Is it wise to give your [stackoverflow] username to a potential employer?

Question

This may be considered a meta question, if so please feel free to move it to the meta site, but I feel it doesn't match the requirements of the meta site because it's a general question about interviews that is applicable to any programmer applying for a job.

The reason I am submitting this anonymously should also be evident.

I recently started applying for jobs. One of the first ones I applied for asked me a series of questions, one of which was "Do you use stackoverflow? If so, what is your username?"

I'm not sure what they're looking for though. Will they see if I asked intelligent questions, or spent time answering other people's? I get the feeling this is just as likely to be a bad idea as it is a good idea. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this matter?

I thought about saying yes I use it, but I'd prefer not to reveal my username. However that might be more suspicious.

I put stackoverflow in brackets, because it could just as easily apply to another medium such as a forum.

(I'd make it community wiki but the checkbox is missing)

Answer 1

This is very subjective -- obviously it depends on both the user and the employer. If it's going to help you get your foot in the door, and you're proud of the questions you've asked and the answers you've provided, I'd say go for it. If, on the other hand, you plan to ask/answer SO questions at work, you might not want to do this.

In general, I don't think you should have to fear retribution for asking for help. If the company is going to somehow punish you for asking questions, you may want to seek employment elsewhere.

On the other hand, make sure you don't misrepresent yourself by claiming to be an expert in some field if your SO questions clearly indicate otherwise.

Answer 2

If your SO reputation, answers and comments are the sort of thing of which you are proud and would want a [potential] employer to see, then I'd say by all means!

If, on the other hand, you have your share of not-brilliant answers (or questions), a bunch of snide comments and other stuff that you'd rather not show off/broadcast, then I'd say no.

Same thing with Facebook, Twitter or anything else.

Basically, if you're going to make your life public by posting it on the internet, then be careful about what you do, as potential relationships of the future (employers, mates, spouses, arresting officers, etc.) may have a look.

Here's hoping yours is great!

(Mine, while not stellar, is a perfectly defendable representation of what said future relationship can expect from me, and includes enough goodness to be publishable, I'd think.)

Answer 3

I've often wondered the same thing about various forums/QA sites, and I think this is a great topic for discussion.

I think it's entirely appropriate for you to encourage an interviewer to look up your StackOverflow profile as an example of your work, style, community involvement, etc. However, I think it's inappropriate for an employer to ask you for that information explicitly. Perhaps a better question for the interview process would be "Can you show us any examples of open source projects or community programming sites that you've been a part of?"