On Fri, Mar 09, 2007 at 08:48:56AM -0500, Aviram Jenik wrote:
> 
> I call double bullsh*t.

You called it all right

 
> Talented developers look to hire developers that have a passion. This is what 
> separates a dot-net-john-bryce-graduate "programmer" from a real programmer. 
> It's not the degree, it's the passion.

You would be surprised how few talented developers there really are in
the world and especialy here. The problem with finding them is there
is a small window when they are hiring. In a start-up the team is put
together by word of mouth, long before the company is actually formed.

In a medium size company, the "suits" have taken over and they are 
not concerned with the passion to do good work, change the world, etc.
They are concerned with how many hours you will put in to make them
look good. 

It's not just me as you think, it's a well documented fact. 




> The fact you worked in your spare time on a project (regardless of whether 
> they know what FOSS means) gives you credit in places where developer passion 
> is appreciated - and this is probably where you want to work.


Yes, and it would be the kind of people I would hire, if I were hiring,
but most managers are not intrested in it. They don't see it as relevant,
and they want real work experince. Working on a FOSS project is not
real experiemce either. There is often no managment, no goals, no timetables,
no money for professional level equipment and tools and so on.




 
> Also from a practical level, going out of university means you have zero 
> experience (no, university projects rarely count as experience), so working 
> on a project with other developers, a team leader, a schedule, users - all 
> that is important not only for your own personal development but also to show 
> a potential employer what you can do. Not to mention they can download the 
> source code and see first hand how good you really are.


True, but the personel person who is vetting your resume will not download
anything and in almost every FOSS project I've seen you can't tell one
programmers code from another. After a few months in "the wild", people
often modify it, and it becomes the product of many hands. 




> Some FOSS projects are even prestigious - the google SOC is well regarded, 
> and 
> working on a high-profile project might impress your potential employer.


It might, I don't think it will in most cases.

 
> Geoffrey, you seem to have a huge chip on your shoulder - go to a therapist 
> and work it out. Maybe your world consists of nothing but abusive managers 
> and cheating partners who only want to screw you,  but fortunately for the 
> rest of us the world is different. 

Thanks for the advice, but I was writing public domain (the predecessor
to FOSS) and commerical operating system code before you were born. You
may been lucky in your choices of employers and projects, IMHO you are
just naive. You'll learn.

As for a chip on anyone's shoulder and needing therapy, I suggest that
since you feel the need to denigrate me and my experirence publicly,
you are the one who needs it. 

In 1978 an IBM Systems Enginer brought in a sign to where I worked,
which being young and ambitious at the time laughed at:


"Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill any time."


BTW, if you followed the discussion the person asking the question has
almost all of his work experience in non FOSS software. Enough that he
could probably get a job today if he promoted it. 


Geoff.

-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel [EMAIL PROTECTED]  N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667  Fax ONLY: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 
Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/

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