Ask HN: best-written engineer job posting

2 points by donna 15 years ago | 4 comments

I'm writing a job posting for an iPad developer. Does anyone have any suggestions or examples of great job postings that attracted your interests?

frossie 15 years ago |

Try to aim for exciting but serious (like kls said, no Ninja talk).

My personal bugbear:

Make sure you clearly differentiate from things you are not prepared to live without (eg. must have written iPhone app currently on sale at the App Store, or must be prepared to relocate to Outer Mongolia, etc) and stuff that you would like but are willing to forego for an otherwise attractive applicant (eg. having already developed on the iPad)

If you aren't specific about the difference between needs and wants, what can happen is that people who do actually have a realistic grasp of their abilities self-censor and don't apply. Then you don't find the ideal candidate and are forced to compromise and hire from a pool of people who think they are object oriented programmers because they took a class in Java once.

Highlight anything that would be particularly attractive to a developer (above average compensation, non-moron project manager - rephrase that one - , partial or complete telecommute, longevity of the position, high end computer/laptop provided, flexible hours, etc).

kls 15 years ago |

Don't use Rockstar or Ninja! OK in all seriousness, For me at least (before I became a freelancer) talking about the work environment, the people and the app would attract me more than the gory details of what you expect. Most everyone that writes apps, knows what is required of them. I would keep it simple, what you want them to do and what level in their career you want them to be at.

As well, I would include what you are willing to pay if it is below market (not that I am saying that you are paying below market) that way expectations are set before time is wasted on either side.

donna 15 years ago | |

Truly helpful thank you. I was considering posting images of the GUI. What do you think?

kls 15 years ago | | |

Yep, that would do the trick. It's like porn for some of us. In the end people want to work with other cool people. Hence the Ninja and Rockstar post, when you are not cool, the best way to try to fake it is with some Ninja or Rockstar slang. But in the end posting some shots of the UI and talking about the people / work environment will reflect a more positive light. Then trying to "cool up" your job posting.