Ask HN: Apply to dev jobs with little experience of the language required?

3 points by MonkoftheFunk 12 years ago | 7 comments

ghostdiver 12 years ago |

Look for explicit statement in job offer or just send question before applying, I did that many times and usually got some response. If you don't get any response then it means that it was not worth applying anyway. :)

MonkoftheFunk 12 years ago | |

What kind of statement, and question? Thanks for your experience on the matter.

ghostdiver 12 years ago | | |

"Java or C++" is such type of key phrase/statement, but there are other ones, depends on job profile you are looking for. Front end devs should rather avoid job offers, which mention some particular javascript library as an must have requirement.

Question is simple: I don't have a lot of professional experience in required language/technology, but (here goes something interesting about you), should I apply to your job offer?

MonkoftheFunk 12 years ago |

Is it worth trying? Should you show at home learning and dev of the Lang? Do you only apply as intermediate or junior regardless of other development experience?

thenerdfiles 12 years ago |

Depends. Startups likely will not have the flexibility to allow for R&D. Large companies likely will have the financial flexibility for R&D, and will expect you to publish/share your discoveries.

There's also all sorts of circumstantial conditions for which anyone would hire you, for instance, if you have a radically unique background that no one could possibly let walk out the door.

MonkoftheFunk 12 years ago | |

So unique experience may trump skill requirements, just need to make it clear how it can benifit them, thanks

thenerdfiles 12 years ago | | |

Indeed. If you've solved a generally applicable problem of computer science, you can leverage that. If you've solved a generally applicable problem of computer science within a tech stack that aligns with the [EDIT: company in question], all the more power to you and the likelihood that they will want to hear what you have to say as an expert on the subject.