On Wed, Aug 08, 2007 at 04:47:45PM -0600, Ryan Simpkins wrote: > On Wed, August 8, 2007 16:31, Jason Holt wrote: > > Hard worker: an *excessively* hard worker is probably neurotic. > > How long is he going to hold out at that rate? And how productive > > are his 50th-80th hours each week? Consider a "lazy" worker who > > only does just enough to meet his objectives, then spends the rest > > of his time at home by the pool. Who's more likely to go postal? > > (Also consider Larry Wall's praise for Laziness, Impatience and > > Hubris). > > Some how I don't think most HR managers are going to get it if > Robert walked in and said: "No. Don't get the hard-worker. You want > the lazy one with the attitude."
No, they wouldn't get it. But he could charge more. Rodeo Drive Syndrome. But if Robert is smart, he is dealing directly with the hiring managers, and some of them will get it (especially if they've heard or read Larry Wall). Most personnel bozons don't get much at all. They are usually bureaucratic plodders, and don't understand creativity in the least. If you want to get a job, you have to bypass the personnel department entirely and find the manager who has the job. Speaking of the personnel department, I do not use the term "human resources". That is a term that should have gone out about the time of the XIIIth Amendment. It is obscene. "Human Resources, we're gonna have us a real good cotton crop this yeah. Yuh wannuh go to the slave market and get us some cotton pickers?" That should tell you how clueless they are. > > What we need is some 'business-speak' that explains the benefit of > creative technical thinkers who are able to remain creative while > working for any given company. We have to translate English into > buzz-wordish phrases that make HR managers happy. No, we have to bypass them entirely. They are like Swift's flappers: their job is to keep you away from anyone who can make a real decision, and push you through bureaucratic hoops. If you keep your nose the right color maybe they'll let you talk to a real person. > > I didn't look too hard, but I couldn't find any job listings for > technical positions that listed 'creativity' as a requirement. To me > that is one of the most important aspects. Software engineers often > have to invent solutions. They need to be very creative. Good point. At a minimum they have to be creative in bypassing the corporate bureaucracy so they can get their jobs done. I have a fond admiration for Sgt. Bilko. -- Charles Curley /"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign Looking for fine software \ / Respect for open standards and/or writing? X No HTML/RTF in email http://www.charlescurley.com / \ No M$ Word docs in email Key fingerprint = CE5C 6645 A45A 64E4 94C0 809C FFF6 4C48 4ECD DFDB
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