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Comment by nhebb | Hacker News Reader

OK, I laughed at the Fiverr bit, but I have no idea how someone can cope with living a lie like that. The stress of deceit would cripple me.

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I sometimes get imposter syndrome, I can't imagine being an actual imposter.

Yes. No degree, failed high school (well a levels) and yet I can at least do fizzbuzz. I'd have no chance in a corporate.

I don't think I'm a great programmer but if this is what a "bad programmer" is maybe I can breathe a little.

Someday when you're feeling really down, give this a read: http://thedailywtf.com/articles/The-Fizz-Buzz-from-Outer-Spa...

"Bad programmer" is a big range, but the low end is so much lower than we tend to remember.

Not gonna lie that made me chuckle. I should read the daily wtf more when I really feel like an imposter.

Then you'd enjoy this classic: http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/The_Brillant_Paula_Bean

While it is dishonest to claim credit for the Fiverr job, isn't it a smart thing to do? I mean if this person was in management instead and said "we can outsource this on Fiverr and save a ton of money instead of hiring these devs fulltime", they'd get a bonus, no?

In an interview, I gave a problem to a candidate and asked him how he'd tackle it. He said he'd google for a solution first. At that moment, I recall having a dilemma of choosing between "smart guy" and "no good as a problem solver". He turned out to be the latter, but it was a conceivable answer from a smart and capable candidate too.

> While it is dishonest to claim credit for the Fiverr job, isn't it a smart thing to do?

Not really - if you aren't authorized to do that as a developer, it's likely because of IP issues, etc; IOW, you have access to privileged info (the code and IP) - and you are supplying it to an outside 3rd party without permission from your employer.

If all that happens is you get fired - you are lucky. A very expensive lawsuit would be a more likely outcome, depending on the company and their resources, and whether they want to "make an example". It's not much different than taking their code and handing it to a competitor.

Agreed completely, I really don't get people that fake their CV or lie at interviews.

It might land you a job, but then you have to keep the lies going indefinitely, living in fear of being found out.

Is it worth it ?

To ask if it is worth it, one must ask what is the risk?

If the biggest threat is that you lose your job, you don't have much to lose. After all, that is the same place you would be if you didn't try at all. And if you can gain something in the process, which seems quite likely here, you're already well ahead of the game.

If maintaining the illusion requires unauthorized outsourcing of work (and, therefore, exfiltration of proprietary company information to third parties), then the risk extends beyond losing your job.

In 99.999% of cases where they find out, the only downside is you'll be fired. Could they sue you? Of course. Will they? Almost certainly not. What would it get them?

So yes, the only reasonably foreseeable risk is losing your job.

On the other hand, if the agreement allows outsourcing of work, that's good business sense.

People do all sorts of crazy things for 100 bucks. If you fraudulently get a job as a programmer you might be making thousands and thousands more than you would otherwise. It's not hard to see the incentive.

A surprising amount of people do :( , and there have been a few very high profile cases where they're found out, like Yahoo's CEO and Uruguay's vice president. There are even cases of fake doctors.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/13/technology/yahoo-ceo-out/

https://panampost.com/sabrina-martin/2016/02/25/uruguay-vp-a...

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40630166/ns/health-health_care/t/f...

However, there are many more that aren't (I personally know a few cases, including a CEO, but I'm not going to out them).

There is no way this is sustainable.

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