This Hacker News thread from March 2025 serves as a job board where companies and individuals can post about open positions or their availability for hire. The original poster kicks off the thread with a request for companies currently hiring, inviting them to share details about open roles, company culture, and compensation. The ensuing thread is expected to become a collection of job postings across various sectors, experience levels, and locations, offering a resource for those seeking new opportunities.
Vibecoders is a satirical job board poking fun at vague and trendy hiring practices in the tech industry. It mocks the emphasis on "culture fit" and nebulous soft skills by advertising positions requiring skills like "crystal-clear communication" and "growth mindset" without any mention of specific technical requirements. The site humorously highlights the absurdity of prioritizing these buzzwords over demonstrable coding abilities. Essentially, it's a joke about the frustrating experience of encountering job postings that prioritize "vibe" over actual skills.
Hacker News users expressed significant skepticism and humor towards "vibecoding." Many interpreted it as a satirical jab at vague or meaningless technical jargon, comparing it to other buzzwords like "synergy" and "thought leadership." Some jokingly suggested related terms like "wavelength alignment" and questioned how to measure "vibe fit." Others saw a kernel of truth in the concept, linking it to the importance of team dynamics and communication styles, but generally found the term itself frivolous and unhelpful. A few comments highlighted the potential for misuse in excluding individuals based on subjective perceptions of "vibe." Overall, the reaction was predominantly negative, viewing "vibecoding" as another example of corporate jargon obscuring actual skills and experience.
Traditional technical interviews, relying heavily on coding challenges like LeetCode-style problems, are becoming obsolete due to the rise of AI tools that can easily solve them. This renders these tests less effective at evaluating a candidate's true abilities and problem-solving skills. The author argues that interviews should shift focus towards assessing higher-level thinking, system design, and real-world problem-solving. They suggest incorporating methods like take-home projects, pair programming, and discussions of past experiences to better gauge a candidate's potential and practical skills in a collaborative environment. This new approach recognizes that coding proficiency is only one component of a successful software engineer, and emphasizes the importance of broader skills like collaboration, communication, and practical application of knowledge.
HN commenters largely agree that AI hasn't "killed" the technical interview, but has exposed its pre-existing flaws. Many argue that rote memorization and LeetCode-style challenges were already poor indicators of real-world performance. Some suggest focusing on practical skills, system design, and open-ended problem-solving. Others highlight the potential of AI as a collaborative tool for both interviewers and interviewees, assisting with code generation and problem exploration. Several commenters also express concern about the equity implications of AI-assisted interview prep, potentially exacerbating existing disparities. A recurring theme is the need to adapt interviewing practices to assess the skills truly needed in a post-AI coding world.
The blog post "The Ideal Candidate Will Be Punched In the Stomach" argues against unrealistic job requirements and the pursuit of the "perfect" candidate. It uses the metaphor of a stomach punch to illustrate how life, and by extension a career, throws unexpected challenges. Companies should look for resilient candidates who can adapt and learn, rather than those who appear flawless on paper. The post emphasizes the importance of valuing growth potential and problem-solving skills over a pristine resume, suggesting companies prioritize candidates who demonstrate grit, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Ultimately, it encourages a more pragmatic and humane approach to hiring.
Hacker News users generally found the "punch in the stomach" analogy in the linked article to be overly aggressive and not reflective of real-world hiring practices. Several commenters pointed out that good candidates often have multiple offers, giving them leverage to decline unreasonable requests or hostile interview environments. The idea of deliberately creating stressful interview situations was criticized as ineffective and potentially discriminatory. Some argued that such tactics reveal more about the interviewer and company culture than the candidate's abilities. A few commenters suggested the article was satirical or clickbait, while others offered alternative, more practical advice for evaluating candidates, such as focusing on skills and experience rather than manufactured stress tests.
This Hacker News thread from February 2025 serves as a place for companies to post job openings and for individuals to seek employment. The original poster encourages companies to include details like location (remote or in-person), relevant experience or skills required, and a brief description of the role and company. Individuals seeking employment are asked to share their experience, desired roles, and location preferences. The thread aims to facilitate connections between job seekers and companies in the tech industry and related fields.
The Hacker News thread linked is an "Ask HN: Who is hiring?" thread for February 2025. As such, the comments consist primarily of job postings from various companies, listing roles, required skills, and sometimes company culture details. There are also comments from individuals seeking specific roles or expressing interest in certain industries. Some commenters offer advice on job searching or inquire about remote work possibilities. Due to the nature of the thread, most comments are concise and factual rather than offering extensive opinions or discussions. There's no single "most compelling" comment as the value of each depends on the reader's job search needs.
This Hacker News post is a job seeker thread for February 2025. The original poster invites anyone looking for a new role to share their skills, experience, and desired job type, encouraging both full-time and contract positions. They also suggest including location preferences and salary expectations to help potential employers quickly assess fit. Essentially, it's a place for job seekers to advertise themselves directly to the Hacker News community.
The Hacker News comments on the "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (February 2025)" post express a mix of skepticism, humor, and genuine interest. Several commenters question the practicality of the post, pointing out the difficulty of predicting hiring needs so far in advance, especially given the rapidly changing tech landscape. Some joke about the unpredictability of the future, referencing potential societal collapses or technological advancements that could render the question moot. Others engage more seriously, discussing the types of skills they anticipate being in demand in 2025, such as AI expertise and cybersecurity. A few commenters express interest in specific roles or industries, while others simply offer their resumes or portfolios for consideration. Overall, the comments reflect the uncertainty of the future job market while also demonstrating a proactive approach to career planning.
