• Josephus (unregistered)

    Ika B - regular contributor?

  • (cs)
    I'm not sure why she didn't think that maybe, just maybe, the documentation team might recognize their own documentation.

    Because even the doc team doesn't RTFM?

  • highphilosopher (unregistered)

    Anyone else notice in the documentation section that the person copied to doc with spelling errors? Does this mean the doc team put spelling errors in their doc on their website?

  • Anon (unregistered)

    Really Ray? Did you have to tell Steve's boss that you thought Steve was an idiot? The boss apparently didn't seem to care, but still. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

  • Anon (unregistered) in reply to highphilosopher

    Gasp!!! You mean that there are spleling erorrs psotsed on the wbe? Nxte yer goign to tlel me taht smoe of waht is poseted on teh web is not accucrate.

  • Anonymous (unregistered) in reply to Anon
    Anon:
    Really Ray? Did you have to tell Steve's boss that you thought Steve was an idiot? The boss apparently didn't seem to care, but still. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
    Honesty is the best policy. A "white" lie is still a lie.
  • The Real Jason (unregistered)

    "Surprisingly I got an interview the following week and turned up on the day in the usual straight-out-of-school ill-fitting suit"

    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    ""Yes we were at school together", said I." Is Ray a pirate?

  • runfaraway (unregistered)

    YOU'RE A GREAT BIG IDIOT!!! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE AND GET BACK TO WORK! HAHAHAHAHA

  • Anon (unregistered) in reply to The Real Jason
    The Real Jason:
    "Surprisingly I got an interview the following week and turned up on the day in the usual straight-out-of-school ill-fitting suit"

    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    Always wear a suit.

  • Drew (unregistered)

    Was I the only one expecting a marriage joke for the last one?

  • (cs) in reply to Anon
    Anon:
    The Real Jason:
    "Surprisingly I got an interview the following week and turned up on the day in the usual straight-out-of-school ill-fitting suit"

    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    Always wear a suit.

    And for $deity's sake, check your appearance in a mirror and brush your teeth.

  • DeaDPooL (unregistered) in reply to The Real Jason
    The Real Jason:
    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    I go with the suit and open collar. Ties are for people that don't do real work!

    CAPTCHA: nimis, national institute of management and information security

  • (cs) in reply to Lorne Kates
    Lorne Kates:
    I'm not sure why she didn't think that maybe, just maybe, the documentation team might recognize their own documentation.

    Because even the doc team doesn't RTFM?

    Of course not, they WTFM, duh...

  • Swedish tard (unregistered) in reply to Anon
    Anon:
    The Real Jason:
    "Surprisingly I got an interview the following week and turned up on the day in the usual straight-out-of-school ill-fitting suit"

    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    Always wear a suit.

    I've never worn a suit to an interview. (I ever only wear suits to funerals.) I have never quite seen the impact a suit would have on my work as a programmer, and hoestly would rather not work at a place where cloth is seen as a vital component to programming. Also, the only programmers I ever see wearing suits around here are consultants. And thats like 2 out of 150 consultant programmers anyway. :)

  • SR (unregistered) in reply to Lorne Kates
    Lorne Kates:
    Because even the doc team doesn't RTFM?

    Win!

  • ClutchDude (unregistered) in reply to DeaDPooL
    DeaDPooL:
    The Real Jason:
    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    I go with the suit and open collar. Ties are for people that don't do real work!

    CAPTCHA: nimis, national institute of management and information security

    I've been thinking about rocking the open collar at the next interview I go to. I think the suit is nice, but would nix tie unless I'm expected to meet with folks who make a lot more than I do regularly.

  • SR (unregistered) in reply to Swedish tard
    Swedish tard:
    I've never worn a suit to an interview. (I ever only wear suits to funerals.) I have never quite seen the impact a suit would have on my work as a programmer, and hoestly would rather not work at a place where cloth is seen as a vital component to programming. Also, the only programmers I ever see wearing suits around here are consultants. And thats like 2 out of 150 consultant programmers anyway. :)

    I do wear a suit to interviews.

