Once a Dynamo, the Tech Sector Is Slow to Hire

Re:Once a Dynamo, the Tech Sector Is Slow to Hire by mavelikara on Tuesday September 07, 2010 @12:19AM (#1668017)

The only advantage I can see to having the probation period unpaid is that the principal can now "try" more applicants at no cost, before settling down on one. Are you aware of other advantages?

This puts a serious constraint on the jobs an applicant can try at - even if one is OK with trying out for a job for 30 days without pay, far fewer people can afford to do a few of these in a row and choose the right job for themselves.

IMHO, it is perfectly reasonable to insist that one gets a "try-before-buy" option. Tacking on the "unpaid" factor, sounds like a "While we are at, let us screw them over too" afterthought.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Once a Dynamo, the Tech Sector Is Slow to Hire by kranner on Tuesday September 07, 2010 @12:24AM (#1668033)

Please see my replies in sister threads. This was in academia, not business.

Personally I think most arrangements in academia/higher education are indeed exploitative.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Once a Dynamo, the Tech Sector Is Slow to Hire by mavelikara on Tuesday September 07, 2010 @12:57AM (#1668093)

I think that the probation idea is useful as a hiring strategy in a business scenario.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Once a Dynamo, the Tech Sector Is Slow to Hire by berntb on Tuesday September 07, 2010 @09:59AM (#1668883)

Well... some free advice.

If you try it with people, make certain the employees understand the background, otherwise they might be out the door later -- and you'll have to eat the cost of hiring again.

This might work on me even if I wasn't desperate -- and you e.g. showed me the books:

"This is a startup, we are optimizing for runway right now. If we like you, we will pay you and give you options -- but we must be thrifty for X months."

[ Parent | on HN ]