Ask HN: What is a physiically disabled person to do in this job market?

Even during great hiring times, the roles you're seeking are often slow to hire and sometimes don't get filled even when there are qualified applicants.

There has to be a hand-in-glove fit to the team for these roles to be effective, which means interviews often get delayed because someone key can't be there... then later, another key person is out, and the cycle turns into a crisis and finally interviews happen and the role gets filled.

But, as you know, AI has seriously cut into your niche and hiring has been very minimal for over a year in data-related roles. Non-data people can do so much more with the help of an AI that can read CSV output from common data sources that I'm seeing people get more benefit from directly being able to work with the sources themselves and ask questions rather than get a report made from the BI team.

I would consider widening your search into other domains, adding AI to your workflow and make it front-and-center.

I clicked on your LinkedIn profile and you are wearing the most casual outfit I have ever seen on a LinkedIn profile, so I would consider finding or taking a photograph that looks like a typical job seeker. I would then remove any recent activity from my profile: without logging in, your first post is about difficulties you are facing and the third is a "hot take" that some companies would not appreciate. I'd cut all personal information that wouldn't get me hired.

Lastly, I'd make a more memorable and higher resolution main graphic. Right now, if this is an example of the quality of your work output, it is very blurry on my 15" laptop and doesn't give a great impression in that regard. None of this is a complaint or attack - I heard your desire for input and am sharing my feedback as a person who has been in hiring roles for 2 decades.

I would not follow the advice on changing photos because since when does that matter in software related work.

But not seeing that profile myself, and assuming you don’t look like dogshit, the rest of the above advice definitely rings true. “Difficulties” and “hot takes” sound like the profile directs someone’s first impression of you in a sour direction. With LI it’s all about conformity and optimism.

About the profile photo you said it yourself, conformity is important and the photo is part of that.

> when does that matter in software related work.

There is essentially no downside to taking a more professional photo. There is absolutely potential downside to having too casual of a photo (even if it's a silly truth)

There is a lot of nuance in a profile photo.

Like, it’s clear to me that someone on an executive/salesy biz dev brand will probably present best with a professional studio headshot in a suit. That’s the look. But then someone who is being hired to say, code, that same choice may give off the wrong vibe.

Reason why I’m pointing it out is that on LI folks will over-compensate. You’ll see kids presenting themselves with magazine cover headshots that sort of thing.

So yeah, conformity matters - but it’s very context specific and nuanced. It’s worth asking the question who is looking at this and what should they think at first glance? What are the values?

Honestly, for better or for worse, and I think some hard working folks here will agree with this: I don’t want to be invited by companies which prioritize appearances over merit. At least not to that extent. It’s a vibe thing. And too much pro photography can also send a certain message: vanity, narcissism, ambition.

OTOH I did get a sales gig a while back and I do look good in my profile. So I’m not advocating bad photos. You should simply look like someone everyone would like to work with and get along. I used a bright city-vacation photo in which I look happy because I really am happy.

But if I were to get a higher position, more responsibility, then a serious conservative professional studio photo might become more appropriate.

"since when does that matter in software related work."

It matters for people like OP who are already at a disadvantage. Yes this may not matter to many who are privileged to have a great job and do great work and their employer may not care. But when you are asking to be hired by another company and they don't know how great you are, you need to be presentable in a professional setting.

Overall, we need to stop normalizing being too casual in professional setting. Yes, even as Software Engineers. If all things are equal, I will always pick someone who cares about looking professional for work than not.

"I don’t want to be invited by companies which prioritize appearances over merit"

Easy to say when you may be employed and have a good job. Tell that to OP who is looking for every possible way to get an interview with an employer.

Appearances absolutely matter in a professional setting and even though it should not be the 1st criteria to select someone, it is important.

> I would not follow the advice on changing photos because since when does that matter in software related work.

Then you say you didn't see the profile. Why bother typing all that without even bothering to click? Do you opine on everything you hear other people talking about without looking.

I’m sharing a contrasting view in a conversation. And it is a perfectly valid one to take into account by OP - not everyone thinks particularly highly of folks who overdo their appearances on LI.

Seeking work puts people in a vulnerable spot and it can be intimidating when someone says “change this” and “change that”. “When I hire people blah blah blah”.

And I’ll take the downvotes over that - I’m not shaming or judging anyone for “bothering to type” something they think brings value into a conversation.

So that’s literally the first thing I “opined” here on - I wouldn’t prioritize the photo unless it’s something god awful.

I recently had to endure a job search and did not have a “good job” for longer than I would like. So I’m speaking from recent experience of thinking about the appearances I give off.