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95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

danluu.com

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Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#141

Post by AstralStorm »

blattimwind wrote: post #24
cdoxsey wrote: post #12

On the flip side. Sometimes you're just not that good at stuff despite your best efforts. In college I really struggled with math. Which was a challenge because computer science has you take a lot of math classes. In my calculus class I studied so hard for the final. Did every problem in the book. And I still just got a B in the class. At the same time my programming classes were really easy. I didn't study at all an…

> Salieri is a tragic figure though - his response is one of contempt and hostility to the injustice of his life. But he's missed the point. This is a gross falsehood spread after Salieri's death.

So what is the non-tragic response?

Leaving music and working in some other craft, say, a carpenter or a doctor?

This means a lot of sunk cost and further sunk cost of retraining.

Ignoring the injustice? Then it will be perpetuated.

Or attempting to correct it, then hope you're able to? Hope runs out. (Actually movie Salieri did some messing with Mozart to correct the injustice in a destructive way. It didn't make him happy.)

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#142

Post by irishcoffee »

scottLobster wrote: post #139
irishcoffee wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I didn’t need a paycheck I wouldn’t be at the interview, or working at all. Getting a consistent paycheck is “planning long term” for 99% of people. Hell, half my social circle probably doesn’t even know what the S&P500 is.

So your long term goal is stability, and you'll be reliable and consistent in addition to the talent they've clearly already noticed by bringing you in for an interview. From a thematic perspective you're a sturdy foundation they can build their company on. See how much better that sounds? And there are probably better ways of putting it. Granted if an interviewer isn't looking for that mentality it could be an issue…

I don’t think I’d be able to pass/stomach an interview where I need to justify the need for a consistent paycheck.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#143

Post by eitland »

whatshisface wrote: post #134
SkyBelow wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm talking things like "what is your biggest weakness". You don't answer that honestly, you come up with a 'nice to have' weakness but that still seems enough of a weakness to not appear to be holding the question in contempt. If it comes to why you are leaving your current job, depending upon why you actually left you could be able to give honest answers, half truths than hide the major reason, and twist the facts…

Has anyone ever had success with simply deflecting that question? I've never been asked but I wouldn't lie or start a therapy session if I was. Examples of what I mean by deflection: "My greatest weakness is for Gouda cheese." "If I knew what my weaknesses were I would already have worked to resolve them." "Triceps." "I don't have any weakness, what are you talking about?"

You made me smile, here's my best attempt at something similar:

"My biggest weakness is probably job interviews, compared to anything else I do my interviewing skills are really bad..."

More realistically: honestly explaining that some of my greatest strengths are weaknesses in other settings.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#144

Post by wikibob »

SkyBelow wrote: post #87
eshyong wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed with your points, although I wouldn't use the word "lie". "Marketing yourself" would be a better way to put it. It's not about falsely representing your experience; it's about knowing and emphasizing your strengths, and aligning that with the needs of the team.

I'm talking things like "what is your biggest weakness". You don't answer that honestly, you come up with a 'nice to have' weakness but that still seems enough of a weakness to not appear to be holding the question in contempt. If it comes to why you are leaving your current job, depending upon why you actually left you could be able to give honest answers, half truths than hide the major reason, and twist the facts…

It's illegal in the State of California for an employer to ask you your current salary.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#145

Post by Spooky23 »

6gvONxR4sf7o wrote: post #100
Spooky23 wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Remember that everyone has different goals. My cousin was heartbroken when she got a 1570 on the old SATs, as her dream of going to some university was crushed, as she was competing with peers in an elite high school. She had to settle for Brown or something, and was convinced that life was over. For me, I didn't have the desire or resources to do that. I got my 1400 and was able to choose from any of a dozen schools…

Are you saying she was heartbroken with a 1570 out of the old 1600 or the slightly-less-old, but still not current 2400? I can't believe that 1570/1600 is going to disqualify you from anywhere.

This was the 90s, so the old 1600 based exam.

My understanding is that there is/was an admissions quota at the high school level. I don't recall the gory details, but as a cousin and friend I was sympathetic, but as someone not in the middle of it I was puzzled and kind of horrified at the brutal competition that left a truly brilliant person feeling like some sort of rube.

Everything worked out in the end.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#146

Post by hachibu »

> An example of something my editor helped us with was giving us a vocabulary we could use to discuss structural problems.

Does anyone know what he's referring to when he mentions the vocabulary for structural problems? Is there a book/blog to learn about this?

I have the same problem. I feel like something is off with my writing but I can't describe it.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#147

Post by tyingq »

LanceH wrote: post #106
tyingq wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Second, height is not something you should fixate on." I'm not convinced. Many studies illustrate the correlation to success. We are still animals and not-merit factors still matter. Good looks, height, gender, race, symmetry, smell, whatever, etc, are a real "thing". You can overcome it all with mitigation, but it isn't imaginary. That stuff drives real outcomes.

Height could be correlated with "thriving" from infancy through childhood. Also, I have tall children and they are regularly treated as older than they are, setting expectations higher for them in settings outside of school where they aren't grouped by age.

Me too. I have sons that are 6'4" and 6"2". I'm not "short", but am 5 foot whatever. Mostly my view is "thankful for the genetic luck" for the extra benefit of the doubt they get. And those benefits are very clear, despite other strengths both have.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#148

Post by yibg »

SkyBelow wrote: post #87
eshyong wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed with your points, although I wouldn't use the word "lie". "Marketing yourself" would be a better way to put it. It's not about falsely representing your experience; it's about knowing and emphasizing your strengths, and aligning that with the needs of the team.

I'm talking things like "what is your biggest weakness". You don't answer that honestly, you come up with a 'nice to have' weakness but that still seems enough of a weakness to not appear to be holding the question in contempt. If it comes to why you are leaving your current job, depending upon why you actually left you could be able to give honest answers, half truths than hide the major reason, and twist the facts…

I’ve actually mostly answered honestly, but also follow up with what I’m doing to try to improve on this weakness. For example I know one of my weaknesses is I get impatient and cut people off half way, believing I already know where they are going. Besides being rude I’m also wrong some times. It’s a legitimate short coming, but the key is I’m aware of it and am activity doing something about it. Some interviewers are just looking to see if you are self aware.

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#149

Post by jdashg »

mint2 wrote: post #89
tyingq wrote: post #9

95th percentile for an SAT score is something like 1450. That's fairly impressive to me. Feels like scoring higher might often have more to do with effort than ability. Is that excluded from the line of thought in the blog post because it's among "people who regularly practice?" Or is it that effort vs ability thing? Not impressive because you were born smart? In a totally "no effort" arena, 95th percentile height fo…

I’m Recalling whether it was 96% or 94%, but I got a perfect on my math sat II. And yet the perfect score was only ~95%. Top 1/20 Can be impressive or unimpressive depending on context. Top 1/20 is impressive if everyone in the group is competitive. It’s not impressive if it’s 1/20 out of a bunch of randoms who’ve never tried to be good at it.

SAT II Chinese listening test has 800 at 61%ile: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/sat/pdf/sat-subject-te...

Re: 95th percentile isn't that hard to reach

#150

Post by AstralStorm »

esch89 wrote: post #128

There's such a focus on being proficient in our society... but being bad at stuff is not all bad. It's only bad if you don't accept it and move forward more strategically. The ability to recognize and admit the areas where we struggle / are mediocre actually allows us to better accomplish our goals. It took me a long time to realize this... I don't need to be good at anything to make and sell an app, for example. I c…

You mean being a VC? But angel investment is a skilled job.

Even more so if you are trying to sell people on some idea.

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