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0 pointsthe_snooze1y ago0 comments

>OK maybe their school is a signal

"School" is quite variable.

Weak signal: you only went to class and did OK in them.

Strong signal: you had an internship, or undergrad research experience, or part-time employment as a TA/tutor, or have a completed project to show off, or some kind of non-trivial community/group/club/fraternity leadership.

Really strong signal: you published a paper with someone I know and they recommend you to me.

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ghaff1y ago

Typically, undergrads aren't publishing papers. I did co-author a paper in grad school though it was irrelevant to my eventual job.

Most people are looking at whether you just went to (whatever they consider) a top tier university.

the_snoozeOP1y ago

Absolutely, it's very rare for an undergrad to be on a paper. But that's what makes it such a strong signal: it shows they had the grit and maturity to contribute to a research effort to completion, in a team with people more experienced than they are. In an interview, it gives them something non-trivial to talk about and be proud of. That's very likely a strong junior candidate.

ghaff1y ago

There are a ton of things you might look at for a newly graduated undergrad beyond grades: research and other academic projects, sports teams, editor on a newspaper, etc.

throwaway20371y ago

Why are sports teams important signals?

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ghaff1y ago

Typically, undergrads aren't publishing papers. I did co-author a paper in grad school though it was irrelevant to my eventual job.

Most people are looking at whether you just went to (whatever they consider) a top tier university.

the_snoozeOP1y ago

ghaff1y ago

There are a ton of things you might look at for a newly graduated undergrad beyond grades: research and other academic projects, sports teams, editor on a newspaper, etc.

throwaway20371y ago

Why are sports teams important signals?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse