undefined | Better HN

0 pointsEGreg1y ago0 comments

You know what I got from this story?

DOGE already processed a lot of applications and set up the signal chats etc.

This guy applied and right away heard back, because he has millions of dollars, good reputation for having a large exit, and he "reached out to some people and got in".

I simply applied in the way they asked -- DMming them on Twitter -- the very next day, submitting a link to my resume, background and cover letter that fully spells out how exactly I could help them in their mission. And they didn't even bother to visit the link, let alone respond. (I know because I put in logging.)

Until now, I didn't know that DOGE was even hiring people yet. Now thanks to his story, I believe they've already hired the main people back in November.

I am going to take a different approach in life. Thanks guy :)

Capital matters. Connections matter. Timing matters. Substance doesn't matter as much, sadly. Don't simply follow instructions. Get unfair advantages.

For what it's worth, here was my DOGE application link: https://magarshak.com/resume-cover-letter.php

0 comments

claytongulick1y ago

I ran into the same thing with DOGE.

I console myself by thinking about how many hundreds of thousands of resume links they must have received.

I struggle with hiring when I have a few tens of resumes to sort through.

I can't imagine how they'll filter the signal from the noise and trolls with X DMs being the submission process.

IG_Semmelweiss1y ago

I hear you. I actually use an AI tool that i found in HN that's quite helpful.

Now i don't dread getting 400 resumes because i know which 8 candidates know their stuff. This enabled whiteboarding for non-tech jobs.

https://www.greetai.co/

(Granted, i'm not hiring for Tech eng, but for the screening i need to do, its great)

Full disclosure - I don't work or have any stake. Just spreading good karma for software i actually use, and the founder's great with feedback

chgs1y ago

Amazes me how naive people are about this whole billionaire worship stuff.

EGregOP1y ago

I am definitely naive about the good faith of a lot of market participants.

But my motivations for applying have never been about "worshipping billionaires". If you have read anything I've ever written, I criticize concentrations of power, especially in the hands of billionaires, including Elon.

I am not even a fan of MAGA Republicans. However, I do think it would be great to make government more efficient. And my whole pitch was: we need to start using public blockchains for transparency, extending the legacy of Obama's data.gov which helped with transparency. By gradually moving budgets and payouts to blockchains and smart contracts, it would be much harder to sustain off-the-books excess and ineffiencies.

In fact, anyone who is for blockchain is for decentralization, not so much in favor of billionaire owners of centralized platforms. But anyway I digress, I don't think "blockchain" will find many fans on HN as it is...

jamieplex1y ago

But, will blockchain fix the laziness and nepotism within the government? (along with myriads of other "fails")

robocat1y ago

> Capital matters. Connections matter. Timing matters. Substance doesn't matter as much, sadly

Your conclusions are based on your own stereotypes - I'm not surprised that you feel your application experience validates your own stereotype.

You seem to not know anything about their selection criteria, so you can't jump to conclusions on their criteria based on your sample of one.

I would guess: (1) the DOGE guys want business people, and (2) the guy knows how to talk the right language and how to sell himself.

I am of course presuming you are not running your own business and that you perhaps don't have the same level of skill in marketing yourself.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse