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YC 120

blog.ycombinator.com

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Re: YC 120

#21

Post by avmich »

airstrike wrote: post #15
d--b wrote: post #11

> Aside from some basic information, all you need to do to apply is submit a one-minute video with answers to these three questions: > What are you interested in and what are you working on? > What have you done so far that shows your potential for greatness, adjusted for whatever life circumstances you were born into? > In a best-case scenario, what do you want your obituary to say? Ugh... what a terrible selection…

I thought these were all very relevant questions. Fit is everything, and presumably they already have the candidate's resume / portfolio to review, so they're digging into more qualitative stuff

Fit of what to what? If it's a fit of candidate to the event, then YC doesn't have information about potential applicants. If it's a fit of somebody already well inside YC circle, then that should be stated - but I don't think YC would limit their intent that much, even though the size (120 people) suggests otherwise.

So, no, I don't think this kind of fit is good here.

Re: YC 120

#23

Post by umeshunni »

TaylorAlexander wrote: post #14
d--b wrote: post #11

> Aside from some basic information, all you need to do to apply is submit a one-minute video with answers to these three questions: > What are you interested in and what are you working on? > What have you done so far that shows your potential for greatness, adjusted for whatever life circumstances you were born into? > In a best-case scenario, what do you want your obituary to say? Ugh... what a terrible selection…

I like it. I’m curious what makes you say it’s terrible?

It self selects for people who are great at talking about themselves i.e narcissists.

Re: YC 120

#24

Post by nsxwolf »

briantmaurer wrote: post #10

I personally like these questions together: • If you could have the resume you want , what would it say? • If you could write your eulogy, what would it say? (As the company/manager/advisor: How can we help you to get there?)

How can we help you get to your eulogy? That could be taken a couple ways.

Re: YC 120

#25

Post by avmich »

airstrike wrote: post #12

I had a conversation with colleagues literally last Friday in which I mentioned a version of question #2. I've always wanted to ask that question to candidates, but felt they would struggle to think of a way to phrase an answer in an interview setting... YC has come up with a very concise prompt, though, so I'll have to give this a try next time I'm out recruiting...

Second question is very delicate. You definitely don't want to discuss something which may end up being unattainable. Say, you're working on a new physics, and you don't have something to show in form of math theories or experiments. Chances are you'll be labelled a nut, which from a nerd community could be counterproductive (see "ought to work on a good ides which looks like a bad one"). So you want to germinate your ideas - and perhaps throw those not good enough - until you have a sort of MVP. Which defeats the idea of the second questions substantially.

If you have something to show, it's more in venue of incremental, predictable work, and less in "out there" ideas perhaps.

Re: YC 120

#26

Post by avmich »

andrepd wrote: post #18
d--b wrote: post #11

> Aside from some basic information, all you need to do to apply is submit a one-minute video with answers to these three questions: > What are you interested in and what are you working on? > What have you done so far that shows your potential for greatness, adjusted for whatever life circumstances you were born into? > In a best-case scenario, what do you want your obituary to say? Ugh... what a terrible selection…

1 and 2 seem like good questions, but 3 does look like a bullshit question.

To me, 1st and 3rd are way more reasonable, than 2nd.

Re: YC 120

#28

Post by nsxwolf »

newman8r wrote: post #2

That obituary question is a bit morbid for my taste - but this sounds like an interesting event. Reminds me of yc startup school but more personal.

It's a ridiculous question. 99.9% of all obituaries look the same. An announcement of the death, maybe a quick mention of career, a list of close surviving relatives, and information about memorial services.

I would just submit that.

Re: YC 120

#29

Post by vex »

umeshunni wrote: post #23
TaylorAlexander wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like it. I’m curious what makes you say it’s terrible?

It self selects for people who are great at talking about themselves i.e narcissists.

If you don't have anything interesting to say about yourself or your ambitions, maybe you just aren't that interesting of a person...

Re: YC 120

#30

Post by _dw7s »

d--b wrote: post #11

> Aside from some basic information, all you need to do to apply is submit a one-minute video with answers to these three questions: > What are you interested in and what are you working on? > What have you done so far that shows your potential for greatness, adjusted for whatever life circumstances you were born into? > In a best-case scenario, what do you want your obituary to say? Ugh... what a terrible selection…

http://n-gate.com/ is gonna have a field day with this
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