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Comment by cm3 | Hacker News Reader

I've learned first-hand that these days software teams don't seem to take a chance and do not use the probationary period to see if someone is a good fit. You go through four or 6 interviews and then one of the 8 or so people you've interviewed with has a bad feeling about you and that seals the deal. It's like they don't have a probationary period and want to hire you unlimited, full-time from day one. Even the most impressive psychological bullshitter can and will be revealed as a bad fit in the first month, so why not take a chance on someone who seems capable and socially compatible while being down to earth (aka no bullshit artist). What I've learned is to not be totally honest in interviews and keep my concerns to myself when asked.

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> You go through four or 6 interviews and then one of the 8 or so people you've interviewed with has a bad feeling about you and that seals the deal.

Then they get on Hacker News later that day and complain about how hard it is to find people and how hot the job market is right now.

Yeah, I'm always amused when large corps complain about missing workforce and about needing 50.000 software developers in Germany. But if you went looking they either don't want developers but PhD's who've heard of C++ or much worse just cheap labor. The latest was Volkswagen making news right after the software scandal that they're planning to hire 38.000 developers. No idea what tasks they want to put that many developers on and I'm not sure if I should be scared or skeptical.

Modern cars often consist of millions of lines of programming. Especially electric cars.

Sure, but planning to hire 35k devs requires a better explanation than that. Even building a space station like DS9 wouldn't make use of 35k in any effective way. How would you coordinate and make use of the available workforce?

The last time I've read numbers a couple years ago, not even Microsoft had 35k software developers.

Speaking of, if you've watched last week's Silicon Valley episode and are in the valley, is it really true that recruiters send you gift baskets just to lure you to an interview?

I've never seen this, probably because recruiters aren't dumb and know that people will react just like Guilfoyle did.

I've certainly seen 'perks' for in-person interviews or acceptances, but I'd be shocked if people are opening with gifts before they get something in return.

Not a fruit basket, but I've been wined and dined by recruiters during the frothy 2011-2012 years. I did not take the job but the dinner was nice.

Contract to hire is a probationary period. The contracts usually last six months or so.

Do you mean as a contractor?

If so, how normal is it to go through an interview process for contracting? I got friends who told me they had to interview like for a regular position even though they're contracting, but I should say that those I've heard it from are contracting exclusively full-time for a single company. So how normal is it for 3 or 6 months contracting?

I am not sure. I've never interviewed for a contract to hire job. However among those I've worked with who were in such arrangements, the bar to hiring was lower.

Sure, and those of us that are decent and have fte with real benefits aren't going to take a 6 month contract in hopes that:

A. I'm a great fit for your after hours drinking club. B. The headcount still (or ever existed) for my fte position in 6 months.

If you want a lower threshold for being hired, you have to accept a higher risk of being fired. If are established in your career then by all means don't take a contract job. But they can be gateways to a first job for many people.

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