The original poster asks how the prevalence of AI tools like ChatGPT is affecting technical interviews. They're curious if interviewers are changing their tactics to detect AI-generated answers, focusing more on system design or behavioral questions, or if the interview landscape remains largely unchanged. They're particularly interested in how companies are assessing problem-solving abilities now that candidates have easy access to AI assistance for coding challenges.
HN users discuss how AI is impacting the interview process. Several note that while candidates may use AI for initial preparation and even during technical interviews (for code generation or debugging), interviewers are adapting. Some are moving towards more project-based assessments or system design questions that are harder for AI to currently handle. Others are focusing on practical application and understanding, asking candidates to explain the reasoning behind AI-generated code or challenging them with unexpected twists. There's a consensus that simply regurgitating AI-generated answers won't suffice, and the ability to critically evaluate and adapt remains crucial. A few commenters also mentioned using AI tools themselves to create interview questions or evaluate candidate code, creating a sort of arms race. Overall, the feeling is that interviewing is evolving, but core skills like problem-solving and critical thinking are still paramount.
The Hacker News "Who is hiring?" trends reveal a consistent demand for software engineers, particularly back-end and full-stack developers. Remote work remains prevalent, with many companies embracing fully distributed teams. While specific technologies fluctuate, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, and React continue to be highly sought-after skills. Industries like AI/ML, DevOps, and security show increasing prominence, reflecting the evolving tech landscape. Overall, the job market depicted through these trends appears robust for skilled tech professionals, with an emphasis on adaptable and experienced individuals.
Hacker News commenters discuss the stagnation and decline of certain tech roles, particularly those related to web development and mobile. Several point out the oversaturation of these areas, contrasting it with the continued demand for specialized roles like embedded systems and hardware. Some commenters note the potential impact of AI, both in automating existing jobs and creating new, specialized AI-related roles. The increasing requirement for senior-level experience in many listings is also highlighted, with speculation about whether this reflects genuine need or simply a desire for experienced hires capable of immediate productivity. Finally, a few commenters lament the scarcity of remote opportunities outside the US, despite the purported rise of remote work.
The author recounts failing a FizzBuzz coding challenge during a job interview, despite having significant programming experience. They were asked to write the solution on a whiteboard without an IDE, a task they found surprisingly difficult due to the pressure and lack of syntax highlighting/autocompletion. They stumbled on syntax and struggled to articulate their thought process while writing, ultimately producing incorrect and messy code. The experience highlighted the disconnect between real-world coding practices and the artificial environment of whiteboard interviews, leaving the author questioning their value. Though disappointed, they reflected on the lessons learned and the importance of practicing coding fundamentals even with extensive experience.
HN commenters largely sided with the author of the blog post, finding the interviewer's dismissal based on a slightly different FizzBuzz implementation unreasonable and indicative of a poor hiring process. Several pointed out that the requested solution, printing "FizzBuzz" only when divisible by both 3 and 5 instead of by either 3 or 5, is not the typical understanding of FizzBuzz and creates unnecessary complexity. Some questioned the interviewer's coding abilities and suggested the company dodged a bullet by not hiring the author. A few commenters, however, defended the interviewer, arguing that following instructions precisely is critical and that the author's code technically failed to meet the stated requirements. The ambiguity of the prompt and the interviewer's apparent unwillingness to clarify were also criticized as red flags.
Summary of Comments ( 33 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43243024
The Hacker News thread "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2025)" contains numerous comments from companies seeking to fill various roles. Several commenters express skepticism and frustration about the frequency and perceived low quality of these "Who's Hiring" threads, suggesting they've become less useful due to noise and repetition. Some suggest alternative approaches like dedicated job boards or more structured threads within Hacker News. There's a mix of companies listing specific open positions, ranging from software engineering to marketing, alongside individuals offering their services as freelancers or contractors. Several comments also highlight the importance of remote work options, indicating a continued strong preference for this work arrangement.
The Hacker News post titled "Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2025)" has a large number of comments, primarily from companies seeking employees or individuals looking for work. Many comments follow the suggested format, listing the company, location (often remote), positions available, required skills, and a link for further information. It's a very active thread serving its intended purpose as a job board.
While many comments are straightforward job postings, some offer more detailed insights or spark brief discussions. Some of the more compelling comments include those that:
Discuss specific company cultures or benefits: Beyond the standard list of perks, some comments delve into the company's values, work-life balance, or unique benefits, offering a more nuanced picture of what it's like to work there. These comments are valuable for job seekers looking for a specific type of work environment.
Engage in conversations about desired skills or industry trends: Certain comments initiate short discussions around the most in-demand skills for particular roles, emerging technologies, or the future of specific industries. These exchanges provide valuable context for both job seekers and recruiters.
Offer advice or resources for job seekers: Some commenters share tips on resume writing, interviewing, or negotiating salaries. Others post links to helpful resources for finding jobs or developing in-demand skills. These comments contribute to the thread's value as a support network for job seekers.
Represent unique or niche opportunities: While many of the postings are for standard tech roles, some stand out by offering unusual opportunities, such as working on cutting-edge research, joining early-stage startups, or contributing to open-source projects. These comments cater to job seekers with specific interests or career goals.
Reflect the current job market: The types of roles being advertised, the skills being sought, and the overall tone of the comments provide a snapshot of the tech job market at the time the post was active. For example, the prevalence of remote positions, the emphasis on specific programming languages, or the demand for certain types of expertise reflect the current state of the industry.
It is worth noting that due to the dynamic nature of Hacker News, the comments are constantly evolving. New postings are added regularly, and older ones may be removed or become less relevant over time. Therefore, the most compelling comments will vary depending on when the thread is viewed.