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From the comments here, and in other similar posts, the HN community seems to think only one side of the interview process is broken. I posit that all sides ar
by sheraz 15y ago
From the comments here, and in other similar posts, the HN community seems to think only one side of the interview process is broken.
I posit that all sides are broken -- yes -- the recruiters, the hiring companies, and YOU, the engineer/marketer/whatever you are.
I'm only going to address the one part that matters -- you.
Who cares how qualified you are? You think that entitles you to a job? Gimme a break!!! Do me a favor and put aside your naive and childish ideas about job entitlement...
The following is not prescriptive, but it works for me. The HUSTLE.
1. Skip the resumes and all formal methods of first contact. Scrape linkedin and other places to get an inside contact where you want to work.
2. Skip HR. They are only good for filing paperwork once you have a done deal.
3. Once you have a contact send a two line email asking for 15 minutes and a coffee. Be charming and funny. Don't sell yourself. Let your good looks and excellent hygiene speak for you.
4. Whatever your salary / hourly rate is, double it. Think perceived value.
5. Ask lots of questions.
Note -- this is nothing new. This is business as usual, and I love it. Networking is everything.
In case anyone here is wondering, yes -- I am a developer from time to time.
- RandallBrown 15y agoYou can't just "skip HR" at lots of companies. You can't get a coffee with someone that lives across the country. These techniques work GREAT for some jobs, but not at all for others. I don't feel entitled to work somewhere because I'm qualified. I feel that if I'm qualified and would be a good fit, that the company should want to hire me. The problem is that they often don't get a good picture of how qualified I am or how good of a fit I could be. That is the problem.
- sheraz 15y ago1. I've never seen a company where HR was impenetrable. 2. For cross-continental meetings, substitute coffee for phone call. Or serendipitously turn up at a conference, a panel, or in the executive wash room. This is all the easier with twitter and 4-square. Hustling is not stalking according to my attorney :-) 3. Companies don't hire you. People hire you. It is your job to get PEOPLE interested in you, and that does not come from a resume, qualifications, or any other credential. Those are incidentals and formalities "after the fact."
- shareme 15y agoYes you can in fact skip HR.. Shh..little secret..od you know how programmers skip FB or Google HR? They submit a product to FB or Google that gets a buyout offer.. Smaller firms its much easier to skip HR..you just get a hld of the engineer manager
- Jabbles 15y agoI cannot comprehend how someone could have so "excellent hygiene" that I would want to hire them...
- sheraz 15y agoI can. Have you ever worked in a startup with 30 other guys in a balmy office space in the summer? Will this hire go in front of clients or investors? Believe me, it matters. However, I said that with a twinkle in my eye. I regret there is no <joke> or <sarcasm> tag