Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I wanna work at Instagram

iwannaworkatinstagram.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 215 posts

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#51

Post by chamakits »

fara wrote: post #26
Lewisham wrote: post #9

While I like the initiative, I'm a little worried that someone who says she's a UX designer wouldn't have considered that most Mac users do not run their browsers full-screen, so there's a horizontal scroll bar for anything less than a 1024 width (I think it's 1024). That's not a good UX!

Is the lack of a working maximize button good UX?

Although I highly agree with you on how Apple messed up by making "maximizing" such a pain, at the same time, I (not a Mac user, but had to use one for work for around 5 months) almost never have my browser maximized, even when on multiple screens. So it's still a valid point that Lewisham brought up.

This website gives the impression that she still needs some practice in her UX design skills.

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#52

Post by kmfrk »

kariatx wrote: post #31

I think this is a prime example of "too much telling not enough showing." While I dig Netta's moxie and possibly would even hire her as a community manager, there isn't much here that wows me. Less than 200 Instagram photos and a lackluster design portfolio don't back up the passion and talent that she claims.

On one hand, I think you are dead on. On the other, I think she's inadvertently showing - unfortunately not for the better. :)

The old analogy is never to write in an application that you are funny. If you have a sense of humour, it will show.

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#53

Post by ianhawes »

dchest wrote: post #40

Don't want to sound rude, but the lens ("I made this") has pretty bad type work. Kerning is off, the curve is not right ( http://i.imgur.com/tpDqv.png ). The drop shadow is also strange. Overall, there's not enough attention to detail.

I would never want to work with someone as negative as you.

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#54

Post by btucker »

alex_carlill wrote: post #21

I'd just like to put it out there that when I run a company we will automatically disqualify anyone who tries to get a job w/ us in this way. So remember that if you'd like to work for me sometime in the near future.

Well all power to you! But should you be put in such a position some day, I suggest being open to learning from some of the great leaders in history. Not to say you want to hire an army of groupie lightweights, but passion is not a quality to undervalue.

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#56

Post by bmelton »

jewgonewild wrote: post #34
bmelton wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't dispute his points even remotely. As for 'poorly typeset', I have no choice to agree, if only because her portfolio page implies that her name is "Netta & Design". Her customer work looks good though, so if, as I assume, she's seeking a design-oriented role, she'd likely do well in a team (where somebody else can say 'Hey, what's up with this bolding?') The fonts in her personality chart are barely there…

I was addressing this part of said comment: "clichéd, obsequious". I do agree with your last point. Most people who tell me how funny they are turn out to be the exact opposite.

It's all open for interpretation, of course, but I think, by this point, these sorts of 'I want to work at X' websites ARE cliched, so I personally would agree there.

I don't particularly find it obsequious, though I probably wouldn't have to look too far to find another word that I could apply disparagingly to reference the points I mentioned before.

Regardless, as I stated, it IS a nice looking website, and if they have openings, they probably would do well to hire somebody so obviously passionate and motivated to work there.

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#57

Post by mindcrime »

blehn wrote: post #27
jewgonewild wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree sir. Pure ambition right there.

It's a two-hour webpage that says "I wanna work at Instragram", but doesn't answer the important questions. Why do you want to work at Instagram? How are you uniquely qualified to work at Instagram? I feel sorry for companies that fall for this sort of thing.

How are they falling for something if they reach out to her? You can call it a "two hour website" but that only means that she sent about 1 hour and 57 minutes more "applying" for this job than the average schmoe who visits Monster.com, checks a few boxes and clicks "Submit Resume."

That, IMO, shows a fairly meaningful level of initiative and ambition. It shouldn't guarantee somebody a job, but if somebody applied to my company that way, I'd definitely give them a meaningful look and consider reaching out to them. But I want people who are passionate about their work.

Hell, I'll go so far as to say that passion and attitude trump raw talent.

Re: I wanna work at Instagram

#60

Post by kmfrk »

Kudos to her for putting herself out there, but she's misunderstood what the point of this kind of application is.

When you make a grab for a job like this, you underscore the fact that employers don't always know that there is something that can be improved - and that someone should be hired to do it.

I vaguely recall someone writing an application for 37signals, where he made some redesigns for the site that he thought were needed. (He made them - actions speak louder than words; deeds are better than words; show, don't tell.) In other words: "You need to improve these things - guess what, I can fix those problems for you." It must be what every start-up dreams of at night.

This is what these applications are intended to be about. Again, kudos for putting herself out there (I shudder at the thought of putting myself in the spotlight of the internet with my identity displayed and available for public mockery). But the application itself is very vague and will do little to convince the guys at Instagram to hire her.

I mean, who the hell wouldn't have an interest in working at Instagram? You are not a unique snowflake to have that desire - and it makes the attempt to convey passion less persuasive.

But hey: the site currently has 70 points on the front page of Hacker news, and a lot of new people now know her name. It's inconceivable that there is any "bad publicity" to come of this, so she can't really fail, regardless of what happens from now on.

Post reply on HN