I want the one that makes FT offers, because I don't believe that the best programmers, who can write their own ticket in this business climate, would put up with this contracting bullshit. This approach to hiring is a cop-out. It says, "we don't know how to hire properly, so we're going to push the risk onto the candidates".
I've seen the contracts with my own eyes. But I guess I can't prove that the developers in question were good without divulging names.
Anyways, I don't see why this is a cop-out any more than any other hiring procedure. No company has anywhere near a 100% success rate - this procedure acknowledges the shortcomings of a traditional interview process (namely that succeeding on an interview and succeeding as a developer are two very different animals) and tries to address them.
> Anyways, I don't see why this is a cop-out any more than any other hiring procedure. No company has anywhere near a 100% success rate - this procedure acknowledges the shortcomings of a traditional interview process (namely that succeeding on an interview and succeeding as a developer are two very different animals) and tries to address them.
Agreed. But tptacek's point seem to be that this new process addresses the perceived weaknesses of traditional processes by moving all the downsides/risks to the potential employee. I think the hiring firm can signal their honorable intentions more clearly if they would pay a significantly higher salary during "probation" - something that compensates for lost benefits etc.
Edit: staunch mentions elsewhere on this thread that he is offering higher rates during probation.
