5 ms·

Since there are multiple complaints about the photos in this thread, I think I should point out that the photos appear to be a metaphor for the hiring process.

Since there are multiple complaints about the photos in this thread, I think I should point out that the photos appear to be a metaphor for the hiring process. All of those highly-diverse ice cream cones look dazzlingly yummy, but we can only pick one. It's totally okay if you didn't get the metaphor... there's lot's of symbolism that goes over my head in lots of media, but I don't think it's fair to say the photos aren't relevant to the content.

throwaway_law 7y ago
>I should point out that the photos appear to be a metaphor for the hiring process I took it more along the lines of a metaphor of the power dynamic of the interviewee/hiring manager. Whereas the interviewee may be stressed and concerned about getting a job to put food on the table to feed their family or keep a roof over their head, the person in power doesn't give a shit about you...its all about them and their desire, which happens to be eating ice cream while flexing their power to deny you a job. In the authors own words: >Why take the outcome personally? Yeah why take the outcome of your career and livelihood personally
- gwbas1c 7y ago
  I've screened a lot of people for technical roles. When I reject someone: It's not about me, it's about your ability to do the job. Getting a technical job is like dating: I had to interview at a lot of different companies before I chose the company that I work at. It took me about 6 weeks, full-time, to find my current role. Software engineering involves some learned skills, but also an aptitude that can not be learned. The same is true for athletics, musicianship, entrepreneurship, ect. If you're frustrated in your job search, it may be time to evaluate both the kind of career you're trying to have, the lifestyle it affords. Sometimes making ends meet means living more frugally with a more appropriate career.
  - throwaway_law 7y ago
    >Getting a technical job is like dating: The author said something very similar in her blog. Maybe interviewing and hiring isn't anything like dating, and the people in power who treat it as such should reflect on that. >It's not about me, it's about your ability to do the job. If it were, you probably wouldn't equate it with dating. Or you wouldn't hear SV companies continually talk about cultural fit.
gwbas1c 7y ago
The reason why the pictures are distracting is because it turns, what arguably is the best blog article I've read in years about hiring, into a glamor post. The pictures changes the tone from "it's about our business" to "it's about me." There's a easy way to adjust the tone: Keep the headshot at the beginning, and crop the ones in the middle of the article to just the ice cream. After the conclusion, include a blurb that says something like, "hiring is like choosing an ice cream cone; you can't have all the flavors," and then put in a ton of face shots with ice cream. Keeps the focus in the article and still allows personal expression!
- flycaliguy 7y ago
  I think an important theme of the article is that there are human beings making the decision. A list of hiring procedures under a banner is a very different article.
  - gwbas1c 7y ago
    Theme and tone are two different things. It's why everyone's complaining about the pictures. They set a tone that distracts from the theme. (And, otherwise, it's a damn good article.)
_bxg1 7y ago
Also, they're fun and serve to lighten the tone

throwaway_law 7y ago

>I should point out that the photos appear to be a metaphor for the hiring process I took it more along the lines of a metaphor of the power dynamic of the interviewee/hiring manager. Whereas the interviewee may be stressed and concerned about getting a job to put food on the table to feed their family or keep a roof over their head, the person in power doesn't give a shit about you...its all about them and their desire, which happens to be eating ice cream while flexing their power to deny you a job. In the authors own words: >Why take the outcome personally? Yeah why take the outcome of your career and livelihood personally

gwbas1c 7y ago
I've screened a lot of people for technical roles. When I reject someone: It's not about me, it's about your ability to do the job. Getting a technical job is like dating: I had to interview at a lot of different companies before I chose the company that I work at. It took me about 6 weeks, full-time, to find my current role. Software engineering involves some learned skills, but also an aptitude that can not be learned. The same is true for athletics, musicianship, entrepreneurship, ect. If you're frustrated in your job search, it may be time to evaluate both the kind of career you're trying to have, the lifestyle it affords. Sometimes making ends meet means living more frugally with a more appropriate career.
- throwaway_law 7y ago
  >Getting a technical job is like dating: The author said something very similar in her blog. Maybe interviewing and hiring isn't anything like dating, and the people in power who treat it as such should reflect on that. >It's not about me, it's about your ability to do the job. If it were, you probably wouldn't equate it with dating. Or you wouldn't hear SV companies continually talk about cultural fit.

gwbas1c 7y ago

The reason why the pictures are distracting is because it turns, what arguably is the best blog article I've read in years about hiring, into a glamor post. The pictures changes the tone from "it's about our business" to "it's about me." There's a easy way to adjust the tone: Keep the headshot at the beginning, and crop the ones in the middle of the article to just the ice cream. After the conclusion, include a blurb that says something like, "hiring is like choosing an ice cream cone; you can't have all the flavors," and then put in a ton of face shots with ice cream. Keeps the focus in the article and still allows personal expression!

flycaliguy 7y ago
I think an important theme of the article is that there are human beings making the decision. A list of hiring procedures under a banner is a very different article.
- gwbas1c 7y ago
  Theme and tone are two different things. It's why everyone's complaining about the pictures. They set a tone that distracts from the theme. (And, otherwise, it's a damn good article.)

_bxg1 7y ago

Also, they're fun and serve to lighten the tone