Ask HN: Who's been hired through Hacker News?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall pattern

  • Many commenters report being hired through Hacker News, often multiple times, and also hiring others from HN.
  • HN is described as more effective than mainstream job boards and recruiters for certain types of roles, especially early-stage startups and niche positions.
  • Experiences span more than a decade, from around 2010 to 2024, with several noting that the current market is much tougher.

Main channels and mechanisms

  • Most successes come from:
    • Monthly “Who’s Hiring?” threads.
    • “Who Wants to Be Hired?” threads.
    • Occasional “Seeking Freelancer” threads.
    • Startup/YC-related job boards and “startup/cofounder match” systems.
    • Serendipitous contact via Show HN posts or general comment threads.
  • Direct access to hiring managers or founders (rather than recruiters) is seen as a major benefit.

Positive outcomes and life/career impact

  • Many report “best job of my career” or “massively changed my life trajectory” outcomes:
    • Breaking into industry (first dev job, first remote role, first quant/HFT role).
    • Relocating to new countries or cities with relocation packages.
    • Moving from big corporations to small startups and vice versa.
    • Long-term employment (multi‑year stints, repeat collaborations, eventual acquisitions).
  • Some companies have hired multiple people or even large parts of teams via HN.

Negative experiences and skepticism

  • Several report:
    • “Fake” or unfunded roles used to extract free product feedback or technical ideas.
    • Extremely stressful or toxic workplaces discovered only after joining.
    • Deadbeat clients who delay or avoid payment.
    • Founders or consultants using matchmaking platforms mainly to find cheap labor, not true cofounders.
  • Some argue HN has a “vetting problem” regarding seriousness, honesty, and intent.
  • Others doubt that bad actors reliably face consequences (disagreement over “karma catches up”).

Effectiveness, hit rates, and market conditions

  • Hit rates vary widely:
    • Some got jobs after only a few targeted emails.
    • Others report dozens of applications with few or no responses.
    • One hiring manager shared concrete numbers: outreach to ~30 candidates from “Who Wants to Be Hired” led to 9 interviews and 2 hires; overall 30 interviews produced 6 hires across all sources.
  • Several note that 2023–2024 is significantly worse for job seekers than earlier years, with more rejections, ghosting, and fewer visas/work permits.

Advice and heuristics

  • Curate applications carefully; customize emails and resumes for each posting.
  • Prefer interacting directly with technical founders/managers; be wary of vague or shifting roles.
  • For freelancers, ask for HN usernames and review posting history; be cautious if none is provided.
  • Treat cofounder/startup matching platforms as high‑noise: expect to do substantial vetting and legwork.