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0 pointsvbtemp13y ago0 comments

Although the article never used the word "super star", it's something I see around HN and the startup world quite a bit....

I sort of snicker when I see startups post jobs looking for "rock star" coders [1]. What self respecting person would call him or herself a "rock star", let alone apply for such a position? Maybe it's just a gimmick to get mediocre developers to get to work on boilerplate web work..

[1] I also saw a job posting recently where they were looking for a coder "to work on hard problems and blow a hole through the universe"... Why not have them blow bullshit of their face while they're at it? Is this just HR trying to sound too cool, or what?

0 comments

ajross13y ago

It's just a meme. Some people are into it, some aren't. There are lots of ways to motivate people, and this works for some. I try not to get to wound up over language usage.

zainny13y ago

I think you have to be a pretty shallow person to be motivated by the idea of being called a rock star programmer.

I specifically do not applied for positions that are advertised in this way.

hackinthebochs13y ago

I'm just guessing here, but I bet its more about communicating a shared perspective on software development than people thinking they're actually "rock stars". When a job ad says "looking for rock stars to blow a hole in the universe", you would be a fool to take that literally. But its along the lines of a "secret handshake" that lets both parties know something about the other in as few words as possible. A job posting like this is basically saying "hey, we read HN, reddit, etc, we know there's a ton of crap jobs out there full of walking-dead programmers. But this isn't one of them". Of course, the whole "rock star" meme has been hammered to death so that you're more likely to be a company pretending to be something you're not. The point is there is validity in this method of job posting.

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hack_edu13y ago

When a job listing says ninja/rockstar/badass coder, its really just a codeword for someone they can force to do anything at all costs. They act like they want a 10x'er but really just want someone who they can get to do 10x much work.

biot13y ago

The term "rock star programmer" is by now a symbol that people intuitively understand the meaning of. Essentially equivalent to the "creme de la creme" of programmers, but if we switched to using that term few would balk at the comparison to dairy production. I've described support staff coworkers as "total rock stars" before. Everybody gets what I mean when I say that.

vbtempOP13y ago

So it's hilarious when companies like Geico or whatever post ads on Stack Overflow Careers 2.0 saying they only accept "rock stars"... Because we all know that's where all the hot shots flock to...

biot13y ago

Is it hilarious that Geico aspires to hire the best developers because they're not elite enough and working there would injure a rock star's ego?

excuse-me13y ago

Next time you see someone ask for it - simply reply with your request for a $M salary.

After all what does a rockstar get ?

mgkimsal13y ago

Rock stars generally don't get a salary, but royalties or profit sharing. The better the star/band does, the more money they make right now at the gig, and longer term in increased sales over time.

If someone wanted me as a 'rock star' developer, I'd want some serious profit/revenue sharing plan in place - something more than "10% of profits are held back and divvied up amongst 90 other people based on seniority".

to3m13y ago

I have to say, I was more hoping for the groupies and gak myself. A million-dollar salary from a programming role is so unrealistic.

excuse-me13y ago

I suppose it depends on what kind of rock star.

Words never heard backstage = "That's the banjo players Ferrari", "That supermodel is sleeping with the drummer"

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0 comments

ajross13y ago

It's just a meme. Some people are into it, some aren't. There are lots of ways to motivate people, and this works for some. I try not to get to wound up over language usage.

zainny13y ago

I think you have to be a pretty shallow person to be motivated by the idea of being called a rock star programmer.

I specifically do not applied for positions that are advertised in this way.

hackinthebochs13y ago

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hack_edu13y ago

biot13y ago

vbtempOP13y ago

So it's hilarious when companies like Geico or whatever post ads on Stack Overflow Careers 2.0 saying they only accept "rock stars"... Because we all know that's where all the hot shots flock to...

biot13y ago

Is it hilarious that Geico aspires to hire the best developers because they're not elite enough and working there would injure a rock star's ego?

excuse-me13y ago

Next time you see someone ask for it - simply reply with your request for a $M salary.

After all what does a rockstar get ?

mgkimsal13y ago

Rock stars generally don't get a salary, but royalties or profit sharing. The better the star/band does, the more money they make right now at the gig, and longer term in increased sales over time.

to3m13y ago

I have to say, I was more hoping for the groupies and gak myself. A million-dollar salary from a programming role is so unrealistic.

excuse-me13y ago

I suppose it depends on what kind of rock star.

Words never heard backstage = "That's the banjo players Ferrari", "That supermodel is sleeping with the drummer"

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse