Morendil comments on The Fallacy of Gray - Less Wrong

97 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 07 January 2008 06:24AM

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Comment author: adamzerner 17 January 2015 09:45:21PM *  1 point [-]

I came across a good example of this. I recently graduated from a coding bootcamp and am looking for jobs. I applied to a selective company and was declined. They said, "unfortunately we won't be able to move forward with your candidacy at this time". They didn't say anything about the actual reason why I was rejected.

(paraphrased conversation with my friend)

  • Me: I hate when people sugarcoat. I wish they just said, "you don't seem as smart as the other candidates".
  • Him: It isn't necessarily true that they don't think you're as smart. Maybe it's for some other reason. Like maybe it's because you're in NY and they're looking for people in SF.
  • Me: They asked if I was able to relocate to SF, and I said "yes, I want to relocate to SF".
  • Him: Maybe they thought that you were smart, but just that it wasn't the right fit.
  • Me: The position is for a software developer intern. I just graduated from a coding bootcamp. They use JavaScript-based technologies. I learned the same/similar technologies. They're an education company. I'm very interested in education. They want unconventional and ambitious people. I'm definitely unconventional and ambitious.
  • Him: ...
  • Me: So what do you think the reason is for why they rejected me?
  • Him: I don't know, they didn't tell you so I can't say.
Comment author: Morendil 17 January 2015 10:08:30PM 3 points [-]

Is there any reason you couldn't email back saying something along the lines of "I'd appreciate your pointing out what specific weaknesses made you rule out my application, so that I can improve to become a stronger candidate for later or for other similar companies, and possibly so that I can send candidates your way that better fit the profile?"

Comment author: adamzerner 17 January 2015 10:21:32PM 3 points [-]

I figured that they're really busy and don't have time to address that. Like if they did have time, I figure that they would have addressed it in the rejection email. Plus, I feel pretty confident that it's because they don't think I'm as smart as the other candidates.

But you're the second person to recommend this, so perhaps I'm wrong in my assumptions. So I'm going to send them an email doing what you say.

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