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Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

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Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#31

Post by lk145 »

diab0lic wrote: post #29

I currently work at Netflix. Opinions contained herein are entirely my own, sorry for any errors I typed this on a phone. Hope I can help you make a decision. More than willing to answer any questions, just reply here. :) The turnover rate you quoted is undoubtedly overstated or at least out of date. As for getting fired within a month, it won't happen. People are generally let go for a repeated pattern of major fail…

Could you elaborate about the kinds of things that constitute a major failure?

Also, would you say your experience matches those of people you know on other teams with other managers?

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#32

Post by diab0lic »

relix42 wrote: post #30

If you're good and what you do and have passed the interview process, you'll be fine. The fact that you are self-aware enough to understand the high performance culture and what it takes to meet that bar further indicates that you'll fit in. There isn't a stack rank system at all. Nothing like it in fact. High turn over - more so in the customer service side of the business; not the engineering side. Source: work at…

Thrown work at me? Or are you in the CORE bullpen next to me and have physically thrown things over the wall at me? :P

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#33

Post by diab0lic »

lk145 wrote: post #31
diab0lic wrote: post #29

I currently work at Netflix. Opinions contained herein are entirely my own, sorry for any errors I typed this on a phone. Hope I can help you make a decision. More than willing to answer any questions, just reply here. :) The turnover rate you quoted is undoubtedly overstated or at least out of date. As for getting fired within a month, it won't happen. People are generally let go for a repeated pattern of major fail…

Could you elaborate about the kinds of things that constitute a major failure? Also, would you say your experience matches those of people you know on other teams with other managers?

Repeated major failures would be something like regularly failing to deliver or making a critical error multiple times. A pattern of behavior that doesn't fit the culture, NOT a one off mistake. A great example of this would be the engineer who accidentally leaked House of Cards a week early. The only consequence is that a "process" was removed to make doing what he was trying to do easier. I don't think firing this individual was ever considered. He didn't have a pattern of carelessness and this just happened to be a mistake.

I'm told the only "fuck up" that will get you fired on the spot for the first occurrence is sexual harassment.

My experience is fairly consistent with others I know, there are of course a few exceptions. Though please do bear in mind I have a severe observation bias here. I interact with significantly more people that want to work at Netflix than I do those who don't.

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#34

Post by lewisl9029 »

anxrn wrote: post #17
mbesto wrote: post #8

I don't have any intimate knowledge of working at NetFlix, but holy crap they pay well: http://data.jobsintech.io/companies/netflix-inc/2015 PS - In almost every business I've ever encountered, people are a lot less godlike than you might perceive from an external view.

Netflix pays only base salary, no stocks (RSUs). Total compensation at most other comparable companies has a significant stock component. The H1B reports only include base salary. So which they do pay well, no doubt, it is misleading to compare them to other companies based solely on H1B data (i.e., base salary).

Fair enough, but personally I'd rather take the extra cash and manage my investments myself (and avoid the whole golden handcuffs business that I keep hearing about).

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#35

Post by relix42 »

diab0lic wrote: post #32
relix42 wrote: post #30

If you're good and what you do and have passed the interview process, you'll be fine. The fact that you are self-aware enough to understand the high performance culture and what it takes to meet that bar further indicates that you'll fit in. There isn't a stack rank system at all. Nothing like it in fact. High turn over - more so in the customer service side of the business; not the engineering side. Source: work at…

Thrown work at me? Or are you in the CORE bullpen next to me and have physically thrown things over the wall at me? :P

Both

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#36

Post by sokoloff »

kethinov wrote: post #15

I've known people who've worked at Netflix and have complained about some toxic policies. Some highlights I can recall: Unlimited ESPP rewards already wealthy employees. If you can afford to not take any pay for six months, you basically get a big bonus. I was told there was (and may still be) some kind of stack ranking system. Employees are fired if they're in the bottom x percent of performance reviews, even if the…

Why would an unlimited ESPP be a bad thing, especially to the point of being a "toxic policy"? Does it really matter if someone else takes more advantage of that than you?

I'd love that as a perk, even if it made someone else even more money. I care about me and my family, not how much someone else gets...

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#37

Post by kjackson »

diab0lic wrote: post #29

I currently work at Netflix. Opinions contained herein are entirely my own, sorry for any errors I typed this on a phone. Hope I can help you make a decision. More than willing to answer any questions, just reply here. :) The turnover rate you quoted is undoubtedly overstated or at least out of date. As for getting fired within a month, it won't happen. People are generally let go for a repeated pattern of major fail…

Thank you for your responses, I appreciate it!

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#38

Post by nchelluri »

eddiezane wrote: post #21
kethinov wrote: post #15

I've known people who've worked at Netflix and have complained about some toxic policies. Some highlights I can recall: Unlimited ESPP rewards already wealthy employees. If you can afford to not take any pay for six months, you basically get a big bonus. I was told there was (and may still be) some kind of stack ranking system. Employees are fired if they're in the bottom x percent of performance reviews, even if the…

I really like Travis CI's take on unlimited vacation time [0]. Probably won't ever catch on in the US though. 0: http://www.paperplanes.de/2014/12/10/from-open-to-minimum-va...

That was a great article and I now have a good deal more respect for Travis CI. Thanks for posting. Seems like a very healthy way to look at things.

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#39

Post by kjackson »

spoon16 wrote: post #4

I worked in two different groups while I was at Netflix. I loved it. The engineers on their team are consistently good and there is low tolerance for under performers. They take their culture seriously and their leadership is very strong. I'd be happy to work for them again in the future. Re: expectations about excess work. It's your own responsibility to set expectations about what you can get done and how quickly y…

Thank you! May I ask why you decided to eventually leave? And do you regret leaving?

Re: Ask HN: What is it like working at Netflix?

#40

Post by diab0lic »

relix42 wrote: post #35
diab0lic wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thrown work at me? Or are you in the CORE bullpen next to me and have physically thrown things over the wall at me? :P

Both

Well I appreciate all the swag and whiteboard markers that come over the wall. :)
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