# Advice on recruiting rails developers **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [May 5, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059 "2010-05-05T05:22:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drewB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059/1 "2010-05-05T05:22:51Z")
Other than working with a recruiter or posting jobs on craigslist, dice, or this group, do people have any suggestions for good resources for finding developers in the bay area or philadelphia? ---
**Author:** ![drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drewB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059/2 "2010-05-05T05:56:48Z")
> Other than working with a recruiter or posting jobs on craigslist, > dice, or this group, do people have any suggestions for good resources > for finding developers in the bay area or philadelphia? - [jobs.rubynow.com](http://jobs.rubynow.com) seems to get a lot of eyeballs. - make it clear if it’s on-site or if telecommute is okay. - tell us the name of the company. no way i’m responding to "removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid " without knowing at least something about the company. - avoid the terms: ninja, pirate, jedi, rockstar, “eat and breathe \_\_\_\_”, etc. This of course is only true for myself of course… Good luck! -philip ---
**Author:** ![drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drewB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059/3 "2010-05-05T16:42:46Z")
Philip H. wrote: > > Other than working with a recruiter or posting jobs on craigslist, > > dice, or this group, do people have any suggestions for good resources > > for finding developers in the bay area or philadelphia? I disagree with most of Philip’s recommendations: > - [jobs.rubynow.com](http://jobs.rubynow.com) seems to get a lot of eyeballs. Well, maybe. I didn’t care for that site last time I looked (admittedly a while ago); workingwithrails may be another good choice. Or perhaps the 37signals board… > - make it clear if it’s on-site or if telecommute is okay. Yes, yes, yes! (But for God’s sakes, don’t say “no remote work” unless you really mean it.) > - tell us the name of the company. no way i’m responding to > "removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > " without knowing at least something about the company. Totally disagree. Recruiters usually can’t divulge the names of their clients. Besides, why shouldn’t you respond to a good job posting no matter where it comes from? However, I’d add one: sanity-check the job posting. Nothing turns off developers faster than a posting written by a recruiter who doesn’t understand what skills he or she needs to find for the job. And make sure spelling and grammar are correct. Should be elementary, I know, but I’ve seen far too many postings fail in these respects. > - avoid the terms: ninja, pirate, jedi, rockstar, “eat and breathe > \_\_\_\_”, etc. I’m OK with one of those. Once. If you _really_ mean it. > This of course is only true for myself of course… > > Good luck! > > -philip ## Best, Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drewB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059/4 "2010-05-05T15:25:11Z")
Hi, On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 10:21 PM, drewB [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > ## Other than working with a recruiter or posting jobs on craigslist, dice, or this group, do people have any suggestions for good resources for finding developers in the bay area or philadelphia? I would echo all of Philip’s recommendations and to them add … Sign your emails. It’s not only good manners, it signals honest, open communication. Be more specific: ‘… for finding developers’ ? Just any developers? Or are you looking for RoR developers, for example. Assuming your post here implies you’re looking for RoR developers, ‘make friends’ with your local Ruby Brigade(s). They’re easy to find, hold regular meetings, and typically welcome the bearer of free pizza 😉 In all seriousness, they’re a very good place to build relationships with some of the most enthusiastic RoR developers in an area. Best regards and wishes for your success, Bill ---
**Author:** ![drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drewB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059/5 "2010-05-05T17:00:01Z")
On May 5, 2010, at 10:42 AM, Marnen Laibow-Koser wrote: > > > > you really mean it.) > Be VERY clear whether you really _need_ a developer in a particular > location. You are going to artificially limit the pool of potential > developers. Since you already seem to have two locations and I bet > they have to cooperate remotely, you can almost as easily have a fully > remote tele-developer. You also need to decide if you want to find developers or help them find you. You might have tons of responses to wade through with a post to a job listing, but my best clients have come from them contacting me directly rather than my responding to a listing. You’re probably going to check out the links anyway, you might as well start from your own set first. If you aren’t finding anyone available, at least ask for referrals from the developers that you contact from your own efforts. > However, I’d add one: sanity-check the job posting. Nothing turns off > developers faster than a posting written by a recruiter who doesn’t > understand what skills he or she needs to find for the job. And make > sure spelling and grammar are correct. Should be elementary, I know, > but I’ve seen far too many postings fail in these respects. Since the OP specifically excepted recruiters or craigslist, I really have to agree with Philip here. Let me know who you are, what the company is, and how to learn more (a link to a company web site is perfect). > > - avoid the terms: ninja, pirate, jedi, rockstar, “eat and breathe > > \_\_\_\_”, etc. > > I’m OK with one of those. Once. If you _really_ mean it. Nope, those terms are not OK. (Unless the job is for a dojo, ship, or band, of course.) > ## Marnen Laibow-Koser [http://www.marnen.org](http://www.marnen.org) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Rob B. [http://agileconsultingllc.com](http://agileconsultingllc.com) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > **[Launch Scout Custom Software Development & Software Consulting](https://launchscout.com/)** > > We solve digital problems through custom software development and design for the web—apps, mobile, desktop and devices. removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Skype: rob.biedenharn ---
**Author:** ![drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@drewB](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/drewB)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/advice-on-recruiting-rails-developers/188059/6 "2010-05-05T18:42:31Z")
On 5 May 2010 15:42, Marnen Laibow-Koser [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > > - tell us the name of the company. no way i’m responding to > > "removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid > > " without knowing at least something about the company. > > Totally disagree. Recruiters usually can’t divulge the names of their > clients. Besides, why shouldn’t you respond to a good job posting no > matter where it comes from? Maybe you work there at the moment, and don’t want your boss to know that you’re looking for jobs… Maybe you’ve worked there before, and don’t want to contact them again. Maybe you don’t want to work there for ethical (or similar personal) reasons. There’s generally nothing stopping recruiters divulging clients’ names. They usually don’t _want_ to tell you too soon to prevent you from contacting directly and the recruiter missing out on their 20%. But since the OP isn’t a recruiter but is the end client looking to cut out the middle man (I assume, because he talks about using recruiters, and it would be strange for recruiters to outsource to competitors :-), it would be entirely reasonable and probably extremely sensible to put the company name in any advertisement.