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Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

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Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#31

Post by inreverse »

bradlys wrote: post #27
winter_blue wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You need to invest time in Leetcode. I made it into final round interviews with both Google and Facebook (in California) , without much prep, and didn't get an offer from either. Google asked me all algorithm problems (I told them I didn't have much system design experience), whereas Facebook did a mix of algorithms, system design, and soft/personal skills.

I think you misunderstood what I meant - I smashed the problems as in... I destroyed them. Optimal solution out of the gate. Optimal solutions on the board only slowed down by my ability to write. It wasn't even memorization - I just practiced so much. I've done over 500 problems and over 200 technical interviews. I don't really "fail" them in the traditional sense these days. Maybe I have a really punchable face - w…

In my experience interviewers are looking for a detailed thought process with a comparison of solutions that demonstrates your communication, not just an optimal solution. Do you provide that as well?

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#32

Post by throwqwerty »

bradlys wrote: post #24
throwqwerty wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what does smashed every problem mean? are you really getting the entire solution including optimization written up each time? i find it hard to believe that you're acing the technical and bombing the rest so egregiously that you're not getting offers.

Yeah - you'd be surprised. I got accused of cheating more than once because I'd come up with the optimal solution in less than a minute. Never even saw the problems. I spent a lot of time prepping.

>optimal solution in less than a minute

you're interviewing wrong and i'm surprised that you haven't figured it out given 200 attempts. put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer - interviews aren't their main focus in the company and hence they're not invested in being excellent interviewers. they're most likely trying to do a good enough job such that it counts towards promotion and simultaneously not have a horrible time during the interview. so they have roughly a script that they'll follow

1. give the imprecise problem statement

2. give the opportunity for clarifying questions (points added or subtracted from interviewee for asking relevant/irrelevant/interesting/mundane question)

3. give the opportunity for naive solution (points added or subtracted for facility in implementing and runtime discussion)

4. introduce challenge portion (optimization or constraint or whatever)

5. give another opportunity for clarifying questions

6. give opportunity for talking through a solution

7. give opportunity for writing solution

assuming you make it this far

8. give the opportunity for discussion of trade-offs in time/space/code complexity/latency/etc.

that's 6 opportunities to demonstrate that you're smart, fastidious, affable, etc but only 2 of them are really technical. if you're aiming for writing the best/most optimal solution as fast as possible then you're aiming for the wrong thing - it's not a standardized test but an interview (i.e. two people are involved). you should be aiming to impress the interviewer! those aren't the same (the first is a component of the second).

if you'd you should put your contact info either here in a response or in your profile and i'll reach and we can chat about interviewing (i'm not a coach or a business but i do interview well so maybe i can help you a little).

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#33

Post by lacker »

bradlys wrote: post #20

It's good information. Leaves me feeling hella bitter though since I'm paid less than half of that FB offer but could theoretically get the same offer. Just wish there was a more straight forward way to getting into these companies that pay so much. Has anyone had success with mock interviews? (Done by people who actually hire - not random people) I've received endless feedback from recruiters saying it's my technica…

It’s quite common for people to think they nailed a question when actually they did poorly, in the eyes of the interviewer. Even if you are getting the “correct solution”, the interviewer will usually have some followup discussion designed to make sure you really understand the solution well. Often this catches out people who practice so much they’ve seen the answer before. This is my guess for what’s happening, at least.

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#34

Post by bradlys »

inreverse wrote: post #31
bradlys wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you misunderstood what I meant - I smashed the problems as in... I destroyed them. Optimal solution out of the gate. Optimal solutions on the board only slowed down by my ability to write. It wasn't even memorization - I just practiced so much. I've done over 500 problems and over 200 technical interviews. I don't really "fail" them in the traditional sense these days. Maybe I have a really punchable face - w…

In my experience interviewers are looking for a detailed thought process with a comparison of solutions that demonstrates your communication, not just an optimal solution. Do you provide that as well?

Yep. I always break down the solutions I purpose and ask them if they want me to code it up. I walk them through the solution. I give them trade offs between different solutions (if there is an alternative that has the same time/space complexity). Everything... :/

EDIT: But - really - I'm not looking for feedback or critiques in this format. I've done this endlessly with people online. Instead - it would be useful to me to recommend services or experiences with mock interview services. I'm having a hard time believing anyone can give me real insight here that I haven't corrected myself. (But that insight could exist through mock interviews)

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#35

Post by LanceH »

lacker wrote: post #33
bradlys wrote: post #20

It's good information. Leaves me feeling hella bitter though since I'm paid less than half of that FB offer but could theoretically get the same offer. Just wish there was a more straight forward way to getting into these companies that pay so much. Has anyone had success with mock interviews? (Done by people who actually hire - not random people) I've received endless feedback from recruiters saying it's my technica…

It’s quite common for people to think they nailed a question when actually they did poorly, in the eyes of the interviewer. Even if you are getting the “correct solution”, the interviewer will usually have some followup discussion designed to make sure you really understand the solution well. Often this catches out people who practice so much they’ve seen the answer before. This is my guess for what’s happening, at l…

I walked out of an interview before thinking I nailed one of the big questions. I answered it so well and in such an orderly fashion they asked if I had seen it before, which I hadn't. I received feedback that they would pass and one reason is that I wouldn't admit that I had seen that question before.

I guess I wasn't prepared for having my integrity (literally) questioned.

No loss for me. It was really off putting how suspicious they were of someone who knew the answer better than they did; like it just wasn't possible. Instead of disbelieving me, they should have just moved on to some other questions for confirmation, even if it meant calling me back in.

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#36

Post by mandeepj »

Salaries are a bit misleading on this page.

Let's take LYFT's example - on landing page - salary is $420k but on inside page - it's $396k. What's the vesting period on those stocks? I'm almost sure it's not 1 year. And, that salary is for the first year. They will not be giving you $200k worth of shares every year or do they?

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#37

Post by petrocrat »

bradlys wrote: post #34
inreverse wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience interviewers are looking for a detailed thought process with a comparison of solutions that demonstrates your communication, not just an optimal solution. Do you provide that as well?

Yep. I always break down the solutions I purpose and ask them if they want me to code it up. I walk them through the solution. I give them trade offs between different solutions (if there is an alternative that has the same time/space complexity). Everything... :/ EDIT: But - really - I'm not looking for feedback or critiques in this format. I've done this endlessly with people online. Instead - it would be useful to…

have you heard of interviewing.io?

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#39

Post by enos_feedler »

mandeepj wrote: post #36

Salaries are a bit misleading on this page. Let's take LYFT's example - on landing page - salary is $420k but on inside page - it's $396k. What's the vesting period on those stocks? I'm almost sure it's not 1 year. And, that salary is for the first year. They will not be giving you $200k worth of shares every year or do they?

My guess is 4 year vest. Unclear if the bonus is sign on or annual too.

Re: Salary Stream – Software Engineer Offers

#40

Post by thorwasdfasdf »

MuffinFlavored wrote: post #10

Those base salaries are really not that strong in those high cost of living areas.

It's stronger than any other jobs out there.

But yes, you're right even the very very highest of salaries doesn't compensate enough to buy a modest 4 million$ house. You'd have to be in your 20s and rent a room with plans to leave in less than 10 years or just don't have a family.

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