I've got a meta question about advice like this. Given that hiring/admissions are generally zero sum, what's the point of giving it? To the extent that someone benefits by reading it (eg, they avoid a faux pas that would have cost them an offer), somebody else loses out just as much (the person who would've gotten the offer).
I've got a meta question about advice like this. Given that hiring/admissions are generally zero sum, what's the point of giving it? To the extent that someone benefits by reading it (eg, they avoid a faux pas that would have cost them an offer), somebody else loses out just as much (the person who would've gotten the offer).
Maybe you feel a personal connection to your readers; you'd rather your readers get offers than the people they're competing against. That strikes me as pretty natural, and probably the best way to understand the common practice of offering advice on the internet about how to win zero sum competitions. But I'm not sure, and would be curious for your take.
That's a great meta-question. It makes sense for me to give an edge to my students (I want them to do better than other people's students), but why for my readers? It's interesting that I never asked myself that question. I just thought "here's some helpful advice", never thinking of the consequences of helping some people at the expense of others.
So, my answer is: I never thought of it that way. Now that I do, do I regret my decision to post this? Not really, but I need to give it some thought.
I'll add that I don't see this as _purely_ zero-sum. If every applicant followed my advice and turned interviews into conversations, I think the process would more pleasant for everyone. But this doesn't get me off the hook.
I've got a meta question about advice like this. Given that hiring/admissions are generally zero sum, what's the point of giving it? To the extent that someone benefits by reading it (eg, they avoid a faux pas that would have cost them an offer), somebody else loses out just as much (the person who would've gotten the offer).
Maybe you feel a personal connection to your readers; you'd rather your readers get offers than the people they're competing against. That strikes me as pretty natural, and probably the best way to understand the common practice of offering advice on the internet about how to win zero sum competitions. But I'm not sure, and would be curious for your take.
That's a great meta-question. It makes sense for me to give an edge to my students (I want them to do better than other people's students), but why for my readers? It's interesting that I never asked myself that question. I just thought "here's some helpful advice", never thinking of the consequences of helping some people at the expense of others.
So, my answer is: I never thought of it that way. Now that I do, do I regret my decision to post this? Not really, but I need to give it some thought.
I'll add that I don't see this as _purely_ zero-sum. If every applicant followed my advice and turned interviews into conversations, I think the process would more pleasant for everyone. But this doesn't get me off the hook.