I get downvoted a lot of the time if I mention Pivotal or any of the things we work on (particularly Cloud Foundry).

However in this case it might well be the referral link. Some people don't like them on principle and there will always be someone who hasn't seen previous discussions about it[0].

For anyone who hates referral links, go to https://pivotal.io/careers. If I have to miss out on a referral in exchange for a good hire, it's worth it in the long run.

[0] Notably, this one: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12202874

I didn't downvote, but maybe some recruiters here are jerks and people didn't like their experience interviewing. The one I spoke to promised to get back with a date for phone screening and vanished, then lied that she emailed me about it.

It's unfair on Jacques imo, he was polite with me, is open about getting a referral bonus, and always has informative comments in technical threads.

I don't know for sure, but perhaps because they get the referral bonus from the link provided?