• Steve (unregistered) in reply to Paddles
    Paddles:
    While algorithmic passwords are a much better idea than using the same password at multiple sites, they are vulnerable to both shoulder surfing and sites changing their names (not that that would ever happen, would it? :) - whereas password managers will remember your username as well and reduce vulnerability to keylogging too.

    So no two-factor?

    Come on here, if we're gonna be pendantic, let's go all the way!

  • (cs) in reply to A Technical Manager
    A Technical Manager:
    So I've got two people who want to work on my team. One is John Doe, who was submitted by an agent and isn't known to anyone in my or my team's circle. The other is Bjarne Stroustrup.

    My initial reaction is that Bjarne might be overqualified for the role, but you guys would give him a C++ test?

    Yes, he would take the C++ test, but all the answers would end with:

    // ...

    Like he does in his book. Sad but true!

  • (cs)

    you know, if I were in his place, I would hire you outright too, because from your posts it's pretty obvious that you are good in what you do, or at least would be, if management allowed you to. I see nothing wrong or strange about it, I think that reading your forums for about a year tells me more about what kind of person with what kind and level of skills you are, than any two hour interview could.

    in fact, if I was ever hiring, the question about tdwtf WOULD be one of those I ask, and if the applicant was active here on forums, I'd search his threads and use them as a strong reference to his skills.

    the thing about threatening you is a completely different issue, it was a really stupid thing for him to do, but it shows how badly he wanted you, enough to stop thinking rationally for at least a moment.

    also, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably take the job, as the fact he knows (and it seems also LIKES) the site suggests he's at least aware of all the WTFery going on in our industry, and the fact he LIKES someone ranting about it here suggests he CARES about not having WTFs in the code they're working on. moreover, there's a chance he would EXPECT you to point out wtfs in their codebase, and would be willing to listen, as that's basically what he'd be consciously buying into by hiring you.

  • (cs) in reply to Stuart

    I'm flabbergasted at all the people who think it's weird that readers might know who snoofle is; I can't believe that anyone on this site could possibly not know him.

    He is almost certainly the most popular, most prolific, most recognised and most respected submitter of actual stories in the sidebar (only actual stories; we all know who the most prolific commenters are).

    I have read so much of his (excellent) writing by now, I often recognise that a story is his just from the title.

    If you don't read the sidebar, maybe you wouldn't have noticed his name on the occasional front page story; but why would you assume that nobody could know more than you, if you don't even read the whole site?

    Edit: also wow, this forum software works! I feel all tingly.

  • (cs) in reply to Steve
    Steve:
    So no two-factor?

    Come on here, if we're gonna be pendantic, let's go all the way!

    How many websites do you use that have two-factor authentication? Out of the 170 sites I have login credentials for, two of them have Wish-It-Was, and exactly zero have real two-factor authentication for logging in. So expecting Snoofle to use 2FA to connect to this site would be a WTF.

    Unless the 2FA keyfob was stylish enough to be worn as jewellery, in which case it would be pendantic.

  • snoofle (unregistered) in reply to by snoofle

    Bye!

  • tank wheeler (unregistered) in reply to snoofle
    snoofle:
    I am lying.
    I no you 're.
  • ElSerge (unregistered) in reply to ObiWayneKenobi

    I believe you are missing the point. The specific thing was that this manager was willing to hire snoofle, overriding his own people that had already tech'd out "the other" candidate and decided they wanted him only because he was a "huge fan of snoofle" without any willingness to discuss the matter with them.

    To be honest I wouldn't want to work with a manager who disregards his own people's opinions just like that.

  • Burst (unregistered)

    Let's face it: all hires are unknown entities. There's only so much that it is possible to learn about someone in an interview - this means you have to focus on the most important things and trust the rest to take care of itself.

    I'd argue that someone who has read all of your posts to TDWTF has at least that much information about you in those important areas as someone who interviewed you; in fact, likely much more, since those posts are laser-focused on good development practices and reveal so much practical information about your attitude and approach to the work.

    Unless the interviewee is your childhood friend they're always an unknown entity, and hiring anyone is at some level an act of faith.

  • Snoopysnoople (unregistered)

    This is harsh. I KNOW 99% of the people here would hire snoofle on the spot, so I don't see the issue there. You've proven your expertise with your posts.

    And I wouldn't hesitate to work somewhere where someone with authority reads tdwtf, because I can be sure they have some clue about proper process, standards, and good (and bad) practices. And that I won't have to bring a clue bat to some phb.

    The "threat" thing just seems like a last-resort type of thing, because they REALLY wanted you and would literally beg you to join them.

    This isn't a wtf at all. Oh wait, TRWTF is turning them down on a "hunch", especially when they understand how much you are worth that they are literally tripping over themselves to get you, and choosing to stay at WTFCorp.

  • Zeke (unregistered)

    Somewhere out there, snoofle is rolling his eyes at people calling "fake" on something he lived through... unless, of course, he's rolling his eyes at how many of us are buying his tall tale.

    This is the kind of story that's guaranteed to be questioned. There's an obvious motive on snoofle's end, and nothing he could post to back it up would be unfakeable. Even so, I think on balance I believe this one. It's setting off some of the same alarm bells that convinced me The Barmaid Blog was fake -- IIRC, at one point she even sees someone wearing her site's merchandise -- but TDWTF is a much bigger deal and this guy wasn't random.

    That said, I wonder if snoofle is prepared for his posts to get deluged with "Well if you didn't like it, you should've taken that perfect other job!" for the foreseeable future...

  • J. Doe (jr) (unregistered)

    It's not the kill, It's the thrill Of the chase.

    --Deep Purple, "Knocking at your back door", Perfect Strangers, 1984

  • acs (unregistered)

    Been interviewing lots of folks lately. It seems there are three types of choices: what benefits you, what benefits the organization, or what benefits the candidate. Yes, it's divisive, but it writes well. Truth is, I bet you the setup is not so artificial.

    What benefits you? Want to look good? Want to learn more? Or do you want an underling? Often, no, probably a real blind spot in our cognition is we don't know what benefits us individually. Just pick the person you want most to be like.

    What benefits the organization? Simply a candidate that maximizes it's goals. What organization has those so clearly stated as to know you've found the correct candidate? In the knowledge economy it seems as important as where to drill for oil.

    What benefits the candidate? If your candidate is the future Jonas Salk, you have a responsibility. Dr. Salk has no business working on payroll. And here is the paradox of paradoxes, and I cannot explain it. If your candidate wants the job, you don't want them, but if they don't want the job, you want them more. Wow, sounds like dating to me.

    Conclusion? Hire the best person to attract the candidates that meet the full gamut.

    l8r

  • acs (unregistered) in reply to herby

    Yeah, Bjarne might know how to make a compiler, but that's no guarantee at all he he can do every job involving C++. The guy who designed the airplane probably is not the best pilot.

  • acs (unregistered) in reply to herby

    Yeah, Bjarne might know how to make a compiler, but that's no guarantee at all he he can do every job involving C++. The guy who designed the airplane probably is not the best pilot.

  • Eric S (unregistered) in reply to snoofle

    I would guess that it was really some intuitive reading of the guy's attitude that came out when he talked about his willingness to hire snoofle.

    A really clear warning sign came out when you turned him down and he floated the threat about revealing your identity. That clearly marked him as an asshole, and I would guess some asshole smell came out also when you had the snoofle discussion. Those "smells" tend to be hard to put into words, but we know them when we smell them.

  • urza9814 (unregistered) in reply to Rich
    Rich:
    I'm wondering whether this is true: I don't really believe anyone would remember the name of the author of Daily WTF articles, let alone ask an applicant about a specific Daily WTF author or consider that they have a way of dealing with issues in the workplace.

    I've been reading for a couple months. There are two authors I know -- Remy and Snoofle. Because they're both mentioned CONSTANTLY in the comments! Do you not read these?

  • Alex (unregistered)

    Just came back to this, and there's a thing bothring me here - I would'nt lose any sleep in this kind of situation. I (26yo) might be an eager candidate not knowing any better, but what you write here may reflect your personality better than an interview. IM(H)O, there is at least some justification for such a move.

Leave a comment on “Trust Your Instincts”

Log In or post as a guest

Replying to comment #:

Log Out

« Return to Article