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Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

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Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#11

Post by Sam_Odio »

dotBen wrote: post #8
Sam_Odio wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense but I'll let the hiring manager at facebook (not some guy on the 'net) decide whether I should get a referral bonus. All I'm saying here is that anything I get will go back to the team/applicant. I'm not sure how that's shady. I'd take down the glass door link if I could to appease you. Personally, I think it's better that all photo team applicants see it rather than the few that find it through some curso…

No offense, but if you are going to mention splitting referral bonuses and the like on a public forum, people might make a comment about it - it's the nature of these public forum thingies. Ditto seeing as we're here to discuss the practices of running startups, among other things Anyway, I'm sure the realities of working for a BigCo will continue to sink in as time goes on (if you think Facebook is still a startup,…

I think we're getting too bogged down in the details here. If a facebook hiring manager has a problem they can email me and I'll fix it.

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#12

Post by Sam_Odio »

fleitz wrote: post #9
Sam_Odio wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense but I'll let the hiring manager at facebook (not some guy on the 'net) decide whether I should get a referral bonus. All I'm saying here is that anything I get will go back to the team/applicant. I'm not sure how that's shady. I'd take down the glass door link if I could to appease you. Personally, I think it's better that all photo team applicants see it rather than the few that find it through some curso…

Is it ok to go past 3 sentences? Admittedly I went way over, but I thought it may be helpful to the other applicants to know. The topic is very exciting and I needed to write more :(

Yes, but 3 is preferred.

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#13

Post by dannyr »

dotBen wrote: post #8
Sam_Odio wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense but I'll let the hiring manager at facebook (not some guy on the 'net) decide whether I should get a referral bonus. All I'm saying here is that anything I get will go back to the team/applicant. I'm not sure how that's shady. I'd take down the glass door link if I could to appease you. Personally, I think it's better that all photo team applicants see it rather than the few that find it through some curso…

No offense, but if you are going to mention splitting referral bonuses and the like on a public forum, people might make a comment about it - it's the nature of these public forum thingies. Ditto seeing as we're here to discuss the practices of running startups, among other things Anyway, I'm sure the realities of working for a BigCo will continue to sink in as time goes on (if you think Facebook is still a startup,…

dotBen,

Don't you think that people at Facebook are smart enough to figure out if the applicant really knows what he/she is talking about?

An applicant can read the questions from that link but if he/she doesn't understand these algorithms, etc., the interviewers can easily tell the BS.

As with drinking the Kool-Aid, what makes you a better judge than Sam? You seem jaded by your past experiences but that doesn't mean it happens to everybody.

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#14

Post by dotBen »

dannyr wrote: post #13
dotBen wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense, but if you are going to mention splitting referral bonuses and the like on a public forum, people might make a comment about it - it's the nature of these public forum thingies. Ditto seeing as we're here to discuss the practices of running startups, among other things Anyway, I'm sure the realities of working for a BigCo will continue to sink in as time goes on (if you think Facebook is still a startup,…

dotBen, Don't you think that people at Facebook are smart enough to figure out if the applicant really knows what he/she is talking about? An applicant can read the questions from that link but if he/she doesn't understand these algorithms, etc., the interviewers can easily tell the BS. As with drinking the Kool-Aid, what makes you a better judge than Sam? You seem jaded by your past experiences but that doesn't mean…

dannyr,

So yes, I'm very sure my friends at Facebook can weed out those who know what they are talking about and those who don't. And yes, if you don't know how to do map the shortest distance on a cube or create a bubble sort method, etc then you are going to come up short regardless of what you have read on a cheat sheet online.

But then, the same logic reasons that it is therefore pointless to direct people to the interview questions before hand, doesn't it?

"As with drinking the Kool-Aid, what makes you a better judge than Sam?"

My koolaid reference was to Sam's perspective that Facebook is still a startup. I don't think it's a case of being 'a better judge' on that one - facebook has over 1000 employees, has professional management, makes acquisitions (like his company) and has a $1bn+ valuation. It's not a startup. (I think they do a great job of encouraging the staff to think it is still a startup)

I'm not jaded by any past, I'm not sure where that conclusion comes from. I do perhaps have, however, some more experience in hiring people (both for startups and for large companies) than Sam does... and maybe you are confusing 'thinking practically' for 'sounded jaded'.

