News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Myths about Hash Tables. Parent comment

Re:Myths about Hash Tables by arethuza on Friday September 30, 2016 @07:12AM (#12611737)
Sounds to me more like the interviewer/company flunked you're test rather than you flunking - you might have dodged a bullet there.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Myths about Hash Tables by Udo on Friday September 30, 2016 @07:20AM (#12611773)
I wouldn't have worked for the interviewer, it's often just a gatekeeper you need to overcome. Also, when you don't know how to make rent next month and the company seems pretty cool (apart from that person), it's hard to see at the time how you dodged any bullets...
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Myths about Hash Tables by arethuza on Friday September 30, 2016 @08:38AM (#12612070)
If someone reacts badly when you know more than they do then that's not a great bit of behaviour, if a company chooses such a person as an interviewer then that's a bit of a red flag to me - an interview should be as much about trying to present a positive image of the company as much as testing the interviewer.

Sorry to hear about the rent situation - I take that worked out OK eventually?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Myths about Hash Tables by Udo on Friday September 30, 2016 @09:26AM (#12612272)
> if a company chooses such a person as an interviewer then that's a bit of a red flag to me

I think the basic corporate rules of signalling competence apply here. Assuming that person was both technologically and socially incompetent (which might be too harsh of a judgement), some people still have a way of getting promoted into valuable positions by appearing to do a great job.

> Sorry to hear about the rent situation - I take that worked out OK eventually?

Thankfully that was some years back, I'm doing okay today :)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Myths about Hash Tables by arethuza on Friday September 30, 2016 @09:42AM (#12612353)
"which might be too harsh of a judgement"

Not sure it is - the usual advice is "if in doubt then don't hire" so why not apply that to employers as well as employees?

Of course, if there is an element of desperation involved then I can understand it. But I have walked away from interview processes (or turned down offers) when I had some worries and never really regretted it.

Harshness both ways would seem to be fair.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Myths about Hash Tables by marklgr on Friday September 30, 2016 @09:55AM (#12612423)
Something could be said for being able to convincingly explain why you're right to your coworkers/manager, without hurting their feelings (even though they might be stubborn about it at first). That's a precious soft skill.
[ Parent | on HN ]