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Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

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Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#21

Post by jiggy2011 »

deniswolf wrote: post #15

10 hours. It's the time I have spent last week for some open-source coding. I was happy to give my time for free to those projects I supported. It's about 10 hours that I have spent with a friend of mine who visited me from other city this week. I can't imagine spending this time for someone I don't know, someone who never ever bother to talk to me but demanded them. Few years ago I have spent few days of work planni…

It's simple supply and demand. Facebook no doubt have hundreds of applicants beating down their door every single day.

Some of these people will be great, some will be ok and some will be useless.

Throwing up a filter like this weeds out people who have no chance of a successful interview or those who don't want the job all that badly.

You would seem to fall into the latter camp.

8 - 10 hours for a prestigious job like FB isn't all that much. I have heard of people doing weeks of unpaid work for a chance at a minimum wage job.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#23

Post by deniswolf »

onebaddude wrote: post #19

I agree with your stance on the subject. It's out of line for them to pass over the puzzle like that. Kudos for standing up. On the other hand, your actual response, with all the slave talk, was pretty juvenile.

Thanks. Yeah, I understand how it seems to be childish, but I couldn't expect this behavior and approach from Facebook, known for it's great open culture. It rather reminded me too strongly about my employer (tiny tech sales company from 10 years ago) who ended up loosing all his tech department - 5 guys just left the office one day and never got back.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#24

Post by deniswolf »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #21
deniswolf wrote: post #15

10 hours. It's the time I have spent last week for some open-source coding. I was happy to give my time for free to those projects I supported. It's about 10 hours that I have spent with a friend of mine who visited me from other city this week. I can't imagine spending this time for someone I don't know, someone who never ever bother to talk to me but demanded them. Few years ago I have spent few days of work planni…

It's simple supply and demand. Facebook no doubt have hundreds of applicants beating down their door every single day. Some of these people will be great, some will be ok and some will be useless. Throwing up a filter like this weeds out people who have no chance of a successful interview or those who don't want the job all that badly. You would seem to fall into the latter camp. 8 - 10 hours for a prestigious job li…

Yup, agreed with this completely. But it doesn't mean this is a right way. I definitely don't want end up in a future 10 years later where every company asks for unpaid work as an interview taking example from the Big Guys. Do you remember how many companies started mind blowing puzzles in 90s after Microsoft made it famous?

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#25

Post by deniswolf »

stackcollision wrote: post #2

This seems like a very childish response to me. Perhaps it would have been better to simply decline the offer and list your reasons, rather than berating the recruiter. As it currently appears, the argument is not even very clearly thought out. You just kind of yell at them about slavery and feudalism, which imho doesn't have any relation to the puzzle you were asked to solve. I agree that I wouldn't have done it, bu…

If it would be a real time interview - for sure. But after sending CV I just got that mail with task. Let me underline it - they never TALKED to me. They asked if I want to send them CV - and right after I got this. I don't have any problems with recruiter - I'm more than sure it could be a great person - but if the company gives her such a workflow - it's, from my point of view, is scary at the least.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#26

Post by j_baker »

deniswolf wrote: post #15

10 hours. It's the time I have spent last week for some open-source coding. I was happy to give my time for free to those projects I supported. It's about 10 hours that I have spent with a friend of mine who visited me from other city this week. I can't imagine spending this time for someone I don't know, someone who never ever bother to talk to me but demanded them. Few years ago I have spent few days of work planni…

I seriously doubt that the problem here is that Facebook is trying to make you a cog in their wheel (at least not with respect to the coding puzzle). Rather, I think it's just because they feel that requiring this work will lead to better candidates. If you don't like doing this, vote with your feet and just tell them "Thanks but no thanks". If enough people do that, they'll probably stop offering those kinds of questions.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#27

Post by shocks »

j_baker wrote: post #17

I don't really like the author's attitude. But there is some truth to it: Working 8-10 hours to get a job at Facebook is crap. I'm a professional with a job and a life. I already have to do phone interviews and in-person interviews, and now you want me to spend 8-10 hours working on a puzzle?

> and now you want me to spend 8-10 hours working on a puzzle?

Perhaps the kind of applicants Facebook are looking for are those that do want to spend 8-10 hours on a puzzle.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#28

Post by deniswolf »

j_baker wrote: post #17

I don't really like the author's attitude. But there is some truth to it: Working 8-10 hours to get a job at Facebook is crap. I'm a professional with a job and a life. I already have to do phone interviews and in-person interviews, and now you want me to spend 8-10 hours working on a puzzle?

The point is - it was BEFORE phone/person interview. I actually like coding during the interview - when I in person can show my skills and approach - it just helps to understand each other. I have been to several interviews with 1-3h coding before, but I knew people I was doing it for.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#29

Post by deniswolf »

j_baker wrote: post #26
deniswolf wrote: post #15

10 hours. It's the time I have spent last week for some open-source coding. I was happy to give my time for free to those projects I supported. It's about 10 hours that I have spent with a friend of mine who visited me from other city this week. I can't imagine spending this time for someone I don't know, someone who never ever bother to talk to me but demanded them. Few years ago I have spent few days of work planni…

I seriously doubt that the problem here is that Facebook is trying to make you a cog in their wheel (at least not with respect to the coding puzzle). Rather, I think it's just because they feel that requiring this work will lead to better candidates. If you don't like doing this, vote with your feet and just tell them "Thanks but no thanks". If enough people do that, they'll probably stop offering those kinds of ques…

I'm afraid that Facebook will make a precedent that will turn 10 hours free coding in a standard, moreover - before even a phone interview.

Re: Facebook has just invited me to interview and now I’m pissed off

#30

Post by deniswolf »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #4

Slavery, Factory Sweatshops? You have a chance of a job at a household name company (who can afford to be selective) , probably with cushy salary and benefits. 8-10 hours worth of work isn't a great deal, especially if they give you a few weeks. Even a person working a full time job should be able to squeeze that in by temporarily reducing hours spent watching TV. It's not like facebook even get any benefit from you…

But they automatically send this without even talking to person. They already assume that it's fine and I should be happy to do so. That's why I call it sweatshop approach.
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