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There was a topic about job marker few days ago, and urban legends about this topic have been floating around as well.

So, what's your experience? Have you tried hiring programmers (it's probably a good idea to mention the sector - web/database/embedded/general, and a continent)? And what are your experiences?

Do companies receive 500+ CVs a day? No-one applies? People who apply are bad at things?

What are the main reasons why candidates are found "not good enough"?

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closed as not constructive by blueberryfields, Robert Harvey, Mark Trapp Oct 14 '11 at 20:54


Keep in mind that to some businesses, 'we cant find anyone good' might mean 'we cant find anyone who will work for near slave wages for 60/hrs a week in a dusty old cubicle with a 15 inch CRT monitor and who will place our needs above those of their family' –  GrandmasterB Oct 14 '11 at 20:39
Hi Coder, this isn't a discussion board: open-ended speculation questions like this aren't on-topic here. Is there a specific problem you're trying to solve by asking this? If so, can you revise your question to ask about that instead? –  user8 Oct 14 '11 at 20:55
Biggest challenge here is define "good" as if companies are expecting people to have 7-10 years of .Net experience that may not be easy to find. –  JB King Oct 14 '11 at 21:09
@Mark Trapp: I don't get it. The guideline says "Great subjective questions invite sharing experiences over opinions". Isn't that exactly what this question is asking for? How would "sharing experiences" lead to speculation and open-ended discussions? And why is sharing experiences mentioned in the guidelines then? –  nikie Oct 15 '11 at 14:42
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1 Answer

up vote 8 down vote accepted

When the economy goes soft, the marginal workers are let go, and the good workers stay where they are, leaving only the marginal workers as job seekers.

The good workers with experience have little difficulty finding a job, especially in the IT industry.

My two cents.

See also http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/02/why-cant-programmers-program.html

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False--some good workers lose their jobs because whole departments get the axe or even whole companies go under. –  Loren Pechtel Oct 14 '11 at 22:44
@Loren - true, but maybe you're taking Roberts point too literally. I wouldn't be surprised if this applies to some degree. –  Steve314 Oct 14 '11 at 23:44
@Steve314: I'm sure it applies to some degree, but certainly not to all of those who are out of work especially in today's climate. –  Loren Pechtel Oct 15 '11 at 2:14
I also say false. as at a company I've previously worked at, they got rid of the good workers, and kept the lazy ones (they were untouchable). I've also experienced them releasing the last people hired, e.g. lowest on the totem pole. –  Rick Ratayczak Mar 24 '13 at 10:05
@RickRatayczak: Why would any company do that? They think they're paying the good workers too much money? –  Robert Harvey Mar 24 '13 at 20:27
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