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Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

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Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#1

Post by fspear »

This post got me triggered https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12348756 as I've experienced the same feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy after terrible interview experiences. I also know a lot of people who have either: quit tech or moved overseas, unfortunately this stupid fad of "algorithmic" puzzles has gotten out of control and it's spreading like wildfire, because everyone wants to be like Google/Facebook/Amazon.

I can understand why some complex algorithm competency might be required at some of these companies but this alpha nerd "dick-measuring contest" needs to stop.

I am angry for the OP of the post above and for my own experiences as well as for many other fellow developers who have been through the same.

I think it's time we fight back as a collective and tell the "big 4" and the big 4 wannabes to go screw themselves, however I feel powerless, frustrated and angry. We can't continue to be complacent, enough is enough I say, let's do something about this.It has gotten out of hand. I refuse to accept this as the status quo.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#2

Post by dozzie »

First, working in Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter is overrated more likely than not. Remember that. You don't really need to work in a big company to have fulfilling job that allows you to grow professionally and pays decently. (Don't be greedy.)

Second, remember that interviewing is both way lane. It's not only a way for employer to assess candidate, it's a way for a candidate to assess the potential employer. Treat it as such.

This may be a cliché, but if all I got asked in the interview was some random puzzles and nobody was interested in the work I had done in the past, I would probably avoid such company. They don't seem to hire based on competency, so I'm likely the first one with the ability to develop and deploy a well-designed system (completely different thing from algorithms). I don't like to struggle with making each and every step. The same stands if they require specific education.

And the last thing, in current landscape there's plenty of jobs in IT and only so many competent programmers, sysadmins, netadmins, or DB operators. It's the employers who struggle with finding good candidates, not the other way around.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#3

Post by JSeymourATL »

> let's do something about this.

Career Capital Theory-

Research shows that the traits that lead people to love their work are general, and can be found in many different career paths. They include things like autonomy, a sense of impact and mastery, creativity, and respect and recognition for your abilities. Once you recognize that these traits have little to do with following a pre-existing passion, and can be cultivated in many different fields, you can safely abandon the myth that there's a single right job waiting out there for you.

On this subject, Steve Martin's advice is solid > http://lifehacker.com/5947649/steve-martins-advice-for-build...

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#4

Post by atmosx »

dozzie wrote: post #2

First, working in Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter is overrated more likely than not. Remember that. You don't really need to work in a big company to have fulfilling job that allows you to grow professionally and pays decently. (Don't be greedy.) Second, remember that interviewing is both way lane. It's not only a way for employer to assess candidate, it's a way for a candidate to assess the potential employer.…

Offtopic: The 4th big is twitter? I thought it was Microsoft. I also thought that there are at least a dozen companies above twitter as far big goes in any possible sense (revenue, salaries, dev happiness, etc.).

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#5

Post by tdb7893 »

dozzie wrote: post #2

First, working in Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter is overrated more likely than not. Remember that. You don't really need to work in a big company to have fulfilling job that allows you to grow professionally and pays decently. (Don't be greedy.) Second, remember that interviewing is both way lane. It's not only a way for employer to assess candidate, it's a way for a candidate to assess the potential employer.…

I just did some interviews a few days ago at one of the "Big 4" companies and one thing that struck me was that they didn't seem any happier in their jobs than people other places. (actually the people I interviewed with seemed less happy but that is probably just sample size)

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#6

Post by dozzie »

atmosx wrote: post #4
dozzie wrote: post #2

First, working in Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter is overrated more likely than not. Remember that. You don't really need to work in a big company to have fulfilling job that allows you to grow professionally and pays decently. (Don't be greedy.) Second, remember that interviewing is both way lane. It's not only a way for employer to assess candidate, it's a way for a candidate to assess the potential employer.…

Offtopic: The 4th big is twitter? I thought it was Microsoft. I also thought that there are at least a dozen companies above twitter as far big goes in any possible sense (revenue, salaries, dev happiness, etc.).

> The 4th big is twitter? I thought it was Microsoft.

I don't know, maybe it was Microsoft. I haven't put much thought about what is "the big four". To me, they all fall into the same bucket: big, computers, mostly US.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#7

Post by mrits »

I have super flexible hours. A private office looking over Austin's green belt. Free lunch. Ability to go to any conferences I want. With my salary I can live just about anywhere I want in the city. Why the hell would I want to work for a huge "big 4" ?

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#8

Post by pyb »

atmosx wrote: post #4
dozzie wrote: post #2

First, working in Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter is overrated more likely than not. Remember that. You don't really need to work in a big company to have fulfilling job that allows you to grow professionally and pays decently. (Don't be greedy.) Second, remember that interviewing is both way lane. It's not only a way for employer to assess candidate, it's a way for a candidate to assess the potential employer.…

Offtopic: The 4th big is twitter? I thought it was Microsoft. I also thought that there are at least a dozen companies above twitter as far big goes in any possible sense (revenue, salaries, dev happiness, etc.).

There is not a 'big 4' in tech, despite increasingly widespread use of the term.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#9

Post by wprapido »

just avoid them. you really don't need to work for the big 4 in order to have a fulfilling job and/or make good money. also you can avoid steve jobs wanna be employers and execs. we are lucky enough that our industry provides lots of diversity and we can be picky

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to fight back against the “big 4” hiring fads?

#10

Post by j4_james »

atmosx wrote: post #4
dozzie wrote: post #2

First, working in Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Twitter is overrated more likely than not. Remember that. You don't really need to work in a big company to have fulfilling job that allows you to grow professionally and pays decently. (Don't be greedy.) Second, remember that interviewing is both way lane. It's not only a way for employer to assess candidate, it's a way for a candidate to assess the potential employer.…

Offtopic: The 4th big is twitter? I thought it was Microsoft. I also thought that there are at least a dozen companies above twitter as far big goes in any possible sense (revenue, salaries, dev happiness, etc.).

According to Wikipedia it's Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple [1]. But I have also seen Microsoft substituted for Apple in other references.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four

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