Ask HN: How can I earn money in the workforce with a interview “disability”?

[spearingthehead]

Over the years I have myself a set of software development skills and usually don't face much difficulty in learning new skills on the job.

But,

My ability to get new SWE jobs has drastically tapered off over the past few years and I have a serious learning problem with interviews. I lack the ability to read people at interviews nor can I learn from my mistakes in them. I'm unemployed so I lack leverage.

So, I need to get myself involved in something that can pay me in the interim, without that interviewing requirement. Something that is as open as volunteering, but the legal status of a job that provides compensation.

[gregjor]

A good professional recruiter can help with this kind of problem. A recruiter can prepare the hiring manager in advance regarding your disability, emphasizing your skills and experience. An empathetic hiring manager can brief the interviewers. And the recruiter can get feedback from interviews and coach you in a "safe" context.

Finding a good recruiter with the skills to coach you and the hiring manager will take some effort. Recruiting has a low bar to entry (like programming) so many recruiters play a numbers game and don't work with candidates. A good recruiter will know about the company, tell you what to expect in the interviews, even what you should wear. If the recruiter doesn't know that they probably don't have much of a relationship with their customer (the hiring company).

Remember, as a candidate you never pay a recruiter. They get paid for successful placement by the company.

[spearingthehead]

I need to find a recruiter that is really hands-on with their candidates as you say though it takes effort. Most recruiters I've met just want to fill the role regardless of who it is because why would they spend time trying to improve someone's pitch when better candidates come along that already did the hard work for them.

But what I would be more interested is a talent agent model where agents represent you, the worker, unlike the recruiting model where they represent the companies hiring. However, they seem to be practically nonexistent in the field of software development.

I am seeking an individual contributor role and did not enter this career to get better at sales pitches. IC is the safer route, after all.

Let me worry about sales skills when I decide to take on the riskier path of entrepreneur or leadership roles.

[gregjor]

You have to look at who pays recruiters. They optimize their business for quickly filling open jobs. They work on commission (or salary plus commission) so they try to put as many candidates who look good in front of hiring managers.

I'm not aware of reputable recruiters who represent people looking for full-time employment. You would have to pay for that service if you can find it.

I freelance through an agency, 10X Management. They represent freelancers as talent agents (the founders come from a sports and entertainment talent agent background).

The same founders have a salary/perks negotiation agency, 10X Ascend. You might want to look into that, though I don't believe they offer full recruitment/placement services.

[toast0]

Have you looked at contracting/consulting firms? You still have to interview there, but then they'll assign you to contracts. Depending on the contract terms, the client may be able to hire you out of the contract, or not, if that's something that would be useful to you.

[spearingthehead]

I have applied to consulting firms, although just sparingly in the past. Didn't put a hard focus on them.

Several months ago, I sent cold applications to two software developer positions at Deloitte, and one at Infosys. They were all rejected as saying I did not meet qualifications for these positions or simply were "not moving forward".

[9wzYQbTYsAIc]

You might look for a local disability advocate or vocational rehabilitation outfit.

They may be able to help you with finding / keeping a job or perhaps even attend the interview with you.

Granted, you’d be explicitly disclosing your disability during the interview process, but you could also agree to sign something that waives your right to sue for pre-employment discrimination.