Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2024)

Hacker News Discussion ↗

September’s “Who is hiring?” thread on Hacker News showcases hundreds of open roles across the tech industry, from early-stage startups to large, established companies. Openings span software engineering, data, ML/AI, DevOps, product, and design, with a notable emphasis on AI tooling, developer infrastructure, fintech, and climate tech, and a mix of remote, hybrid, and onsite positions worldwide. Alongside the job posts, commenters raise recurring concerns about hiring barriers such as mandatory video applications, geographic restrictions, and interview practices that may exclude otherwise strong candidates.

Focus on technical roles

  • Participants note that almost all posts in the thread are for engineering roles.
  • Explanations given:
    • HN’s audience is overwhelmingly technical.
    • The separate HN Jobs site is for YC companies and can include more nontechnical roles; the Ask HN thread is used mostly by companies recruiting engineers specifically from HN.

Screening methods: videos, cover letters, challenges

  • One healthcare AI startup’s requirement for an application video draws criticism:
    • Concerns it’s demeaning (“begging for a job”) and facilitates discrimination.
    • A few people point out possible legal and equity issues.
  • The company responds:
    • Says the idea was inspired by YC’s application video.
    • Claims it’s meant to assess clarity of communication, not to select by appearance.
    • Clarifies there is no technical challenge required before an interview.
  • Another commenter suggests reducing bias by:
    • Asking applicants not to show their face.
    • Potentially using TTS for audio, while acknowledging practical issues.
  • Some posters criticize “leetcode-style” and puzzle-heavy screens; others praise companies that design more realistic, project-like hiring processes.

Location, remote work, and legal limitations

  • Multiple posts advertise “remote” but restrict to certain countries, time zones, or states.
  • Several readers complain when:
    • Geographic limits (e.g., US-only, EU-only, or exclusion of specific US states) are not clearly stated in the initial post and only appear deep in applications.
    • Companies present themselves as “all remote” or “worldwide,” but list a narrow set of allowed countries.
  • Some companies clarify they can sponsor visas or hire from specific regions if asked; others explicitly cannot.

Contracting, compensation transparency, and process clarity

  • A Python consultancy explains:
    • They use B2B/contractor arrangements with hourly billing reconciled monthly.
    • No health insurance is offered; pay is adjusted via hourly rates.
  • Multiple users praise detailed, transparent career pages (especially for explaining structure and culture).
  • Others criticize:
    • Very long application forms and unspecified salary ranges.
    • Being quickly rejected after putting real effort into applications.
  • A few founders engage in the thread to correct mistakes (e.g., incorrect non-hiring states) and to explain funding vs. salary trade-offs at early-stage startups.

Aesthetic and UX feedback on company sites

  • Some job posts generate side discussions on website design and UX:
    • Several career sites and “terminal-like” pages receive strong positive feedback.
    • Others are criticized for layout bugs, intrusive cookie banners, or confusing branding (e.g., background color making the company name partially unreadable).