I guess I might sound jaded from my overall snarky tone, but that's just how I am at 1:40am on a Thursday morning. :P

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#15

Post by ErrantX »

dotBen wrote: post #8
Sam_Odio wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No offense but I'll let the hiring manager at facebook (not some guy on the 'net) decide whether I should get a referral bonus. All I'm saying here is that anything I get will go back to the team/applicant. I'm not sure how that's shady. I'd take down the glass door link if I could to appease you. Personally, I think it's better that all photo team applicants see it rather than the few that find it through some curso…

No offense, but if you are going to mention splitting referral bonuses and the like on a public forum, people might make a comment about it - it's the nature of these public forum thingies. Ditto seeing as we're here to discuss the practices of running startups, among other things Anyway, I'm sure the realities of working for a BigCo will continue to sink in as time goes on (if you think Facebook is still a startup,…

I highly doubt that represents all the interview questions likely to be asked. Indeed it seems Facebook know they are out there.

Is splitting the referral bonus dodgy? Well if he hadn't mentioned it sods law says someone would come along and say "what about th referral bonus - you're just pitching to get some extra cash..." or something :) I just read it as him laying a potential issue to rest.

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#16

Post by waterlesscloud »

dotBen wrote: post #14
dannyr wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

dotBen, Don't you think that people at Facebook are smart enough to figure out if the applicant really knows what he/she is talking about? An applicant can read the questions from that link but if he/she doesn't understand these algorithms, etc., the interviewers can easily tell the BS. As with drinking the Kool-Aid, what makes you a better judge than Sam? You seem jaded by your past experiences but that doesn't mean…

dannyr, So yes, I'm very sure my friends at Facebook can weed out those who know what they are talking about and those who don't. And yes, if you don't know how to do map the shortest distance on a cube or create a bubble sort method, etc then you are going to come up short regardless of what you have read on a cheat sheet online. But then, the same logic reasons that it is therefore pointless to direct people to the…

Ah, the eternal question of philosophy, rephrased.

If everyone at a large company think and act as if they are a startup, are they a startup?

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#18

Post by calibraxis »

Sam_Odio wrote: post #6
dotBen wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Um, yeah if you don't feel the need to take a referral bonus for yourself then why take it in the first place? I've been a hiring manager in the past. A company uses referral bonuses to incentivize staff to bring in the top talent into the company. If you are really not motivated by the referral bonus (eg your startup was aquired and you're not short of cash these days) then you shouldn't take it - the start up could…

No offense but I'll let the hiring manager at facebook (not some guy on the 'net) decide whether I should get a referral bonus. All I'm saying here is that anything I get will go back to the team/applicant. I'm not sure how that's shady. I'd take down the glass door link if I could to appease you. Personally, I think it's better that all photo team applicants see it rather than the few that find it through some curso…

The interview questions link is the reason I upvoted this announcement; they interest me. And for what it's worth, I also find your reasoning for linking to them sensible.

Re: Largest photo site in the world looking for HNers (Facebook job post)

#19

Post by nl »

dotBen wrote: post #5
Sam_Odio wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understard that it's unusual for a large corp to make a personal appeal on hn. However fb is more like a startup than a big corp. It's pretty standard practice for fb employees to give part of their referral bonuses back to their friends. Are you suggesting that I keep it for myself?

Um, yeah if you don't feel the need to take a referral bonus for yourself then why take it in the first place? I've been a hiring manager in the past. A company uses referral bonuses to incentivize staff to bring in the top talent into the company. If you are really not motivated by the referral bonus (eg your startup was aquired and you're not short of cash these days) then you shouldn't take it - the start up could…

I also think its poor to offer image on the interview questions/answers (yes, even if they are on a public site somewhere).

Google recruiters send people to Steve Yegg's stuff, which includes links to interview questions (including ones they actually use)

They also tell you to do TopCoder questions, which are also pretty close to the real thing.

Facebook also has their "Puzzles" page, which contains similar information: http://www.facebook.com/careers/#!/careers/puzzles.php

The truth is that with hard-core technical interview questions you can either do them or you can't. They aren't trick questions, just tests of what you can do.

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