Comment by pcunite | Hacker News Reader

Comment by pcunite | Hacker News Reader

Parent Full thread

I know you're frustrated. Its okay to be you. Not having the gift of gab, and knowing that will help you to optimize for something else. I think something that would help you would be to make an amazing resume website, like a custom python back-end with a custom JavaScript front end. Something must speak, and if you're voice does not, you'll need to have something step in for you.

Listening to the audio (again, I appreciate you sharing), it sounds like you're not wanting to play along with the conversation game and that makes it a hard sell to put you on a team. Now, this is just a perception. So, if you don't feel like you could change that, then what I'm suggesting, is that as soon as you can, while on a call, ask them to open your custom website that fires off python back-end code when they click on a cool button and so on.

Then I would just clarify, "I'm kinda socially awkward, I love to code, and would be happy to help your company make great software experiences for your customers".

I wouldn't consider OP to be "socially awkward", though I do agree with your point that they seem disinterested in playing the "conversation game". Unfortunately, that's likely what's hurting them the most.

If a candidate isn't fun or interesting to talk to, it comes across to the interviewer as though they are annoyed, bitter, or apathetic about the position.

>I wouldn't consider OP to be "socially awkward"

Are you kidding me lol? This guy is borderline autistic. Look at the google interview. He has zero ability to mirror emotions, is unaware of his long silences, and generally sounds super tense and whiny. He lets the recruiter talk for like 5 minutes without making a single sound. Then when he finally does, he gives dry, monosyllabic answers to everything. Then the only meaningful exchange he had with the recruiter was a bunch of whining about a prior Google interview. You could sense that the recruiter felt tense and Chris made him feel awkward.

It's possible we are saying the same thing, but I think he sounds a bit awkward. In many of the calls, when the other person says "thanks", he responds simply with a "goodbye." He should at least respond with a "thanks for your time. looking forward to hearing from you soon!", something that makes it look like he's interested and leaves a positive impression.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com