Ayende @ Rahien

Eric commented on Hiring and getting hired

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:15:09 GMT

This is an interesting post and as a technical manager I can tell you that the hardest thing is verifying that someone has the chops to do the job. It is very hard from just an interview to determine someones true potential. One of my employees had a real hard time selling himself to me almost to the point where I didn't want to take him on, but I gave it a chance and he turned out to be a very quick learner. On the other hand another was nothing but a salesman telling me how he basically invented the internet and eventually his lack of skills ended his employment. I can tell you that as a manager...when I see talent I do everything in my power to keep those people. I think money works, but morale and a deep understanding as to what the employee wants both long-term and short-term help retain them. Though it can be tough to keep people challenged when there is a lot of grunt work to do, but I always try to throw something interesting at them.

Jeff Brown commented on Hiring and getting hired

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:29:23 GMT

@Steven. I've learned that lesson the hard way... Actually, in my case, all the people smarter than me have left. It's kind of lonely. I can only satisfy my craving for technical and profession growth with open source projects for so long... It's well past time for me to have moved on to new challenges too...

Tom Opgenorth commented on Hiring and getting hired

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:40:33 GMT

Don't take Justice to serious, he saves the best and most sincere kudos for people with a hairstyle better than him. :) The funny thing I've noticed: Companies go through all this effort to hire good people, but very often don't bother to do anything to RETAIN them. It like that after hiring a guy, and giving him his cube/office/workstation the company assumes that nothing more needs to be done.

Justice~! commented on Hiring and getting hired

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:32:04 GMT

I say *SCREW JONAS*!!! You're awesome, brag about it if you need to but this didn't come across as bragging at all!! My prediction is that Jonas is possibly...a tad *jealous*?? OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I CALLED IT This topic gives me good food for thought for an upcoming post. Thanks.

Steven Harman commented on Hiring and getting hired

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:55:11 GMT

David beat me to it, but I'll say it again - one of the most important thing to look for in a new employer is that there are smarter people than you working there... unless you want to totally stop (or at least stunt) your technical and/or professional growth. If you want to succeed, surround yourself with winners!

Ayende Rahien commented on Hiring and getting hired

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:50:04 GMT

David, Yes, and the problem with deserts is that you tend to die out there. Beside, I was at a desert for two and a half years, I can't stand the sight of sand anymore.

David O'Hara commented on Hiring and getting hired

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:46:18 GMT

Having just run thru this process myself, I think that the last point you made (about We!) is VITAL. If you're not surrounded by people smarter than you, you will find yourself a "lone man in the desert" and, of course, you want to have a good time doing it. :)

Ayende Rahien commented on Hiring and getting hired

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:24:48 GMT

Jonas, Thanks for letting me know. I don't think that I am bragging, but I can understand how it can be interpreted that way.

Tinca commented on Hiring and getting hired

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:15:28 GMT

Ayende, I think lots of your writing is decent and sometimes good, but almost all career, hiring or leadership/management articles ends up in you bragging about your own skills (most often by telling how bad all others are) - tone the self-pompous down two notches and your content will be much more of a service to the readers. Keep up the posting! Regards, Jonas