I am trying to decide on an offer for a SWE position at Facebook. Accepting this position will undoubtedly rapidly advance my career, and more than triple my salary. There are a lot of moral hazards one faces working for Facebook, and I'm looking for perspective from the HN community.
Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
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Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#2Does SWE mean software engineer?
I've never gotten that offer (or applied, for that matter), so I don't know what I'd actually do in your shoes. But if I got the offer, and thought that I could really do it and give my all, then I would. The kind of credibility you get is the same sort that you get having gone to Stanford, or Harvard (also things I haven't done). It's proof-of-intelligence, if not proof-of-intelligent-life. Do you have other offers at places that are more in line with your morality, or a start-up that's just burning in your soul to be born? If not, I'd take the Facebook job.
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#3I hope I would pass on the offer if I were ever given it. I don't think Facebook is evil, but I value privacy too much to want to work for a company who has so often made business decisions that hurt people's privacy. I'm not going to lie, the idea of a 3x salary increase is tempting though, but I hope I wouldn't justify compromising my beliefs for money.
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#4Take the job. Line you said it will advance your career and get you paid. As far as moral hazards, I think Zuck is doing the right thing. The so called “anti fascist” seem to be the ones that want to silence the free speech, which is racist right?
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#5These kinds of salaries mean that if you reject the position, there’s a chance someone else without morals will accept it.
Anyway, accepting the offer doesn’t mean compromising your morals. You can always be a voice of reason within the company. Plus, having Facebook on your resume can open up a lot of opportunities in the future.
If they make you do something morally wrong, you can always quit.
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#6"There are a lot of moral hazards"
I think this is really the issue. I've been in places I morally disagree with and so have many friends. You never really change the company; it just ostracizes you until they can fire you. For every person who wants to change things, there are probably 3 others who want to climb up the ladder and are happy to find a scapegoat to throw under the bus.
You'll end up depressed and demotivated, which makes it hard to do well at your job. And it's hard to find a better job in that mental state.
The difference between Facebook and a struggling late stage startup is that Facebook won't be shutting down any time soon, and if you don't like it, don't expect to be retrenched.
That said, it's possible that Facebook isn't that bad, but that's up to you to decide.
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#7Congratulations on your job offer! What other alternatives do you have? Can you list a few big companies that align well with your moral compass and explain why they do so?
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#8Would I take the job? I absolutely would.
Why? I’m a 40 year old programmer. I will hopefully make this year, what an average junior programmer at FB would make. To be sure, I like my salary, but at FB I would make more.
How would I justify it to myself? As someone who probably doesn’t come from a typical background for the average FB engineer (minority, father of 2), I would convince myself that I can be part of the positive change that the company should be looking to make. It can start with people of conscience at all levels.
Would I be bothered by the moral hazards? Absolutely.
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#9Go for it. Be a part of the solution.
Re: Ask HN: Would you work for Facebook?
#10For all the hate, I think Facebook does a lot of good in the world. Anecdotally I credit FB for playing a big part in bringing me together with my wife (we met in person at first, FB kept us in each other's feeds, rest is history).
My opinion: go for it.