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Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

jobs.wibidata.com

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Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#51

Post by contravert »

Osmium wrote: post #17

I say this partly in jest but... it's nice to see a lean startup using its limited resources correctly by creating levels for Portal 2. For all I know, this could've been an employee's pet project, but if not I'm not sure I see the value. Also, the jobs homepage lede is a little grating: "We're seeking brilliant people ..." [Click "I'm brilliant" to continue] Because who doesn't think they deserve brilliant people? N…

Well, at the very least, it's getting attention, including yours. How many other startups are desperately seeking employees that you have no idea exist?

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#52

Post by pattern »

MartinCron wrote: post #18
evan_ wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I like these sort of recruitment teasers, mainly because if done well they self-select for exactly the kind of person you want. In this case, 20-30 year old males.

In this case, 20-30 year old males This perfectly encapsulates my unease with this kind of recruiting/self selection approach. I get that culture fit is important, but I also don't like the sort of groupthink and monoculture that you get by just hiring a bunch of people who are all into the same narrow pop culture niches. I'm guilty of this kind of monocultural preference myself. I used to joke about starting intervi…

I understand your point, but just because we all love Miyazaki films (the objective truth :D) doesn't mean we each don't have our own unique traits/interests/hobbies/etc. that provide a well-rounded cultural outlook.

I agree with your notion that in hiring one should maintain a good balance of breadth and culture fit!

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#53

Post by jaredsohn »

mrgoldenbrown wrote: post #29
drivingmenuts wrote: post #24

On a side note: I wish startups would start putting the company location somewhere in an easily accessible place. This would allow me to decide if an application is a valid option due to geography.

I think these guys did that just fine - the same pages that lists open positions includes locations: From the homepage, I clicked "jobs" then "see our open positions" and I got a list of all open positions and their location. http://wibidata.theresumator.com/ "Current Openings Administrative Assistant Location: San Francisco, CA Department: Operations ..."

Beyond the city, it is useful to know more precisely where in the city it is located, so that one can determine if the commute will be worth it and if they are okay with spending their workday in that neighborhood. Fortunately, they also have a map on their about page (http://jobs.wibidata.com/about/).

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#55

Post by somebehemoth »

madaxe wrote: post #47
sramsay wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume you're basing that on your direct experience with twenty-five year veterans who have used their complete mastery of a popular toolchain to ship a couple of dozen production systems to customers who were in turn delighted by the quality of the work and the high level of professionalism.

Show me a 25 year master in web technologies. I'm basing it on personal experience of having grown a company from nothing without funding to an enterprise carrying over £1bn of client commerce in 6 years. But what would I know. Oh, and 100% client retention and no marketing except word of mouth. I'd say that's satisfaction.

This is called a fallacy of dramatic instance. Your problem domain and your company are satisfied with young programmers, but you cannot extrapolate that to all software enterprises.

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#56

Post by scrumper »

jtbigwoo wrote: post #49
teh_klev wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in agreement here. I wonder how many solid and experienced devs are put off applying for these jobs by this current fad. I consider myself a fairly good dev with a broad range of skills in development and devops, but as soon as I see "Super Ninja Rockstar" etc I roll my eye's and skip to the next job listing. I wonder how many companies miss out on actual "Super Ninja Rockstar" devs, who are in reality modest ind…

Or maybe I'm just a boring old mid-40's fart. That's part of it, right? I assume that all these silly requirements and hoops are really saying, "We want the best of the best as long as you're under 30."

They do tend to come with things like, "Benefits: monthly mountaineering trips, and we spear-fish for team sushi lunches once a week," which are perhaps slightly more appealing to young singles than the over 30s.

Certainly this 'boring old fart' would rather get home to his family at the end of a long day than spend even more time comparing haircuts with a bunch of yippy twenty-somethings.

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#57

Post by rwhitman »

Osmium wrote: post #17

I say this partly in jest but... it's nice to see a lean startup using its limited resources correctly by creating levels for Portal 2. For all I know, this could've been an employee's pet project, but if not I'm not sure I see the value. Also, the jobs homepage lede is a little grating: "We're seeking brilliant people ..." [Click "I'm brilliant" to continue] Because who doesn't think they deserve brilliant people? N…

At first I was going to agree with you, but then thought about how extortionate the commissions are for most tech recruiters...

If they are trying to recruit smart talent with a lot of free time on their hands (IE nerdy college students), then there is probably high ROI from a stunt like this. Its on the front page of HN, probably Reddit and maybe some other blogs by now. Huge PR gain, plus a challenge that has smart creative young people clamoring to work for them. Its actually a smart investment.

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#59

Post by madaxe »

somebehemoth wrote: post #55
madaxe wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Show me a 25 year master in web technologies. I'm basing it on personal experience of having grown a company from nothing without funding to an enterprise carrying over £1bn of client commerce in 6 years. But what would I know. Oh, and 100% client retention and no marketing except word of mouth. I'd say that's satisfaction.

This is called a fallacy of dramatic instance. Your problem domain and your company are satisfied with young programmers, but you cannot extrapolate that to all software enterprises.

Sure, but you can extrapolate it to the entire web industry, which is my domain. I've built teams for clients (we started out taking equity in startups in exchange for prototyping and team assembly), and in every instance have followed that formula. In every instance they've had successful eight figure exits.

Sure, it's likely not universally applicable, however you shouldn't underestimate the power of an open mind.

Re: Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

#60

Post by blktiger »

mrgoldenbrown wrote: post #27
blktiger wrote: post #3

Neat! Not great for applicants that they have to purchase a copy of Portal 2 on steam, but at least it should be fun. Also, I don't know if it's a good thing to require engineers to apply by playing a game - but I guess it might be good to identify people who would be a good cultural fit.

Can you explain where it says this is required? I just looked at their web site and you can apply normally. The puzzles are optional.

I guess it's technically not required unless you want to play the levels.
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