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Do F/OSS Contributions Make You More Marketable?

Posted by Cliff on from the looks-good-on-the-resume dept.

Bucking for a Raise asks: "Assuming that Free/Open Source contributions qualify as 'experience' in a professional sense, it would seem to follow that contributing would make one more marketable as an employee or contractor. Personally, I feel that I've gained invaluable experience from my contributions. However, I'm curious to know what other Slashdot readers have experienced: do potential employers/clients feel that it increases your worth? Does it depend on the visibility or perceived value of the project to which you contribute? Do the employers/clients you've seen place any value in, or even know about, F/OSS?"

6 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. More marketable? by KillerHamster · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can just see some former employers of mine freaking out at the idea of contributing to Free Software. "What! You mean, you just gave away all that intellectual property!? And you expect me to hire you?" Probably better not to mention it.

  2. Yes it helps by marcus · · Score: 2, Funny

    When the potential boss asks what kind of programs I have written using foo and I suggest he google for foo and my name and the first three hits are about my contributions to three different online foo based projects.

    Publishing your code is a major display of confidence.

    --
    Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
    - W. Wriston, former Citibank CEO
    1. Re:Yes it helps by dago · · Score: 2, Funny

      So you're a C++ newbie ?

      --
      #include "coucou.h"
  3. Re:Sure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm a web developer (PHP, primarily). Web developers get hobs based on their portfolios.

    Considering one definition of hob is a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings, I can see where PHP experience would give you some familiarity with them.

  4. Re:Only one time by andy@petdance.com · · Score: 2, Funny
    How did you know he was wearing nipple rings?

    Maybe your interviews are a little different over in Europe than in the US.

  5. Re:Does it show you can do the work they want? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    unless it was mod_cobol ;)

    But then, they may have other reservations about your mental condition...