What is Digg?46 Comments
- sundancekid503, on 10/12/2007, -1/+23"Guess she wasn't so impressed when she met my girlfriend and hasn't spoken to me since... What a load..."
I wasn't too impressed when I met your girlfriend either.... - Buelldozer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13What, did you turn 26 or something?
- auburnguy1000, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11That's priceless....and also... that's females for ya. Guy's take note. If you are being interviewed by a woman don't mention your girlfriend until you have gotten the job.
- SPThom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9I work in technology, and have been offered a job after every interview I've given. I'm not the most charming guy in the world--far from suave--but by simply mentioning the importance of people skills and paying attention to the customers/clients/etc. involved scores big points. Too many tech guys just want to brag about DBs and network infrastructures and such... Takes more.
- RadiantBeing, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9To Get That _______, Bring On The Charm. It also helps if you look good.
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7sooo.. you got fired for being too ugly? :'(
- helix400, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Absolutely. As a manager over our programming department, I look for the same thing when hiring.
Well, I don't exactly look for charm. I look at it from the opposite point of view...they just can't have a toxic personality. If they'll cause issues and fights, it ruins the entire group. We like easy-going people the most. My favorite question to ask applicants is to ask with a smile "Name three things that really bug you". That question really weeds out the bitter, angry types from the easy going ones.
The other top qualities for us at our programming place are:
1) Being detail oriented. If they can't keep track of details in a complex project, then they won't be a good programmer for us. Period.
2) Ability and desire to think. For example, most applicants come in while still going through school. I ask them their math, science, and computer grades. Many say they get C's and D's, but still insist they can program. We know then not to hire them. But if they have a history of doing *something* that makes you think, we like them. Whether its programming, or math, or physics, or electronics, or teaching complex material, or whatever. We've hired people who were great thinkers but had no programming experience. Within a couple of months, they were plugging away as valuable employees, far better than people who have gone to school for 4 years.
3) Loyalty. Too many people jump on a job only to leave a few months later for perhaps a better one. If we see a resume sheet with people jumping from one job to the next every year, we really wonder. If we see people that stick around through tough times, we love them.
Other helpful traits for us:
* Simpsons and/or futurama knowledge.
* Past history of gaming.
* Hard worker, doesn't get distracted.
* Wanting to work for peanuts. (Bwahahaha) - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Actually, it's a South Park joke.. then constantly repeated by Slashdotters
- PaulOwen, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@helix400 "Too many people jump on a job only to leave a few months later for perhaps a better one. If we see a resume sheet with people jumping from one job to the next every year, we really wonder. If we see people that stick around through tough times, we love them."
then later ...
"Wanting to work for peanuts. (Bwahahaha)"
HAha. So you want them to stick around even though you pay them peanuts? Maybe the candidates should be asking YOU about why they should work for you.
I got news for you sunshine. You pay peanuts, and you get monkeys. - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Yeah maybe she has the hots for egotistical losers.
- PhilPrice, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I myself am a techie. From this great post you can tell I am full of the charm.
- PaulOwen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I don't remember being asked that question when I created a username here.
- Rikkochet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5From TFA:
'"We were stunned, the idea that a person relies on personality and likability vs. delivering results and past performance in those decisions were shocking," says NFI CEO Chuck Martin.'
Well, sounds like "you" are a bunch of morons, then!
I've done a minor amount of interviewing and hiring, and you know what? I hire people that I will *enjoy* working with and who seem to *care*. I don't hire the guy who has certifications out the ass (at least on his resume, which could very well be a lot of BS) but you have to pull teeth to get to say anything.
Show me someone who is socially retarded and has 20 years relevant experience and I'll find you someone who is marginally qualified but with a great personality and demonstrates a passion for whatever they do and I guarantee my guy will get the job. And you know what? He'll be better for the company, too. - GCRaya, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Maybe that's why I haven't found a job yet.
- PaulOwen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Is lying about spelling and grammar okay?
- LucasVB, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@SPThom: You're taking my argument to the extreme cases, which goes beyond my original argument. I'm talking about people who are just socially clumsy, not hermits. (those usually work better alone, indeed)
To further explain my point, a more charming person with less skills will get the job instead of someone who feels a bit awkward during the interview but has more skills, because the trend is to look for easy going people as a defining, high-priority factor. Skills are being overlooked with this trend.
I believe the people with more skill, but less social aptitude, might just need a bit of time to feel comfortable in the working environment. If you ever had friends like, or if you are one of these socially clumsy people, you will understand. It's a matter of social adaptation curve. - ViceVirtue, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9Did you stick her with your wang?
"Insight: To Get That Job, Stick Her With Your Wang." - mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3..I think #2 would be getting the job.
- LucasVB, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The HR trend nowdays is to look for social skills above the other skills, regardless of the area in question. I think this is a bit wrong, since quite a few brilliant and very productive people lack sociability and are anxious when dealing with other people.
Of course you can invoke the importance of teamwork and all that here, and of course you'd want a charming, easy going person to work in your company, but there is way more in people then charm and friendliness, and some people spend their lives dedicating more in other forms of skills than social ones. I believe this trend is bad for these people, and given their skill levels, it's quite a waste of good human resources. - diggerd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yep - them's the keys to success right there.
I'd include integrity... ya' gotta' know that bad news doesn't improve with age (so 'fess up and get it over with!) DOHT! - the_penguin_boy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+41. Bring on Charm
2. ???
3. Profit!
Had to be said. - Sukino, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Top ad agency in the world full of 20-25? Whatever.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Re: Loyalty
Why should employees be loyal to companies that will lay them off at the drop of a hat?
Why should employees be loyal to companies where the upper management gives themselves 6 digit bonuses while earnin 7 digit salaries, but give the employees 3% raises and no bonuses?
Why shouldn't someone who works in IT have a resume filled with short term jobs when many end up working contracts that last 6 months to a year? - signal15, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Duh, if you're a jackass no one is going to want to hire or promote you.
I worked at one of the top ad agencies in the world, and one of their requirement was that you had to be hot. No joke. That place was like a building full of models (450 people) between 20 and 25, and it was like a party in the office every day. The had major clients coming through all day long every day, so of course that tends to make a really good impression. When you've got $100 million/year accounts, every little thing matters.
I kind of miss that place. :/ - signal15, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I have kind of given up looking for people with the exact skills that we need, but instead look for people in the tech/networking industry that have a very wide range of experience. My theory is that people that have worked with a ton of products/technologies are not afraid of learning something new, and it won't come difficult to them.
So far, my theory has been correct as the last 3 people we hired turned out to be total rock stars. - SPThom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I disagree. I've seen some genius people with zero social ability whom others would think they'd be able to be massively productive, and they are for a bit, but then they get entrenched and, rather than continue to innovate, set themselves up to be able to leverage management and, in their eyes, make themselves indisposable. Meanwhile the less brilliant but more sociable people I've worked with continue to innovate, continue to push one another farther with projects & such.
- Karyyk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Never underestimate the power of kissing ass...
Think I'll pass on that. - diggerd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Worked for me the last 27 years:
Right Place
Right Time
Right Uniform
Do As Told
Have A Good Attitude
'Course this last year has been the first one as a civilian... still, it got me an early appraisal and kudos.
Just getting in the door took a lot of "networking" - friend-of-a-friend, chatting with neighbors etc... working as an analyst in a warehouse for a year now, and the networking never stops - new contacts, maintaining old ones, and the constant shmoozing (not to be confused with sucking up!) LOL... - sassyspacey, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I'm not a high level employee but when they interview someone for a job at my department, they ask us to interview that person just to see whether our personalities will mesh. It's not really a matter of being a hottie but more about being a nice person to get along with. In a smaller working group, personality becomes more important. People with communication issues tend to not be good employees in the long run, IMHO. Of course by the time these applicants get sent to the "little people" such as myself the top level guys would have already checked if they were competent and qualified for the job.
- thegsa, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4My Friend Chris Wang Always Gets The Job Done.
- onlyforfrnds, on 04/08/2008, -0/+0Hi surveys are really good to ean money butr idf you hot a right site providing more money [:P]
i have earned about 100 $ in 5 days .. by working one max 1hrs per day .. now you can see how much easy to money online ;) - kevinwiatrowski, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Barbara Ehrenreich responded to this survey in a Time magazine essay titled "Boys Just Wanna Have Fun." She relates it to the American education gender gap where girls currently outperform men. Here's a link to the essay:
http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_blog/2006/08/boys_just_want_.html - SfcPhantom, on 03/24/2009, -0/+0Thats like it has always been its not who you know but its "Who you know and how you project yourself"
The key to getting the in spot is marketing market yourself and explode with the energy the company needs and you 2 will be in the 67%. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Show me someone who is socially retarded and has 20 years relevant experience and I'll find you someone who is marginally qualified but with a great personality and demonstrates a passion for whatever they do and I guarantee my guy will get the job. And you know what? He'll be better for the company, too
And, I will show you a guy who has 20 years of relevant experience, a passion for his work, poor social skills but works well alone who can be counted on to get the job done right and on time. And you know what, he will be better for the company than your guy and using your criteria he won't get the job. - helix400, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"Wanting to work for peanuts. (Bwahahaha)"
You needed a sense of humor to understand that one. Of course we're not going to tell people they're only going to get $8 an hour and they have to stick with us for years.
@DaveV
We're a small company. The boss actually doesn't take home a dime right now from our department. (He gets a paycheck from a different job). He's interested in putting all extra money back into the company to make it grow more. - ItsTheSun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have an impersonal conversational writing style when im not trying to be professional
- AkamaiMary, on 09/04/2008, -0/+0I have been studying a very interesting book called "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion", by Dr. Robert Cialdini.
In his book, he explains the six major triggers of persuasion:
LIKING
Reciprocity
Commitment/Consistency
Social Proof
Authority
Scarcity
These triggers affect us & our decisions on a subconscious level. Likeability is a definite factor in persuasion, whether we want to admit it or not. - supermortgage, on 01/31/2009, -0/+0Very Helpful Info:
Super Mortgages:
http://blog.tophomemortgageloan.com - ItsTheSun, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1i am a recruiter and even though personality matters a lot if you arent at all qualified for job you aren't going to get it. Lieing on your resume, lieing to me, and if you get past me, lieing to a hiring manager isnt going to get you the job. Obviously depending on the level of the position it might not matter if you have any skills or not but after a certain point its very obvious to me and especially hiring managers that someone isnt qualified. Charmingness doesnt mean ***** when things cant get done. Sell your abilities and your personality. It's not just your suit, its your job history too!
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Well, according to http://www.federatedmedia.net/authors/digg, 26% of Digg's audience are managers, so maybe they could chime in here?
- 15charmaxwtf, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Would South Park knowledge be okay instead of simpsons/futurama?
- bluetrevian, on 10/12/2007, -12/+10I was recently hired by a large (nameless) corporation and I swear it was all about looks. The HR department manager pulled me aside (week 2) and told me how "impressed" she was with me.
Guess she wasn't so impressed when she met my girlfriend and hasn't spoken to me since... What a load... - gd007, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1so load up on prozac!
- mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -6/+4"Insight: To Get That Job, Stick Her With Your Wang."
Sound advice. Works for female interns too.. except in that case it would be "to get that job, let yourself be stuck with wang". - nreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -7/+3that's a /. joke, it's not appreciated in these parts.
- LucasVB, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2please, bury this.
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