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Canonicals Interview Process

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Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#21
post #15

This seems to be the canonical Canonical interview process – I've heard several stories like this over the years. It's always the same: interview process is overly long and a bit ridiculous, but things go relatively well. And then at the final stage Shuttleworth shows up to be a dick with a bizarre focus on high school, after which it's rejected.

Judging by Ubuntu's declining quality over the last few years, this selection process doesn't seem to be working too well.

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#23
post #4

> At some point, someone bought him a plate, and he started to eat, without excusing himself about doing so Whoa, that dude is full of himself.

All these Steve Jobs wannabe's somehow always overshoot yet also entirely fall short.

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#24
Most of the folks I know that work or have worked at Canonical are smart and deeply humble, even worryingly so. I say "worryingly" in the sense that their hiring process seems to weed out people who could speak up, question authority or otherwise show hints of critical thinking. Not my cup of tea.

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#25
post #23
post #4

> At some point, someone bought him a plate, and he started to eat, without excusing himself about doing so Whoa, that dude is full of himself.

All these Steve Jobs wannabe's somehow always overshoot yet also entirely fall short.

I wouldn't hold Jobs up as a paragon to aim for. Falling short sounds like a good thing here

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#26

What an interesting use of GDPR. Boy do i wish there was something analogous where i am. Have had identical experiences with large-named places. I guess its just hard to run a fan club where everyone wants in, you have to grasp at straws to dismiss. Paraeto at work again.

It's really great. Snowflake ghosted me when I asked politely for interview feedback. I identified their likely DPO via LinkedIn, sent them my compliant and quickly recieved all of the interview notes and feedback.

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#27

Most of the folks I know that work or have worked at Canonical are smart and deeply humble, even worryingly so. I say "worryingly" in the sense that their hiring process seems to weed out people who could speak up, question authority or otherwise show hints of critical thinking. Not my cup of tea.

They all talk about Mark and make fun of him behind his back. Most won't say something to him to his face because he let's them know they would lose their jobs. Your paycheck requires you can't speak up. Take the cash or leave.

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#29
post #7
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interestingly this mirrors in parts my experience with Mozilla. I have experience with couple of megacorps and they were always more organized than those folks and the folks in this story. Maybe an open source org hiring problem?

based solely on anecdotes and rumors and feelings, I wonder if it's a nonprofit problem. Reminds me of the kind of grift you read about in various NGO charity type organizations

Canonical isn't a nonprofit. It's technically a for-profit.

Re: Canonicals Interview Process

#30
post #9

These days, the effort required for company-specific long essay applications hardly seems justified. With Generative AI readily available, it’s easy to tailor essays to appeal to particular—even narcissistic—preferences, unless someone genuinely enjoys the writing process. As a result, the whole system has devolved into a “garbage in, garbage out” exercise. What began as a meaningful way to assess candidates has larg…

I'd love to know at what rate the long essay questions are read. Maybe we get to a point where applicants have AI write them and then no one reads them!
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