Dear Hiring Manager: Telling the Stories and Experiences of Software Developers
Hatchways, a platform that discovers tech talent who often fall between the cracks of the traditional hiring process, recently launched a podcast sharing the stories and experiences of real software engineers trying to break into the tech industry.
Dear Hiring Manager is a space where we open up conversations about the shortfalls of the traditional hiring process and discuss how we can make the future of the tech industry more inclusive to those facing barriers and coming from non-traditional backgrounds.
Why make a podcast?
It’s no secret that the tech industry is desperately in need of more diversity. Tech jobs are on the rise in a major way, and new jobs are being created everyday needing someone to work them. What is lacking however, are the developers ready to fill these positions. As more jobs across every industry shift into tech jobs, we cannot afford to only be hiring software developers from traditional pipelines — pipelines like computer science graduates from prestigious schools. This demographic tends to be primarily white and male and is disproportionately represented in the tech industry.
Anyone can learn to code. Either through accredited schools, bootcamps, massive open online courses, or just by searching the internet, all kinds of resources are available to teach anyone from any background what they need to become a software developer. Unfortunately, the traditional hiring process actively works against those from non-traditional backgrounds and creates barriers to getting into the industry.
Dear Hiring Manager is our way of amplifying the voices of software developers facing barriers, sharing their struggles, experiences, and critiques of the hiring process, as well as their ideas about how this relatively young industry can improve itself to become more inclusive and welcoming to those from non-traditional backgrounds.
Our Findings
Every developer we’ve spoken with has been frustrated with the interview process. Those who don’t do well during behavioural questions don’t make it to the technical interview stage, meaning they never get a chance to prove their skills. Those who do poorly during technical whiteboardings find the environment too stressful to focus in, and have difficulty answering even simple questions. For those who are visibly from an underrepresented group, the stress and anxiety is only made worse. Interviews are utterly alien environments. They do not accurately reflect the workplace, and oftentimes the skills and technical abilities required to pass them are not ever needed for the job.
A common suggestion from developers is to use in-depth assessments as a part of the interview process — or even as something to replace the interview with entirely. Much of the technical skills needed to do a job can be picked up in the workplace if the developer is motivated, has strong problem solving skills, and can work with a team. There needs to be more of a movement towards focusing on soft skills and cultural fit over knowing arbitrary technical skills, which may or may not ever be needed in the workplace.
Many developers face a bias in getting hired. They can be judged for not having a degree, living in under-resourced areas, being a person of colour, being a woman, being on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, having mental health issues or having disabilities. Our developers are asking for the interview to be a more empathetic environment. Employers have to realize that for those who are disadvantaged a job can really change someone’s life. If companies want to have a more diverse workforce they must hire from more diverse pipelines and support those from under-resourced communities.
Every developer we interview comes from a different background and has unique experiences, yet through discrimination, dismissing skills for lacking credentials, or the circumstances of the interview creating disproportionately poor performances, the hiring process creates barriers for all of them.
We hope their experiences and ideas will educate you, and propel the tech industry toward an employment system that is more aware, empathetic, and inclusive. If you want to learn more about Hatchways, visit hatchways.io, and if you would like to be a part of the podcast, or if you have questions you’d like to ask future job seekers on the podcast, email us at hello@hatchways.io.
