We're a YC funded company seeking an additional hacker (and all round cool guy / gal) for the winter 09 cycle. We'd like someone who lives and breathes the web to help us bring our exciting new product to market.We do most of our dev in PHP so being proficient in that as well as MySQL / Javascript / CSS is essential. A good eye for design is a big plus too and we're interested in anything else...
My viewpoint is about gaining a more rounded understanding for a person's character, i.e. using all available information on a candidate to try and build a more accurate representation of them.
If Spokeo are offering some sort of verification service such as those offered by Experian et al then I find this to be a flawed model.
Not a day goes by without hearing about yet another new social media app, with a revenue model built around advertising.* Who thinks that this is a sustainable business model? * What other ways are there to monetise these apps? * Will there be shake up and consolidation in the market? Can all these startups survive? * Is social media just a fad that will get left behind if people decide it's...
Spokeo fits in nicely I think, to answer the so what and offer a more rounded view on prospective candidates.
It reduces asymetry of information and reduces the risk of adverse selection by employers. In my opinion, having a good qualification is not enough of a signal to being a good employee. It therefore provides essential information that should ultimately benefit both parties.
That said, I don't think there's any substitute for a good face-to-face interpersonal interaction to determine a person's character or suitability for a role.
With such high foreclosure rates, I'm assuming it's a lack buyers. Being a property investor myself, I can tell you there are a lot of people I know personally who are biding their time and getting ready to pounce on bargains.
I'm based in the UK and so far the US market has tanked so much more. If you can package the deals and market them to UK investors I think you could be on to something.
There are definitely people wanting to buy, they just might be out of your typical geographical reach. Knock together a site with some example deals and get some exposure. Or post on loopnet.com or similar.
Google "bandwagon raiding machine" and see some products being marketing in the UK. I got access to one and basically all it says is find people in the US to source foreclosure deals then buy them.
Who makes decisions based on such little info anyway? And the info presented was the choice of the author.
Then... the rest of the post basically says don't make decisions based on such little information! I found that pretty pointless.
Finding a flipside though, this guy's creating a demand for his own content by offering a question with a seemingly obvious answer then shaking it up with new info. That I like: create a problem which you then solve.
To make the form responsive and interactive we're obviously using ajax and js, and we add in some sexy transitions and graphics. i think there are many sites that do similar things where necessary.
in examples like this i think the user interface/experience actually becomes the functionality and so the distinction is difficult.
for me i always do the 'Apple test': can i make it simpler? faster? more obvious?
You know that he's got skills you need, but does he want to be involved? You can test this by just floating enough information for him to have to work a little to get more out of you.
This could then lead to a passionate, enthusiastic conversation and result in the outcome you want. If he doesn't take the bait, maybe offer a little more, but ultimately I think it means he wouldn't be right for the team - lack of burning desire.
We always appreciate most the things we've worked hardest for :)