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on social media just to get a deeper understanding of what kind of person (and coder) they are I think this is a bad idea. If you discover through this stalkin

by gaius 8y ago

on social media just to get a deeper understanding of what kind of person (and coder) they are I think this is a bad idea. If you discover through this stalking that they are on the opposite side of some issue to you, will you be able to overcome any innate bias? Like it’s utterly irrelevant to anyone’s professionalism if in their private life they happen to be e.g. pro or anti abortion and if they never bring it up at work. And you also don’t know the context that lead them there. When I interview a candidate I deliberately know nothing apart from what’s written on the CV, I don’t even talk to my colleagues about them.

azangru 8y ago
> If you discover through this stalking that they are on the opposite side of some issue to you, will you be able to overcome any innate bias? Absolutely, there is this risk. On the other hand, how do you know they would never bring up this opposite side of the issue at work, or that you would not inadvertently offend them by something you say? Also, I've heard culture fit mentioned a lot, and if you are looking for someone for your team and they turn out to be on the opposite side of some issue to you, is it possible they wouldn't fit your culture? Although I completely understand what you are saying and it's a really good point.
scarface74 8y ago
If I find out anything about their political leanings by looking on LinkedIn, I would probably bypass them anyway. LinkedIn is not the place to argue social and political issues. If they don’t know that, they will probably not have the maturity to not talk about politics at work.
- gaius 8y ago
  find out anything about their political leanings by looking on LinkedIn Oh you absolutely can, if you look at group memberships, volunteering experience or whatever. Sexual orientation too sometimes. Even if they don’t make a big deal of it or get into arguments or even explicitly mention it at all. Basically you are better off not even looking.
  - scarface74 8y ago
    I never thought about that. Even though I wouldn’t put anything on LinkedIn that gave out personal information.

by gaius 8y ago

azangru 8y ago

> If you discover through this stalking that they are on the opposite side of some issue to you, will you be able to overcome any innate bias? Absolutely, there is this risk. On the other hand, how do you know they would never bring up this opposite side of the issue at work, or that you would not inadvertently offend them by something you say? Also, I've heard culture fit mentioned a lot, and if you are looking for someone for your team and they turn out to be on the opposite side of some issue to you, is it possible they wouldn't fit your culture? Although I completely understand what you are saying and it's a really good point.

scarface74 8y ago

If I find out anything about their political leanings by looking on LinkedIn, I would probably bypass them anyway. LinkedIn is not the place to argue social and political issues. If they don’t know that, they will probably not have the maturity to not talk about politics at work.

gaius 8y ago
find out anything about their political leanings by looking on LinkedIn Oh you absolutely can, if you look at group memberships, volunteering experience or whatever. Sexual orientation too sometimes. Even if they don’t make a big deal of it or get into arguments or even explicitly mention it at all. Basically you are better off not even looking.
- scarface74 8y ago
  I never thought about that. Even though I wouldn’t put anything on LinkedIn that gave out personal information.