Chance Bliss

I really like this guy’s approach to interviewing and hiring. Some critical questions that need to be answered are “Can I actually work with the person?”, “Are they curious?” and “Can they learn?”.

“The traditional programmer hiring process consists of: a) reading a resume, b) asking some hard questions on the phone, and c) giving them a programming problem in person. I think this is a terrible system for hiring people.” Aaron Swartz – How I Hire Programmers

I love getting job description from recruiters like this one. How can any one person be responsible for all of this? Clearly, the company doesn’t have a clue about what it takes to plan, build and maintain a web site. And if that’s not enough, it’s also a 3-6 month contract position. I pity the fool who takes this job.

Responsibilities for this role include performing the following duties: Lead site content development and maintenance relative to assigned web programs and/or channels on Member’s Portal and Online Library Interactive Documentations. Apply business insight and project management skills to plan and execute high-quality content delivery, ensuring that projects undertaken are in line with corporate and business strategies and meet the needs of members. Develop the isda.org website using wireframe strategies. Understand and apply business, marketing, content management, and technology strategies to projects to drive key metrics and respond to business results.

Key Contributions:

• Using Microsoft Visio, Fireworks and Photoshop to developed information architecture for various part of ISDA websites including defining site architecture and navigation, creating wireframes, and writing usability interface specifications
• Designed process flows to capture user interactions with front-end websites and integration with backend systems
• Construct information architecture prototypes via page-level wireframes and site maps and present to senior managers
• Conduct competitive analyses and heuristic evaluations of user interfaces
• Managing multiple web projects for the company’s business units and maintaining company’s budgets
• Working with different vendors to develop targeted online marketing campaigns
• Develop and maintained company’s website (isda.org) and intranet/intranet/e-commerce site using HTML, XHTML, DHTML, JavaScript, CSS, ASP, ASP.NET, and SQL using Adobe Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Photoshop
• Develop charts and graphs using web metrics online tools to track number of hits and analysis reporting
• Managing the company’s website such as E-commerce sites, ISDA Online Library and ISDA Members Portal in hosted facilities and within the internal and external network
• Coordinate and development content promotions, email broadcast and search engines strategy

The Gervais Principle (via Kottke) is an amazing analysis of corporate culture. Basically, it breaks down the hierarchy into three categories:

• The Sociopaths – Type A personalities who are driven to success with sheer force
• The Clueless – Those who drank the punch and are devoted to the organization to the delusion.
• The Losers -  Those who refuse to drink the punch but who have have compromised in order to get a paycheck and a false sense of security.

I would classify myself as the over-performing loser which makes me an idiot too.

“…if you over-perform at the loser level, it is clear that you are an idiot. You’ve already made a bad bargain, and now you’re delivering more value than you need to, making your bargain even worse.”

When work sucks, these 3 movie scene always run through my head.

American Beauty – Blow me!

Fight Club – Fight me!

Half Baked – You’re cool