Subj : Re: How much should I charge for fixed-price software contract? To : comp.programming From : Richard Heathfield Date : Sat Aug 20 2005 12:00 am Chris Sonnack wrote: > Richard Heathfield writes: > >>> I will say that *I* would never trust my resume to someone's >>> personal HTML renderer, line wrapping, settings, etc. >> >> I was never that concerned about the exact appearance of my CV. > > That's fine. I have some background in the arts, so I see it as > an opportunity to express that part of my training, plus that > same training makes me care (a lot) about how it looks. It's a > personal thing. Fair enough. Bear that in mind in what follows... > >>> [HTML is] TOO portable. Too prone to mis-rendering. >> >> Does that matter? > > To, me, yes. Okay; I can accept that. (No, really I can!) > I still have some regard for the fact that HTML > was originally intended to be marked up *content* to be rendered > as the viewer deemed appropriate (which I thought was a very > cool thing). Likewise. I am always impressed by HTML pages which are written in a way that lynx can present intelligently. I don't use lynx as a matter of course, but occasionally I have a reason to use it (e.g. when checking from a shell account that a site hosted locally is working properly). I was amazingly impressed that my local supermarket has a lynx-friendly online ordering system. (They actually do two systems - one for wizzyfizzy bellsnwhistles browsers, and a second version that doesn't bother trying to impress the user, but focuses instead on getting the job done.) > In the case of *my* resume, I'm selling content AND appearance. Okay, I can buy that. > >> If someone is so scared of not being thought adequate to the >> job being advertised that they go into control freak mode and >> decide they need the exact appearance on the page to be Just >> So, then they will send you a PDF file, which you accept. > > Or a nicely printed copy (I'm moved to take (minor) issue > with your emotional freighting here ("so scared" and "control > freak mode"). Oh, absolutely. I was not just freighting, but railroading. :-) > Other points of view are just as valid and not > "lesser" than yours.) I must take issue with you there, though. My point of view is the only valid view in the world. The only views that are not "lesser" than mine are those that are identical to mine. Obviously. Duh. > I don't know of anyone who's ever *submitted* an HTML file, > but if it opened normally (double-clicking or whatever) for the > hiring manager, it would probably be fine. Great. > To me *PERSONALLY* it would have the effect of submitting a CV > drawn on butcher paper with crayon, and whether you like it or > not, I would indeed take points off (and would never consider > submitting one for reasons I've detailed already). I don't mind one bit. After all, the chances of my submitting a CV to you are zero minus. Nothing personal - it's just that I have no particular itch to move to the USA. > > There is also the issue that, if I've asked for one thing and > you've given me another, you've either displayed (a) an inability > to follow directions, (b) a willfulness that might be a problem > on the job, (c) a great deal of initiative. In my case, it would probably be all three. :-) >>> If applying to some other company, I'd find out what they prefered >>> and that's what I'd give them. >> >> Or you might decide that it's too much like hard work. > > I have nothing against hard work if it increases my chance of success. I prefer to have the world fall into my lap (albeit not literally). It's a lot easier, less stress, fewer ulcers, etc. So just send me a million pounds sterling. (You'll have to do the exchange conversion yourself, though - I can't be bothered with all that stuff.) >> For example, if they wanted your CV to be painted on banana leaves >> from Botswana, one letter per leaf, and sewn together with your >> own hair, then you might just decide that the company is too >> brain-damaged to even consider working for. > > Or extremely, extremely interesting! Interesting enough to be worth losing all your hair? :-) >> In the same way, I would not want to work for /your/ company. > > Because of what we've discussed in this thread? Partly, yes. That doesn't mean I think your company is bad. In fact, it'd probably be a lot of fun. But partly I wouldn't want to work for your company because it seems just a little bit too locked in to MS. (Of course, I could be wrong about that.) Mostly, however, it's because your father smells of elderberries and because you're based in the USA. I'm sure the USA is a fabulous place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. >>> [...] But this isn't about you or me (who are far more >>> savvy about such matters). It's about corporate managers and corporate >>> perceptions (who ain't). >> >> I wouldn't want to work for a non-savvy corporate manager who was daft >> enough to refuse CVs from bright people just because he has an aversion >> to HTML format. > > I think you're overstating the case a bit here. (-: I guess I'll have to work a touch harder, then. Okay, here we go: I wouldn't want to work for an asinine moron who is so stupid he thinks the box on his desk is called a Microsoft. No doubt he drools in his beer, too. How am I doing now? :-) -- Richard Heathfield "Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999 http://www.cpax.org.uk mail: rjh at above domain .