I'm surprised none of them mentioned the abominable "culture match". I've heard repeated complaints that it's much more important to be a brogrammer who likes craft beers, than it is to be any good at the actual programming.
On one of the first calls I had, the recruiter heavily implied that I was “not a culture fit” after I explained that I’m only interested in a job if it pays more than I currently make consulting (this particular job paid about half that). I’m not socially inept, I know how to speak politely and it was definitely polite. I mentioned it on the first call because I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time (mine included) interviewing for a job that I wouldn’t take.
The HR lady seemed completely taken aback and offended... says “we’re looking for people passionate about the problems we’re solving, even if it means taking a pay cut.”
Get the f- out of here with that BS. That really grinds my gears. The company is allowed to be profit seeking but the employees are not? No thanks.
I’ll stick with consulting... I like having multiple clients over one employer. I like that there are no “interviews,” just my own confidence and sales skills to pitch proposals to clients. I like the respect that clients show me that no employer ever has. I like the autonomy, the lifestyle. And yes I like getting paid more than I would at a local job. There’s nothing wrong with that.
I agree the comments on salary are ridiculous, but the last paragraph implies heavily that you are not actually a "good culture fit" for a non-consulting job.
Yep, thats a one way ticket to not having quality employees.
If I really want to solve those problems, I'm probably only going to trust myself to solve it.
* If you have sales/negotiation skills, but no technical skills, you do sales/HR/whatnot.
* If you have both sales/negotiation AND technical skills, you do consulting or start your own business.
* If you have good technical skills, but poor negotiation skills, you go work as a software developer.
So yeah, an unwritten requirement for many technical positions is having poor negotiation skills. And no recruiter will obviously tell you outright that "you know, we're just looking for a sucker to take a crappy deal and you don't look like one, so move on", so instead they will use the politically correct "culture fit" to make themselves feel better.
Regarding negotiation for engineers-- a few years back, I had been happily employed at a company for ten years. The CEO of some company calls me up and says I'd be PERFECT for a job opening he has. He says its C2H for 6 months to make sure I'm a good "culture fit". I politely decline, and he was incensed.
I said, "Why in gods name would I leave a position I've been in for 10 years for a contract position?"
We want people smart enough to program but not smart enough to think about compensation, in other words. I think there was a Dilbert about that!
FYI, you can always make more as a consultant if you don't count cost of medical care, taxes, etc.
Maybe I'm the weird one, I have met a couple programmers at the bar too, but its just not as fun as meeting someone whose life revolves around making chocolate for a living as an example.
If that makes me a poor cultural match, good. I can't be that insular. I don't want to join a cult when I join a job.
I always laugh when a recruiter reaches out looking for people and asking if I know of anyone. LOL! No, all the ones I know I currently work with, and I try not to know them past that.
> I don't want to join a cult when I join a job.
My feelings precisely.
I love how they get snippy when you tell them you don't know anyone. "Well! I guess EVERYONE you know already has a job!"
Sarah Arcoleo - "It’s important to me and our whole team that we are bringing on new team members who align to our company culture and values."