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Comment by trifarious | Hacker News Reader

Founder here. I used to reply to every applicant individually because I couldn't believe someone wanted to work for my startup. But then that got to be burdensome so I set up a reply template, but even then people would reply to the template and continue the conversation. Then my co-founder pointed out that spending lots of time replying to everyone wasn't a good use of my time.

Point is it's nothing personal. If you're not getting replies, try to stand out more. Don't just send a resume, send a GitHub link to a project that's relevant to the company.

I get a dozen resumes a day (not joking), so give me a reason to not hit "Archive" immediately.

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This basically says you don't value people. You want them to go through all of the effort for you.

You say that replying to everyone isn't a good use of your time, but having to apply to everyone, with the likelihood of being ignored apparently is a good use of my time ? My time is just as valuable as yours.

The Github idea is great... except there's no way I can magic up a project 'relevant to the company' for all of the applications I'm making - which I have to be making because nobody replies any more. I'm certainly looking to get some projects going in my spare time, which is minimal.

I'm too old to 'stand' out - if 20 years of programming isn't enough to get a more personal interview, then I'll just move on - I have no interest in competing with people from a marketing perspective.

Of course, I don't expect us to agree, as we're coming from completely different sides (and requirements).

In the modern world, it's amazing how many old-school (Business time is more valuable than employee) mindsets still exist.

Thanks for taking the time to reply though. I genuinely do appreciate that.

> My time is just as valuable as yours.

The co-founder's time is worth what? They just got investors to hand them millions of dollars over a few meetings, on the assumption that if successful, they'll be worth hundreds of millions one day.

You are one of dozens of applicants. Some guys with 20 years have the problem that it was the same year over and over. How do they know your skills are even current and relevant?

If you're an experienced programmer, maybe you're going to make $50 to $100 an hour (depending on your market). But if you're applying to multiple firms, wouldn't you put yourself to work at that opportunity cost to differentiate yourself enough to get the job you want?

Why wouldn't you be willing to jump through whatever hoops necessary to get the job you want?

> on the assumption that if successful, they'll be worth hundreds of millions one day.

Building good relationships is a good foundation for future success. I have had interviews that didn't result in me getting/accepting an offer, but the process was smooth and the decision amicable that I look forward to meeting/cooperate with/work with the same people in the future when the stars align. On the flip side, I have had interactions so terrible I won't ever consider working/meeting with or recommending the companies and the people involved, should they move on. It's a small world.

>Why wouldn't you be willing to jump through whatever hoops necessary to get the job you want?

Because I'm not a performing animal.

If you're in the position to get a dozen resumes a day, is there not someone else in your organization who can handle the initial resume screen? Seems a bit inefficient to have the founder personally hitting "Archive" on all the applicants he rejects.

This does sound so unprofessional if you are hitting "Archive" button after skimming through resumes/cover letters. You do understand that candidates spend significant amount of time applying for an open position and trying to get your attention. Everyone's time is equally valuable.

A 'reply' template is rarely useful. If it is not a yes/no response, then you are just wasting more of the candidate's time by making them wait.

As a founder if you aren't able to handle the volume of the applications that you are receiving, then you should delegate the work to someone else and get them to filter the applications.

You don't have to continue replying after sending them the "sorry, not interested" template reply. Sending them that is infinitely better than just ghosting people, which is grossly rude and unprofessional.

Perhaps you should let the marketing team reply. Candidate interaction is also customer interaction.

That's appallingly self centered. Nothing personal.

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