    Having to wear a suit day in, day out would make me less likely to want a job but I see no harm in showing a prospective employer that I can scrub up ok if needed.

  • Jurgen (unregistered)

    I don't even have a suit!

  • mrs_helm (unregistered) in reply to Swedish tard

    It's not to show that cloth is vital to programming. It is to display that you are capable of showing respect for the company and the people to whom you will be reporting, and that you are capable of conforming to social norms for specific situations. It might not have prevented you from getting a job thus far, but it certainly can't hurt.

    You may think you do not want to work for someone who makes those kinds of judgements, but in reality everyone does, and you're only hurting yourself by refusing to play the system.

    Same goes for those with tattoos and piercings. Hide them for interviews, if possible.

  • Airdrik (unregistered)

    Where I work, we tell interview candidates specifically to not show up in a suit as they will be horribly overdressed (and unduly uncomfortable), as compared to the rest of us who are all in t-shirt and jeans (sometimes even shorts in the summer). Not that where I work is some garage shop, but that we promote a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere that is not constrained by unnecessary hassles like suits and ties.

  • Dank (unregistered)

    I once had an interview very similar to the third one. I came in a little early and the boss who was still busy, so instead of just having me wait, he detailed two of the junior programmers to ask me some questions about Java. I knew most, but got stumped on some (like why you need to extend an interface in an abstract class declaration instead of implement). They kindly explained the answers. Then, once the boss came in and asked me the exact same questions, I now knew all the them down pat.

  • (cs)

    I never wear a full suit to an interview. Not just because I hate working in a suit, but because I have a hard time finding suits that a) fit, b) are comfortable and c) don't cost a ridiculous amount of money for a few square yards of cotton.

    Normal office wear for me is a polo shirt, khakis, white socks, nice shoes (this is an upgrade from my Bubble-era-typical t-shirt and jeans). For interviews I upgrade normal wear to a button-up shirt with nice socks.

    Last time I went out job-hunting, I went out on three rounds of interviews and had an offer reasonably quickly, and that even with breaking the rule of "don't bring coffee in with you".

    My object is generally to accurately reflect what they'll see when I'm at work, so we can both avoid "bad fit" situations, while making it clear that I care enough about the interview to do a little extra.

  • Tom (unregistered)

    It's obvious that the first story was written by a British-English speaker. That's why some of you are confused.

  • Whiskey, Eh? (unregistered) in reply to mrs_helm
    mrs_helm:
    It's not to show that cloth is vital to programming. It is to display that you are capable of showing respect for the company and the people to whom you will be reporting, and that you are capable of conforming to social norms for specific situations.

    My company does work for government and military clients, so occasionally people have to dress up for presentations and meetings with the customer. As a coder fairly low down the totem pole, I've only been asked to give a short presentation in one of these meetings, but I did have to dress up nicely for it.

    As for the copy/paste error, that reminds me of the time I was hired by my graduate professor to mark co-op work term reports. Students had to write a 5-10 page report about the company they were working for and the project they were working on. One student's report in particular seemed awfully familiar. I had worked at the same company in the past, on the same product lines, and had previously read both the internal documentation and the press releases. I started Googling phrases and marking down which paragraphs were copy/pasted... it turned out to be about 80% of the document.

  • (cs)

    Good to see that Ray at least got a job as a technical writer.

  • Ori (unregistered) in reply to mrs_helm

    "You may think you do not want to work for someone who makes those kinds of judgements, but in reality everyone does, and you're only hurting yourself by refusing to play the system."

    What makes you so sure? I really don't want to work for a company where that would be a hiring consideration. After doing this for 20 years, I know pretty well what I'm looking for, I have solid reasons for my preferences, and I'm perfectly happy with how it worked out for me.

    You can't be outstanding if you don't stand out.

  • (username *me) (unregistered) in reply to Jurgen
    Jurgen:
    I don't even have a suit!

    That phrasing makes me think you've worn one....

    Not only can I say I don't and have not owned a suit, but I can say(honest to god) that I haven't even worn one!

    Go rent a tux sell-out!

  • (cs)

    I wore a suit to a baseball game on Friday, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies.

