Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2026 Poal.co

755

Guy emails with a job quite above my skill level, with a number of "must haves" that I don't have, and have never worked with. When I said that I don't know anything about what you've just said other than "I can spell these words," his reply was that the environment offers really great OJT and we can help you improve your skills, and this one guy used that to get some high-level certification! Yeah, I'm sure he just walked in and aced that test with no previous knowledge.

It's really hard to create an analogy for someone that's supposed to be talking to you about technical matters, but the best thing I could come up with was "You can drive a car, with a little OJT you'll be a senior automotive repair tech!"

I've always found that companies that want certain skills and are hiring for projects aren't going to wait around a year while you take classes and learn how to do something new so you can do the job they hired you for, and I'm not willing to pick up and move halfway across the country for a job I know I can't do.

Guy emails with a job quite above my skill level, with a number of "must haves" that I don't have, and have never worked with. When I said that I don't know anything about what you've just said other than "I can spell these words," his reply was that the environment offers really great OJT and we can help you improve your skills, and this one guy used that to get some high-level certification! Yeah, I'm sure he just walked in and aced that test with no previous knowledge. It's really hard to create an analogy for someone that's supposed to be talking to you about technical matters, but the best thing I could come up with was "You can drive a car, with a little OJT you'll be a senior automotive repair tech!" I've always found that companies that want certain skills and are hiring for projects aren't going to wait around a year while you take classes and learn how to do something new so you can do the job they hired you for, and I'm not willing to pick up and move halfway across the country for a job I know I can't do.

(post is archived)

You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (30).
[–] • 0 pt

I know. This one was even an internal to the company guy for a fairly large defense contractor. You'd think he'd at least have a clue.

But, going back over our conversation, I can see where he was coming from. I could have interviewed for that position, but I think once we got into some deep questions about what I've done in the past, I'd have been kicked out pretty quickly.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

Yeah... defense contractor. I'd imagine that "Have you ever sneezed in the direction of anyone left of Mao?" precludes you.

That's fair, but i'd also advise you don't let some HR byline prevent you from swinging at fastballs.

I was woefully under-qualified for the jobs I've gotten in the past. Fake it til you make it.

[–] • 0 pt

Regardless of how qualified I am, it was in Metro Boston. That's a no-go, Chopper Dave.