> you will also find lots of postings where the word “clojure” is basically an seo keyword how would that help? If someone cared about a piece of the tech, their going to ask about it before they get hired, or even worse find out after their hired. Seems like a good way to waste everyones time.

I would guess they see it as a lure? Sometimes they hold it out as something you might get to work on simply because one person at the company at some point used it. I’ve also come across a couple different postings where there were people doing Clojure at the company, but the position hired for wouldn’t be … but maybe if you pay your dues you could get a chance to switch in the future.

Yeah, some places will tell you through the whole interview process that clojure is used, and when you join you find out it's just one years old legacy project no one touches

Yep, unfortunately why it’s useful to first meet programmers from the company (like at a usergroup meeting or something), or someone-who-knows-someone, etc. Applicants and employers generally mislead each other.

As a former(and maybe sometime in the future) applicant I am offended by the suggestion that I have mislead anyone about anything. If you find yourself surrounded by liars you may want to get out of there.

I apologize for offending you, but in my experience applicants are trained to sell themselves, otherwise they’ll lose jobs to those who do. For instance, in the Clojure community, it’s expected I list the technical disadvantages of my software, as well as advantages. But would you expect me to list the pitfalls of my company’s culture, or (what I expect you’ll consider) the pitfalls of my psyche that may manifest in the workplace?

What I will say (and I was thinking about before you replied) is that, in my experience, I’m sure programmer applicants tend to be significantly more truthful than hirers.

Oh, and if you say you are scrupulous in not misleading others, I fully believe you, and my comments do not apply to you.

Actually, let me go a step further: I’ve supported good coworkers who felt they must wear masks (lie), and helped them achieve healthier environments where they’re freer to express themselves honestly.

good