No, Your GitHub Is Not Your Resume

Duane O'Brien @duaneobrien

Should you use someone's GitHub to make hiring decisions?

summary: just don't

@AsheDryden https://www.ashedryden.com/blog/the-ethics-of-unpaid-labor-and-the-oss-community

GitHub is tempting because it makes easy data

But:

• less than 46.5% of OSS is on GitHub anyway
• how do you measure that GitHub participation? the green-squares activity graph? Means almost nothing
• James Coglan "Why Github is not your CV"

who wouldn't be on GitHub

• internal work
• NDA

Open Source is problematic

• some communities are toxic
• communication barriers
• cultural norms make it difficult
• open source takes time: much of OSS is only as a hobby, or partially as a hobby (35-65% dependency)

It isn't free time, its personal time. And it's personal

Contributers

• Advocate using the language
• be prepared with the reasons for your "lack" of GitHub, they will ask
• Don't force participation
• personal projects are not as valuable as community participation to them
• be wary of needy employers
• know when you are at your best - ruthless introspection & fierce compassion
• play to your strengths
• find a mentor - in a particular goal

Get paid for your OSS

• OutReachy - paid internships for minoritys to do OSS contributions,
• Bug bounties
• honeycomb.io

Hiring manager

• lack of existing contributing is an opportunity for growth - which is critical to job-seekers
• replace - panel interview, reverse code review, take-homes, contract work