5 ms·

This guy wants to have his cake and eat it too. From my count, he has had 3-4 jobs in 3 years. Why would you want to hire someone who can't even stick with hi

This guy wants to have his cake and eat it too. From my count, he has had 3-4 jobs in 3 years. Why would you want to hire someone who can't even stick with his own company? So, this isn't a parable to apply to entrepreneurs in general. It only applies to quitters.

doppenhe 13y ago
I wouldn't go as far as calling him names but I do agree with the sentiment. In the corporate world its weird if you leave more than one job in a row before the 18 month mark, managers will start asking if the person is worth training and investing in. With more well defined jobs the day you get hired your essentially a net loss to the company costing in benefits, training , the recruitment process, etc etc. You start chipping away at that and in the end you are usually a huge gain in favor of the company - if you leave early you mess with the break even point.
- by_Seeing 13y ago
  Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from. I'd say I'm young and figuring out what I want. After trying lots of things and learning tons, I've got a better idea of what I want. I'd like to believe that gives me advantage over other folks who took jobs as a matter of course. Mine is a choice, not a default.
  - bigchewy 13y ago
    that may be true but now you're acknowledging that you are likely a bad hire because you're still figuring out what you want to do and are therefore a high flight risk. Figure out what you want to do on your own dime, prove it, and then you'll be marketable.
    - by_Seeing 13y ago
      > After trying lots of things and learning tons, I've got a better idea of what I want. ^ that.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
WalterSear 13y ago
Additionally, he's going from a booming industry to a hand-to-mouth industry where the top producers at a firm are often making four figure salaries. What's more, the design industry runs on freelancing. Consequently, direct-to-fulltime positions rarely open up for non-management positions, since most design firms have a cadre of long term contractors already waiting to make the jump. My wife was laid off from a design firm, and had 2 interviews in a year for full time positions. The rest of the time, she contracted. I had 3 interviews last week, and 2 this week and 3 more next week, with several companies in the wings. At the same time, since it's a freelance industry, there are always people trying to farm out contract opportunities, which suggests that the author isn't interested in finding paying work, just in finding a paycheck. Finally, even more than in software, you are your portfolio. It's really almost anyone cares about. If the author can't find >any< work, he should look there first. Finally, I call bullshit on 'any good employee will leave'. It's a very design culture thing to think that professional relationships are inherently competitive rather than cooperative in nature.
- by_Seeing 13y ago
  Excellent analysis. I wouldn't have a problem finding freelance work, but as you noticed, that's not what I want. Naturally, I am freelancing to keep the lights on, but I've been down that road and it's tiresome. The author of the book I quote is trying to elucidate the point that you should hire people who are better than you. Don't be afraid that they might leave. He drives that point home with the rule that anyone good will leave, so go ahead and hire 'em anyway.
  - WalterSear 13y ago
    That's the design industry - it has nothing to do with the fact that you were working at start ups before. A designer who was working at design firms would be in exactly your shoes.
by_Seeing 13y ago
Trollers gunna troll.

doppenhe 13y ago

I wouldn't go as far as calling him names but I do agree with the sentiment. In the corporate world its weird if you leave more than one job in a row before the 18 month mark, managers will start asking if the person is worth training and investing in. With more well defined jobs the day you get hired your essentially a net loss to the company costing in benefits, training , the recruitment process, etc etc. You start chipping away at that and in the end you are usually a huge gain in favor of the company - if you leave early you mess with the break even point.

by_Seeing 13y ago
Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from. I'd say I'm young and figuring out what I want. After trying lots of things and learning tons, I've got a better idea of what I want. I'd like to believe that gives me advantage over other folks who took jobs as a matter of course. Mine is a choice, not a default.
- bigchewy 13y ago
  that may be true but now you're acknowledging that you are likely a bad hire because you're still figuring out what you want to do and are therefore a high flight risk. Figure out what you want to do on your own dime, prove it, and then you'll be marketable.
  - by_Seeing 13y ago
    > After trying lots of things and learning tons, I've got a better idea of what I want. ^ that.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

WalterSear 13y ago

Additionally, he's going from a booming industry to a hand-to-mouth industry where the top producers at a firm are often making four figure salaries. What's more, the design industry runs on freelancing. Consequently, direct-to-fulltime positions rarely open up for non-management positions, since most design firms have a cadre of long term contractors already waiting to make the jump. My wife was laid off from a design firm, and had 2 interviews in a year for full time positions. The rest of the time, she contracted. I had 3 interviews last week, and 2 this week and 3 more next week, with several companies in the wings. At the same time, since it's a freelance industry, there are always people trying to farm out contract opportunities, which suggests that the author isn't interested in finding paying work, just in finding a paycheck. Finally, even more than in software, you are your portfolio. It's really almost anyone cares about. If the author can't find >any< work, he should look there first. Finally, I call bullshit on 'any good employee will leave'. It's a very design culture thing to think that professional relationships are inherently competitive rather than cooperative in nature.

by_Seeing 13y ago
Excellent analysis. I wouldn't have a problem finding freelance work, but as you noticed, that's not what I want. Naturally, I am freelancing to keep the lights on, but I've been down that road and it's tiresome. The author of the book I quote is trying to elucidate the point that you should hire people who are better than you. Don't be afraid that they might leave. He drives that point home with the rule that anyone good will leave, so go ahead and hire 'em anyway.
- WalterSear 13y ago
  That's the design industry - it has nothing to do with the fact that you were working at start ups before. A designer who was working at design firms would be in exactly your shoes.

by_Seeing 13y ago

Trollers gunna troll.