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Comment by j_baker | Hacker News Reader

Truthfully, I'm not certain I'd trust someone who can go through an interview without freezing up or having any similar problems. Confidence is a valuable thing, but only in moderation.

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I find it very bizarre that anybody would say something like this. Are you afraid of people who are more confident than you? Would that deter you even if they demonstrate superior technical skills?

I take it you've never heard the word "overconfident"?

People who don't freeze in interviews are overconfident according to j_baker, I got that, I just don't understand how he came to that conclusion.

I find it very bizarre that you don't see a need to keep out people who are overconfident. Are you afraid of people less confident than you? Would that deter you even if they demonstrate "superior technical skills" (whatever that means)?

Confidence gives you the strength to get up and go to the interview. It tells you you're competent enough to get the job even if you freeze a couple of times.

Overconfidence tells you you can't make mistakes. It tells you you have "superior technical skills", and that freezing up is only something that happens to lesser mortals.

Oh well, if you think that everybody who doesn't freeze up in a job interview is automatically overconfident this discussion can't go anywhere.

It seems like you're focusing on the specifics of what I said without getting the general idea of what I said. The key phrase in my original comment was "or having similar problems". I'm not saying that you must freeze up to be hired by me. All I'm saying is that I consider it to be a good thing if a candidate shows some signs of inconfidence (one of which may be freezing up). That means they're taking the interview seriously and that they're not (too) cocky.

No, I don't focus on the freezing part, but you just confirmed it, you favor a lack of confidence. Out of curiosity, what do you consider similar to freezing up? A weak handshake? Avoiding eye contact?

Freezing up is a problem, not the opposite of overconfidence, or just the lack of confidence. Some not so confident behaviors are irrelevant, that's why I'd like to know what you mean.

Are you in a hiring position?

Edit: If you are in a hiring position and manage a team I understand your point of view and that you want a team that works well together.

Ever heard of empathy?

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