Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020 • Hacker News Board

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#361

Post by aprdm » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 8:42 AM UTC

coconut_crab wrote: post #360

aprdm wrote: post #359

The state of interviewing for software companies in the FANG or wanna-be-FANG companies is really sad. They barely talk with you and just waste your time in multiple online tests that you have to prepare for spending at least tens of hours. Those tests have problems that either you don't face in the day to day or if you do you would have more than 30-50 minutes to solve (anyone breaks jira tickets in 30-50 minutes in…

Google has more than one hundred thousands employees, so interviewing is a very hard problem at that scale. So is there a better way of hiring for giant companies? One that doesn't involve forcing interviewee to farm leetcode for months?

I unfortunately do not have the answer to this problem and understand it is a hard problem to solve, that said, I still feel sad about the state of the industry in this regard.

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#362

Post by zerr » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 9:13 AM UTC

jedberg wrote: post #257

hkarthik wrote: post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Netflix is known for being speedy with hiring because they are also speedy with firing under performers. So they see hiring as a relatively low risk proposition and will make decisions faster since the long term effects are greatly lessened.

This is absolutely true. It was just as easy to fire someone as it was to hire someone, so hiring was a lower risk activity. But even so, most people did not get fired, contrary to popular belief. I don't remember the stats, but almost no one was fired within their first year for example.

Did you have any H1Bs at that time? I mean it would be a horrible experience for such persons - firing fast (and without any notice?) would most likely result in deporting her along with her family.

Also, interesting - if a person is a high performer for the first couple of years and then becomes a low performer - most likely something is wrong with the company and/or the particular project/team itself.

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#363

Post by DrScump » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 9:15 AM UTC

CameronNemo wrote: post #348

Maledictus wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought Montana is an exception, but I don't remember where I read that.

Yeah but all the "people" in Montana are secretly bison.

"On the internet, nobody knows you're a bison."

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#364

Post by totalZero » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 9:24 AM UTC

diego wrote: post #192

jrockway wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just don't think that's true. If people worked there because they were desperate to work there, they wouldn't pay industry-leading salaries.

That doesn't follow. Once people work there, they don't want those people to leave for Facebook et al. so they have to compete on retention.

Sure it does. Retention is discounted if people are desperate to work specifically at your company.

(Not commenting on the underlying discussion, just the particular logical point.)

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#365

Post by corporateslave5 » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 9:41 AM UTC

max_velikanski wrote: post #176

Indians occupy most of the management positions in FAANG, and even though developers from other races/groups do very well during the interview process(I participated in), they barely pass, because they are not from the chosen race. I would be highly surprised if Management in FAANG is not at least 80% of Indians, so please don't even bother applying here (yep, worked for AA and now G).

Yeah I’m always astounded by this. It’s literally never brought up, but it’s everywhere in the industry.

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#366

Post by esprehn » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 9:51 AM UTC

aikinai wrote: post #314

joshuamorton wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've literally never seen mention of this on blind. I see jokes about leaving and then returning at L+1, but never "forcing promo" via a competing offer.

I know someone who did it, but that was a few years ago during the peak of talent competition with Facebook. And the person was clearly qualified for the promo anyway.

It's unlikely the promo was because of the competing offer. During that time with Facebook they gave generous retention grants though.

The promo process is fairly opaque, so there's no way someone would know if the committee or manager took a competing offer into account or if they "forced it".

It seems more likely they were qualified and the timing was coincidental with the competing offer.

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#367

Post by mav3rick » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 10:12 AM UTC

Infinitesimus wrote: post #184

timsneath wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all honesty, there are not that many "bog standard SDEs" at Google. That's not what the company is hiring for: it wants engineers who are comfortable with complexity, whether measured in technical challenge (Tensorflow, Dart etc.), robustness (cloud, GSuite) or extreme scalability (Gmail, ads, search etc.) A PhD is clearly not the only path to that skillset, but it's not unusual either. Separately, I'm sorry the o…

> That's not what the company is hiring for: it wants engineers who are comfortable with complexity, whether measured in technical challenge (Tensorflow, Dart etc.), robustness (cloud, GSuite) or extreme scalability (Gmail, ads, search etc.) How confident are you about that assertion? A lot of Googlers are doing generic web/app work that happens elsewhere from those I've talked to. Not HQ tho so maybe it's different…

No no one is writing basic CRUD apps at Google. At that scale there are optimizations needed at every level. I know people who work on the cutsom kernel for the servers to front end people for apps.

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#368

Post by wyclif » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 10:33 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #49

asdfman123 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be really good at those interviews you have to practice to be really good at those interviews. It takes a tremendous amount of time to get good enough that you can't possibly fail (especially for people like me, who are incapable of thinking clearly when they're asked to perform in front of others). My brother hires for a consulting firm and he was talking about how there really is a shortage of talent out there.…

> My brother hires for a consulting firm and he was talking about how there really is a shortage of talent out there. Exceptional talent is rare. There's only a shortage if you're unreasonable. Lots of employers are some combination of apathetic, unreasonable, or plain ol' lazy. It costs them nothing to fish for talent for 6-12 months, accept hundreds of applications, and then complain when a unicorn didn't come alon…

I take your point, and it might not cost them anything to leave a position unfilled for a year, but I'm sure weeding through hundreds or thousands of applications costs them money. The amazing part about it is that they're OK with wasting time and money knowing they're not going to find anyone for the job.

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#369

Post by wyclif » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 10:37 AM UTC

dijit wrote: post #136

PretzelFisch wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I still have nightmares using Doc as code editor. I new it would be bad, thought notepad would work as a good practice environment. But no Doc is like word tries to auto format/fix every line and tab. I couldn't deal with my code moving nor read it afterwords.

Oh god. the auto caps is just the beginning, auto-correct is not your friend. And they expected to be able to run the resulting code afterwards!

I'm curious, why wouldn't they let you just write it in Vim, Emacs, or even VSCode?

Re: Google interviewing process for software developer role in 2020

#370

Post by mclightning » Tue, Feb 25, 2020, 11:32 AM UTC

It might be an unpopular opinion but Google dropped from a place to strive to work for, long time ago. I don't know why would you put yourself under so much frustration to work for a company that has completely gone 180 degrees on its motto of "Dont be evil".

They haven't come up with any extraordinary, interesting technology for years now. Technologically they're becoming less and less relevant.

Tables have turned for Google long time ago, and they should be the ones who do more to attract employees.