Hacker News Reader

Comment by delinka | Hacker News Reader

If you have demonstrably great work, what does formal education do for you that will affect your work for some company? Similarly, if this guy isn't the one landing the client or dealing directly with them on a regular basis, how can the pixels possibly care about for whom they are assembled?

I read these parts of his anecdotes as excuses concocted only after an in-person meeting.

View on HN

I have heard that people with formal education are less likely to flake out on jobs. As in just stop showing up. Which is both important and independent of the quality of your work. Granted it's anecdotal evidence, but hiring is far from one dimensional.

What -should- be the case and what is the case are often demonstrably, and substantially different.

Witness government organizations who pay $x for a position, or $x * 1.25 for the same position if you have a degree, for but one example.

Completing formal ed generally indicates good character and work ethic in a person. They will focus on the task, get it done well and on time, are reliable, polite, think problems through, work well with others too, etc. Conversely, it is possible to be very talented technically but have a poor character, which will inevitably create problems.

Raw talent is just one factor in finding good employees. A successful company requires well-rounded individuals, or a strong structure if you're going to successfully incorporate poorly-rounded individuals. Everyone in a company has to work together in a team in some fashion.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com