    I wore it simply because I wanted to, because it looks good on me, and it's comfortable. I understand that many people, especially IT folks, see clothes as something more functional and less decorative, but I think that's a really sad attitude. Clothes are fun, and suits are just one of those great things to have and wear, especially when you find a suit that looks good on you and fits well.

    Also: hats. People really need to wear nice hats.

  • (cs) in reply to Dank
    Dank:
    he detailed two of the junior programmers to ask me some questions about Java. I knew most, but got stumped on some (like why you need to extend an interface in an abstract class declaration instead of implement).

    Easy to get stumped on that one, since it's simply not true.

  • Sean (unregistered) in reply to Anonymous

    Absolutely! Thank you for this comment - there's so much more peace in knowing the truth, even if it hurts.

  • (cs) in reply to Remy Porter
    Remy Porter:
    I wore a suit to a baseball game on Friday, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies.

    I wore it simply because I wanted to, because it looks good on me, and it's comfortable. I understand that many people, especially IT folks, see clothes as something more functional and less decorative, but I think that's a really sad attitude. Clothes are fun, and suits are just one of those great things to have and wear, especially when you find a suit that looks good on you and fits well.

    Also: hats. People really need to wear nice hats.

    I agree. In fact you should go for a tophat. And if you're really fashion conscious you should get one of those pocket watches with the chain that hangs out of your pocket. You'll know you're there when you hear people mumbling about monopoly when they pass you on the street.

  • Sean (unregistered) in reply to Anonymous
    Anonymous:
    Anon:
    Really Ray? Did you have to tell Steve's boss that you thought Steve was an idiot? The boss apparently didn't seem to care, but still. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
    Honesty is the best policy. A "white" lie is still a lie.

    Apparently I didn't quote the comment I was agreeing with, so here it is.

  • FuBar (unregistered)

    If you want to proceed up the ladder, make sure you dress and communicate like the people one step above you. Eventually they may see you as a member of their tribe (we are still primates, after all) or at least their comfort level with you will increase which greatly increases your chances of joining their tribe.

    For a job interview it doesn't hurt to dress and communicate one level higher than that, since interviewers tend to make (conscious or unconscious) value judgements about people who look and talk like they don't fit in.

    First impressions count, people, and you'd be naive to think hiring decisions are made completely rationally.

  • veritas (unregistered) in reply to Kensey
    Kensey:
    cost a ridiculous amount of money for a few square yards of cotton.

    That last bit is your problem. Few people complain about wearing a suit if they have a properly tailored silk suit on. Yeah, they cost a lot, but damn they are nice to wear.

    Suit up!

  • (cs) in reply to Anonymous
    Honesty is the best policy. A "white" lie is still a lie.
    Alas if we had to declare that we think someone else is an idiot (on principle, to avoid lies-by-omission) we'd never get anything productive done.
  • (cs)
    Airdrik:
    Steve that I had to school with
    (intermediate quote levels snipped)

    Gramatically it may be correct, but semantically (taking the words with their accepted meanings in their context) it doesn't because the verb "to school" requires a direct object (e.g. Steve and I were schooled in programming).

    You're missing the alternative meaning of the word 'school'. It all makes much more sense if they're fish.

  • (cs) in reply to veritas
    veritas:
    Kensey:
    cost a ridiculous amount of money for a few square yards of cotton.

    That last bit is your problem. Few people complain about wearing a suit if they have a properly tailored silk suit on. Yeah, they cost a lot, but damn they are nice to wear.

    Suit up!

    My silk Armani suit retailed for a lot, but cost me nothing - I inherited it from my grandfather. Now if only 1980's style double breasted jackets and trousers with turn ups would come back into fashion ...

  • (cs) in reply to veritas
    veritas:
    Kensey:
    cost a ridiculous amount of money for a few square yards of cotton.

    That last bit is your problem. Few people complain about wearing a suit if they have a properly tailored silk suit on. Yeah, they cost a lot, but damn they are nice to wear.

    Suit up!

    But if I'm going to rock the silk suit, I need the black tie, gold watch, diamond ring, cufflinks, stickpin, topcoat, top hat, black shades, and white gloves to be a sharp-dressed man. Not to mention, I imagine a silk suit fares poorly in a typical IT environment.

  • Frunobulax (unregistered)

    Did anyone else imagine the interviewer from 'The Raybinator' being Brian Blessed?

  • Matt (unregistered)

    So what was the prostitute joke?

  • Jamie (unregistered) in reply to Dank
    Dank:
    I once had an interview very similar to the third one. I came in a little early and the boss who was still busy, so instead of just having me wait, he detailed two of the junior programmers to ask me some questions about Java. I knew most, but got stumped on some (like why you need to extend an interface in an abstract class declaration instead of implement). They kindly explained the answers. Then, once the boss came in and asked me the exact same questions, I now knew all the them down pat.

    Out of interest, to satisfy my curiosity, why do you need to extend an interface in an abstract class declaration instead of implement?

  • (cs) in reply to Jamie
    Jamie:
    Out of interest, to satisfy my curiosity, why do you need to extend an interface in an abstract class declaration instead of implement?

    You don't, and indeed can't (in Java).

    Perhaps he was instead asked "why do you need to extend an abstract class and implement an interface?"

  • Paula (unregistered)

    1.) Wear shitty suit. 2.) ????? 3.) Profit!

  • JD (unregistered) in reply to Dank

    I think you mean extend an interface from another interface, not from an abstract class.

  • Jamie (unregistered) in reply to veritas
    veritas:
    Kensey:
    cost a ridiculous amount of money for a few square yards of cotton.

    That last bit is your problem. Few people complain about wearing a suit if they have a properly tailored silk suit on. Yeah, they cost a lot, but damn they are nice to wear.

    Suit up!

    Agreed, I love wearing suits.

    At work I wear casual clothes, however, every now and then I decided to be a bit eccentric and come in wearing a suit - purely because it's comfort and looks good.

  • (cs) in reply to DOA
    DOA:
    I agree. In fact you should go for a tophat. And if you're really fashion conscious you should get one of those pocket watches with the chain that hangs out of your pocket. You'll know you're there when you hear people mumbling about monopoly when they pass you on the street.

    Well, you don't want to overdo it. I'm more of a fan of more fedora-type hats. I have a woolen fedora for cool weather and a white panama hat for the summer.

    I don't recommend wearing both a hat and a watch chain unless you are also wearing a waistcoat. You'll look pretentious in either case, but at least with a proper waistcoat you'll look dashingly pretentious.

  • joystickgenie (unregistered)

    tell me I'm not the only one who read the interviewers parts from The Raybinator in the voice of J. Jonah Jameson

  • Jamie (unregistered) in reply to Markp
    Markp:
    Jamie:
    Out of interest, to satisfy my curiosity, why do you need to extend an interface in an abstract class declaration instead of implement?

    You don't, and indeed can't (in Java).

    Perhaps he was instead asked "why do you need to extend an abstract class and implement an interface?"

    Ah, thought as much. That makes much more sense. Thanks for the prompt response :-)

  • POUZZLER (unregistered)

    I wasn't really aware that this site's area of interest was 'I hate Steve'. I was under the probably misguided assumption that it was about 'Curious Perversions in Information Technology'.

    Best regards, pouzzler

  • (cs) in reply to JamesQMurphy
    JamesQMurphy:
    Anon:
    The Real Jason:
    "Surprisingly I got an interview the following week and turned up on the day in the usual straight-out-of-school ill-fitting suit"

    Oh yes I remember those suits well, I still can never decide when I should wear a suit or not to an interview, I mean in IT (programmer specifically) should we wear a suit or is a standard blue collar and a tie acceptable?

    Always wear a suit.

    And for $deity's sake, check your appearance in a mirror and brush your teeth.

    $deity YES. Greasy ponytail, jeans and a hooded sweatshirt are not acceptable. Breath like a dragon, while intimidating, will not help secure a job.

    We just had an applicant that appeared as though he just rolled out of bed. The rest of the interview was a formality and was kept as short as possible. Our standards aren't high, but we expect you to shower before an interview and maintain at least a remedial level of personal hygiene.

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