61–69 of 69 posts
First, I don't know what attracts you to the BIG 4 tech companies and it would be nice for you to share more context and perhaps share a bigger overall picture. For example, are you excited about their backend and scalability or the amount of data they have? Do you think they can offer more money? I can share some my journey (graduated in 2012 with CS undergrad) and hopefully this can help you (or other HN readers) m…
First, I don't know what attracts you to the BIG 4 tech companies and it would be nice for you to share more context and perhaps share a bigger overall picture. For example, are you excited about their backend and scalability or the amount of data they have? Do you think they can offer more money? I can share some my journey (graduated in 2012 with CS undergrad) and hopefully this can help you (or other HN readers) m…
Did all of these offers come from one of Seattle, SF, or NYC?
Facebook recruiter (and people I know who worked there) literally tell you to buy and study “cracking the coding interview.” I did buy the book but I’ve never moved forward with the interview because I really didn’t like to commute south when did it for a year and I like pairing too much. Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions https://www.amazon.com/dp/0984782850/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OiR…
The actual questions I got at the interview were nothing like what was in the book. They weren't questions like "how does algorithm X work?" but "how would you model/implement as system that does X?".
So, shrug. My one data point says that this book is a mostly useless distraction.
From my perspective, I'd try walking before you run. You need to get the interview first. Although you hear of Google hiring thousands of developers a year, and those that do get hired having a 5% chance of success or whatever, that doesn't mean that Google are guaranteed to offer you an interview. I've applied a handful of times, and despite having a Computer Science degree, startup, and small/large agency experienc…
The Facebook interview process was a bit of a joke. Writing code without being able to evaluate and test it is for people just out of school, but that's what they gave for an editor (which didn't have emacs keybindings either IIRC, just some generic code sharing site). Sometimes people with experience do things differently and have learned to USE the computer and not do everything in their heads. Age and skillism to…
The horror of no emacs key bindings.
Yes, it's annoying, especially for old timers like me that really know their tools.
From my perspective, I'd try walking before you run. You need to get the interview first. Although you hear of Google hiring thousands of developers a year, and those that do get hired having a 5% chance of success or whatever, that doesn't mean that Google are guaranteed to offer you an interview. I've applied a handful of times, and despite having a Computer Science degree, startup, and small/large agency experienc…
What sort of languages/stuff did you work out to move out of feeling that way with .NET? I've been working with .NET for 2ish years and have been feeling the same.
My only gripe with C# and .NET is that it's tied to Windows, a fact that immediately locks you down to a single tech stack. Sure, you could write any mainstream language on Windows, but no one does because the language and frameworks aren't optimised for Windows. You're writing code as good as what's written by others on the Linux stack, and your development environment is largely as good as what everyone else is using, but you feel isolated.
For me, it's this perception that leads people to think less of .NET at a platform. You're the guy that drove a Ford to a Volkswagen convention, and even though your car is as good (and in some ways better) than what everyone else has, you'll still feel like an imposter.
In terms of getting over that feeling, I don't think any particular language will help you get over it. My knowledge of JavaScript is alright, so I'm picking up Node/Express at the moment. For the past few months I've been working through Django too, so my ultimate aim is to be in a position where I no longer feel limited by a different language or platform.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
What sort of languages/stuff did you work out to move out of feeling that way with .NET? I've been working with .NET for 2ish years and have been feeling the same.
I've been lucky enough to join a company that is largely agnostic. The devs here seem to be mostly Ruby and JavaScript, but a bit of Python too. I've not done much dev yet outside of a few bug fixes, but simply being out of my element has helped considerably. My only gripe with C# and .NET is that it's tied to Windows, a fact that immediately locks you down to a single tech stack. Sure, you could write any mainstream…
I guess my other question would be how did you end up at your latest job?
I always find that - for non .NET jobs they are mostly looking for Sr. level folks for jobs. Any advice on transitioning?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've been lucky enough to join a company that is largely agnostic. The devs here seem to be mostly Ruby and JavaScript, but a bit of Python too. I've not done much dev yet outside of a few bug fixes, but simply being out of my element has helped considerably. My only gripe with C# and .NET is that it's tied to Windows, a fact that immediately locks you down to a single tech stack. Sure, you could write any mainstream…
Thanks so much for the reply! I guess my other question would be how did you end up at your latest job? I always find that - for non .NET jobs they are mostly looking for Sr. level folks for jobs. Any advice on transitioning?
1. Push the salary limits where you can, but accept a full-time role with limited progression, limited pay, but less stress.
2. Be a lead developer, and ultimately move away from code and into management.
3. Go contracting, because you'll earn 2x what you earn as a salaried employee.
Having been on the other side and having to look for a senior-level candidate to join a team, I'd say that you could probably still send a speculative application, and essentially explain that while you're not the finished article they're looking for, you're interested in the company and you're actively looking to learn. For my interviews, I essentially went in with full honesty. I said that my main experience is C#, but that I'm looking to move away from web development on the Windows stack and am looking to give something new a try to build my skills as a developer. Some companies will appreciate your honesty, and some won't, but I'd argue that the companies that are merely looking to fill a defined role won't offer you the progression you're after anyway.
It's still early days where I am at the moment, and there's every chance that things might not work out, but so far I've been enjoying being the newbie again. For me, it's been less about moving to a new stack, and more about getting over that imposter syndrome of being a one-stack man. If it all goes to shit, and I get made redundant/sacked, at the very least I can go back to my old stack, and that alone takes a good bit of stress off of me.
I currently work at Google and have received offers from Facebook and Amazon. I don't have a CS degree. Interview Cake should be your first stop - the questions are the closest to what you'll actually see in a tech giant interview, so the effort to reward ratio is good. LeetCode is your bread and butter. With any remaining time, grind these problems. Cracking the Coding Interview is both too easy and too difficult, v…