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‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

nytimes.com

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Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#31

Post by jorblumesea »

gpm wrote: post #28
yaacov wrote: post #9

> Ms. Brown said a lot of students criticize Facebook and talk about how they would not work there, but ultimately join. “Everyone cares about ethics in tech before they get a contract,” she said. This describes my what I've observed perfectly. There are very few companies that make new grad offers comparable to Facebook's, and career advancement opportunities and working conditions at Facebook tend to be better than…

My theory is that pay and working conditions at Facebook are as good as they are precisely because of people feeling like this. They are having to pay a premium to attract engineers as a result of the moral opposition.

I doubt it, it's probably just a factor of the West coast talent wars. FB understands that talent is the life blood of any tech companies and is willing to go above and beyond to secure it. No company wants to pay a cent more than it feels it has to.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#32

Post by icedchai »

leroy_masochist wrote: post #23

Allowing 19-year-old kids to have their name and photo published in the newspaper of record in an article that quotes their snarky comments about how they're not sure if they'd deign to work for any given company is journalistic malpractice. I don't blame the kids. They're young and naturally earnest, and are marinating in an environment where performative wokeness results in positive social reinforcement. They don't…

They're probably not smart enough to get in, anyway. If they were, they'd go to FB, milk that huge salary, unload their RSU's on a regular basis, save and invest, and FIRE by age 35.

Signed, a CS graduate and FB stock holder with 500% return.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#33

Post by PhasmaFelis »

FilterSweep wrote: post #18
yaacov wrote: post #9

> Ms. Brown said a lot of students criticize Facebook and talk about how they would not work there, but ultimately join. “Everyone cares about ethics in tech before they get a contract,” she said. This describes my what I've observed perfectly. There are very few companies that make new grad offers comparable to Facebook's, and career advancement opportunities and working conditions at Facebook tend to be better than…

And I don’t blame them. Developers are largely undercompensated for the utility they provide for firms, both across companies and within (compared to other roles). In the Bay, it’s the difference between living comfortably+saving for their future and just making ends meet. It’s a bit like blaming the scientists of the Manhattan Project for dropping the atomic bomb.

I mean, I don't see the Manhattan Project guys as monsters, but weapon designers absolutely bear some responsibility for the weapons they design.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#34

Post by laingc »

leroy_masochist wrote: post #23

Allowing 19-year-old kids to have their name and photo published in the newspaper of record in an article that quotes their snarky comments about how they're not sure if they'd deign to work for any given company is journalistic malpractice. I don't blame the kids. They're young and naturally earnest, and are marinating in an environment where performative wokeness results in positive social reinforcement. They don't…

I completely agree with you. When I was 19, I had far too many opinions and far too little wisdom.

The same is probably true of me today, now in my 30s, but I think at least the trend is positive.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#35

Post by hacknat »

I was getting heavily recruited, by Facebook earlier this year (they checked in with me every two months), and I finally decided to send them more than the canned LinkedIn, “I’m not interested”, response. I told them that I didn’t think I was a good fit, because I didn’t use the product and would probably have a hard time understanding it (if you’re going to help build a consumer app you really ought to use it in my opinion). I thought the recruiter would be surprised by my response, but I actually got the vibe from her that she had heard that before, promptly removing me from their recruitment tool (and to their credit they haven’t contacted me since).

It makes me think that Facebook will probably end up being one of the better places to work as they know they will have to offer benefits to make up for the stigma and/or lack of interest in working there.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#36

Post by chuckgreenman »

leroy_masochist wrote: post #23

Allowing 19-year-old kids to have their name and photo published in the newspaper of record in an article that quotes their snarky comments about how they're not sure if they'd deign to work for any given company is journalistic malpractice. I don't blame the kids. They're young and naturally earnest, and are marinating in an environment where performative wokeness results in positive social reinforcement. They don't…

I think it's short cited to come out in a public forum against any employer. I imagine hiring managers are Googling candidates, news sites tend to show up pretty high in search results.

I can't imagine that would come off well.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#37

Post by RJIb8RBYxzAMX9u »

Sure, I can accept that CS students say and believe that; ask them again when they're CS graduates. Also, stated & revealed preferences are often dissimilar, plus virtue signaling costs nothing.

Bottom line, until the FANNG initialism changes, I wouldn't take the report seriously.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#38

Post by Wissmania »

leroy_masochist wrote: post #23

Allowing 19-year-old kids to have their name and photo published in the newspaper of record in an article that quotes their snarky comments about how they're not sure if they'd deign to work for any given company is journalistic malpractice. I don't blame the kids. They're young and naturally earnest, and are marinating in an environment where performative wokeness results in positive social reinforcement. They don't…

I'm a similar age group / community and this sort of perspective is not at all uncommon, and it's legit. There is no "performative wokeness" going on in my experience.

Re: ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ Say Some Computer Science Students

#40

Post by matthewmacleod »

It’s obviously not black and white, but I do feel that joining a company as an employee endorses the activities of the company, to some extent. That’s definitely more true for sought-after tech workers, who at least have the luxury of choice in many cases. We all ultimately compromise some beliefs or desires when we take employment - but is this something more tech workers will take into account when choosing who to work for?
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