it's fair to say that, generally, breadth is valued more at smaller companies where people have to multi-task. IME, not at all during the hiring process. And only rarely later.

kartickv 8y ago
Is your experience with companies that could make use of your other skill? If you understand accounting, and you're applying to a company that makes photography apps, that won't be given much value.
- WalterSear 8y ago
  Obviously if your skills aren't relevant, they aren't going to be used. IMHO, this is mostly due to the nature of the industry I am in (software). Hiring engineers is difficult, and only done when there are specific needs to fill - particularly at small companies, that can't afford to think too far ahead, or afield.
  - kartickv 8y ago
    I was asking if you've found your other skills ignored even when you could explain to the company how they're relevant for them. For example, if you can do accounting, and you're applying to work at a company like Tally that makes accounting software, and you explain to them how your accounting skills are an added reason to hire you, have they, in your experience, still ignored those skills?
    - WalterSear 8y ago
      Yes.
joshvm 8y ago
From experience at a small company? Obviously it will vary. Your comment below gives one side, where companies want a specific thing and don't want to think beyond that. There is another side to that, where the company can't afford a dedicated engineer for X, and so being able to do some of that work is very valuable. I think this is probably more common in hardware startups more than anywhere else. I've worked at companies (< 10 people) where we absolutely wanted different (relevant) skills, because we needed people to be reasonably autonomous in carrying out tasks. For example, we wanted people who had optical lab experience, could program and if you had mechanical engineering that was a big bonus. My suggestion was that the odds of needing multiple skills is larger at a 5 person early stage startup than an established 200 person company. The larger you go, the more you're at the whim of HR screening. There may well have a long list of requirements, but on the job you're probably going to be more specialised.

> I think it's fair to say that, generally, breadth is valued more at smaller companies where people have to multi-task. IME, not at all during the hiring process. And only rarely later.

kartickv 8y ago

Is your experience with companies that could make use of your other skill? If you understand accounting, and you're applying to a company that makes photography apps, that won't be given much value.

WalterSear 8y ago
Obviously if your skills aren't relevant, they aren't going to be used. IMHO, this is mostly due to the nature of the industry I am in (software). Hiring engineers is difficult, and only done when there are specific needs to fill - particularly at small companies, that can't afford to think too far ahead, or afield.
- kartickv 8y ago
  I was asking if you've found your other skills ignored even when you could explain to the company how they're relevant for them. For example, if you can do accounting, and you're applying to work at a company like Tally that makes accounting software, and you explain to them how your accounting skills are an added reason to hire you, have they, in your experience, still ignored those skills?
  - WalterSear 8y ago
    Yes.

joshvm 8y ago

From experience at a small company? Obviously it will vary. Your comment below gives one side, where companies want a specific thing and don't want to think beyond that. There is another side to that, where the company can't afford a dedicated engineer for X, and so being able to do some of that work is very valuable. I think this is probably more common in hardware startups more than anywhere else. I've worked at companies (< 10 people) where we absolutely wanted different (relevant) skills, because we needed people to be reasonably autonomous in carrying out tasks. For example, we wanted people who had optical lab experience, could program and if you had mechanical engineering that was a big bonus. My suggestion was that the odds of needing multiple skills is larger at a 5 person early stage startup than an established 200 person company. The larger you go, the more you're at the whim of HR screening. There may well have a long list of requirements, but on the job you're probably going to be more specialised.