Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell • Hacker News Board

Re: Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell

#101

Post by prolikewh0a » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 8:12 PM UTC

livesinhel wrote: post #100

prolikewh0a wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm extremely quiet at work and don't really have any work friends at least in my department (helps stifle drama), yet am consistent with my productivity, have clear ticket queues every day or they're in a status where I'm waiting for a response from another engineer. I've had my manager tell me in 1:1's that people report me for doing nothing all day except listening to music. I've been here 3 years. I'm content wit…

How can this be? Do you have regular stand-up meetings?

They were taken away from us around a year ago. They were very beneficial, but leadership said they 'were a waste of time'. Our team has suffered with communication and staying on track with problem issues since. Oh well though. I just keep doing the same work.

Re: Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell

#102

Post by JBlue42 » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 9:45 PM UTC

youarentryan wrote: post #98

I really liked working at Netflix, but yeah... puhrty intense culture. Also seems like the Hollywood office is becoming more "Hollywood", which might prove problematic for avoiding all of the dumb mistakes Hollywood people make. With so much attention going to the content side of the biz, I also wonder if top engineers would feel more celebrated at Google, Facebook, or start-ups where their contributions are seen as…

What sort of dumb mistakes?

Also, what engineering/technical challenges do you think Netflix still has to resolve? It seems like things are stable and right now the focus is on content growth / ownership, especially in the face of other companies catching up and trying to compete in the streaming space.

Re: Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell

#103

Post by JBlue42 » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 9:46 PM UTC

kamaal wrote: post #78

pixelperfect wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"the US needs more programmers and STEM grads" can always mean "we wish we could hire programmers for $45,000 a year, but due to supply and demand we have to pay them more than that"

I guess in this case they are more than willing to $500K/yr compensation packages. That's far away from $45K/yr packages. So the question is how many people can suffer through this kind of hell grinder at $500K/yr.

People suffer through a lot more for a lot lot less.

Re: Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell

#104

Post by JBlue42 » Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 9:53 PM UTC

iron0013 wrote: post #95

taneq wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What did the user experience used to be like, if the current version is 'degraded'? We only just got Netflix but it seems pretty slick and well-thought-out.

Those who have been subscribed for a long time know that the content selection is abysmal compared to what it was in the past. A long time ago, I remember feeling surprised when they didn't have something specific I wanted to see; now I am surprised when they DO have something specific I want to see.

That and there were things that, yes, might've taken a little time to maintain, but at least gave it a 'face' outside of normal corporate BS such as being able to share stuff with friends on there. Also, star ratings going away, I think reviews are gone now too, as well as the ability to dismiss things you aren't interested in the past (I think that disappeared a few years ago).

The UI and findability sucks if you're on a PC but is fine if you're on a big screen tv (which is the direction I assume it's been aimed in, as well as big buttons for touch screen or visibility). When I was subscribed, I would use a third party website like instantwatcher to easily sort and search what so I could browse quickly.

Recommendations and the whatever algorithms they're using now aren't very useful (maybe coming full circle on the limited content leading to limited choice).

Re: Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell

#105

Post by bjhoops1 » Mon, Oct 29, 2018, 8:33 PM UTC

SigmundA wrote: post #21

CEO Reed Hastings is described as a dedicated adherent to the culture and several former employees said he is “unencumbered by emotion”—in a good way. Is this not the definition of a psychopath? This really does sound like hell to me. Then again a lot of modern corporate culture especially in tech seems to be moving toward this type of hell. Basically a form of social Darwinism. Life and more specifically happiness i…

It does for shareholders, the only people who matter in a capitalist economy. The only people at all, really, everyone else is just a resource to be maximally extracted from.

Re: Working at Netflix Sounds Like Hell

#106

Post by bjhoops1 » Mon, Oct 29, 2018, 8:38 PM UTC

Shorel wrote: post #97

I wonder if this model would work better with a little bit of gamification. Let me explain: You get fired for not performing. And the gamification part is you can get hired again in that same company, even same position, let's say, three or six months after you were fired. You get your old salary, benefits everything. And the mental relief that being laid of is not permanent. Then you work different this time, with t…

fry squinting can't tell if ironic or earnest...