>This is a myth. The number of candidates I interview who have side projects worth looking at or open source contributions is maybe 1-in-10 at most.
It's not a myth depending on the industry (software as profit-center vs cost-center) -- or type of company (startup vs mature company).
E.g. HN skews towards startups so the excerpts from the most recent "Who is hiring?" thread[1] often mention Github profile as desirable (but not mandatory).
On the other hand, the programming where IT-as-a-cost-center where development is CRUD work like moving zipcode field on a webpage ... those types of jobs advertised on Monster.com won't mention that they're looking for Github side projects.
All that said... with real-life statistics being what they are... Since most programmers don't have Github side projects, it means that hiring managers that asked for Github side projects may end up hiring 100% staff with no side projects -- because those were the only hiring candidates that applied.
Some excerts from the most recent "Who is hiring?" thread[1]:
>To apply, please send an up-to-date: [...] - Personal website, GitHub profile, or any representative examples of code you have written recently that reflect your engineering capabilities -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27818013
>Please contact evan.scholl@bmc-group.co.jp with your resume. Not required, but side projects and github contributions are helpful and appreciated. -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27699747
Most of those quotes you selected are very clear that GitHub projects are not required, but will be looked at if you have something to share.
The myth is that most companies only want people with lots of side projects.
That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any companies who will take side projects into consideration, as in your examples. The myth is that side projects are a prerequisite for getting the job, which isn’t even true in the examples you selected.
>The myth is that most companies only want people with lots of side projects. [...] The myth is that side projects are a prerequisite for getting the job,
I do understand your point but just to be pedantic about interpreting op's phrasing of "are looking for people who do lots of side projects"...
I've personally never interpreted that to mean "if you don't have a Github profile, you are unhireable" so the "looking for people" didn't mean prerequisite but simply a weighting to help choose between candidates.
The Who's Hiring excerpts of Github projects being desirable-not-mandatory seemed to match the intended meaning of the op's premise even if their exact phrasing doesn't satisfy language lawyers and makes them appear naive.
As someone who hires for development-as-a-cost-center I see side projects as a demonstration of interest in software development. I don't need to see a good side project, I just like to hear of one existing. I don't necessarily need passion, but if you view developing software as no different than polishing widgets or inserting pimentos in olives, something you do only for the money, I don't want you.
My job is a cost center. They don't specifically ask for a github or any source code, not they will more often than not ask in the interview about side projects. I think they use it mostly to see that you can learn new things, have a creative mind, and other "cultural fit" things.
It's not a myth depending on the industry (software as profit-center vs cost-center) -- or type of company (startup vs mature company).
E.g. HN skews towards startups so the excerpts from the most recent "Who is hiring?" thread[1] often mention Github profile as desirable (but not mandatory).
On the other hand, the programming where IT-as-a-cost-center where development is CRUD work like moving zipcode field on a webpage ... those types of jobs advertised on Monster.com won't mention that they're looking for Github side projects.
All that said... with real-life statistics being what they are... Since most programmers don't have Github side projects, it means that hiring managers that asked for Github side projects may end up hiring 100% staff with no side projects -- because those were the only hiring candidates that applied.
Some excerts from the most recent "Who is hiring?" thread[1]:
>To apply, please send an up-to-date: [...] - Personal website, GitHub profile, or any representative examples of code you have written recently that reflect your engineering capabilities -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27818013
>Please provide a CV and links to previous work or projects, ideally with contributions visible on Github. -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27700557
>Please contact evan.scholl@bmc-group.co.jp with your resume. Not required, but side projects and github contributions are helpful and appreciated. -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27699747
>To apply, send your CV with your GitHub profile and an answer to the below questions to work @ fingerprintjs.com -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27703097
>Interested? We want to hear from you! Please send resume, Github, or LinkedIn to jobs@blackbird.us. -- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27701022
[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27699704