Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

I always hated this requirement. I'm sorry if I don't have the right pedigree to satisfy people like this. I'm sorry I didn't go to the "right" school, wasn't born into the right family or just a failure in their eyes.

Re: Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

#5

Post by huangm » Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 3:22 AM UTC

sown wrote: post #4

>* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from a top-tier institution. I always hated this requirement. I'm sorry if I don't have the right pedigree to satisfy people like this. I'm sorry I didn't go to the "right" school, wasn't born into the right family or just a failure in their eyes.

Your problem is that you're taking job postings personally. Dropbox isn't posting a job posting to make an objective statement about what makes someone good. They're posting it to fill a position in their company.

Your bachelors degree institution also isn't just a pedigree. You can't perpetually argue that 'everyone is equal'. People aren't equal, and where you went to school is a useful signal.

Beyond all this, the Dropbox guys are predominantly MIT, and expecting applicants to be from a similar environment should be seen not as insulting, but natural.

Re: Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

#6

Post by shaddi » Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 3:42 AM UTC

huangm wrote: post #5

sown wrote: post #4

>* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from a top-tier institution. I always hated this requirement. I'm sorry if I don't have the right pedigree to satisfy people like this. I'm sorry I didn't go to the "right" school, wasn't born into the right family or just a failure in their eyes.

Your problem is that you're taking job postings personally. Dropbox isn't posting a job posting to make an objective statement about what makes someone good. They're posting it to fill a position in their company. Your bachelors degree institution also isn't just a pedigree. You can't perpetually argue that 'everyone is equal'. People aren't equal, and where you went to school is a useful signal. Beyond all this, the…

Fair enough, but I have to agree with the GP. Sure, your average MIT grad may be pretty good, but some of the most talented and impressive people I know come from (decently ranked but not super prestigious) state schools. Hiring from one population is going to lead to homogeneity, and if I were doing the hiring my first cut would be based on proven accomplishments, not school.

In short: no, not everyone is equally skilled, but you're going to miss a lot of gems if you only hire from MIT's peer institutions. I'm sure Dropbox will have no problem finding someone good to fill their position, however, so I guess that isn't such a big concern for them.

Re: Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

#7

Post by nixme » Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 3:53 AM UTC

shaddi wrote: post #6

huangm wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your problem is that you're taking job postings personally. Dropbox isn't posting a job posting to make an objective statement about what makes someone good. They're posting it to fill a position in their company. Your bachelors degree institution also isn't just a pedigree. You can't perpetually argue that 'everyone is equal'. People aren't equal, and where you went to school is a useful signal. Beyond all this, the…

Fair enough, but I have to agree with the GP. Sure, your average MIT grad may be pretty good, but some of the most talented and impressive people I know come from (decently ranked but not super prestigious) state schools. Hiring from one population is going to lead to homogeneity, and if I were doing the hiring my first cut would be based on proven accomplishments, not school. In short: no, not everyone is equally sk…

In short: no, not everyone is equally skilled, but you're going to miss a lot of gems if you only hire from MIT's peer institutions.

You are correct, but that doesn't matter. Hiring filters are intentionally excessively restrictive because a bad hire is much worse than losing out on a few good individuals.

Remember that in our industry (and probably others), even a full-day interview tells you very little about a candidate and their ability.

Re: Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

#8

Post by mcotton » Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 4:00 AM UTC

RK wrote: post #2

Someone please get this job! :)

I would love to have dropbox on my G1.

Re: Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

#9

Post by mattrepl » Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 4:01 AM UTC

huangm wrote: post #5

sown wrote: post #4

>* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from a top-tier institution. I always hated this requirement. I'm sorry if I don't have the right pedigree to satisfy people like this. I'm sorry I didn't go to the "right" school, wasn't born into the right family or just a failure in their eyes.

Your problem is that you're taking job postings personally. Dropbox isn't posting a job posting to make an objective statement about what makes someone good. They're posting it to fill a position in their company. Your bachelors degree institution also isn't just a pedigree. You can't perpetually argue that 'everyone is equal'. People aren't equal, and where you went to school is a useful signal. Beyond all this, the…

There is probably a correlation between top-tier CS pedigree and performance, but using it as a filter for joining a startup is detrimental. The chance you're missing a "diamond in the rough" is high, and those are exactly the folks you want.

If you're Google and have tons of résumés to sort, then fine; but in this case it seems a good way to miss a great hire.

Re: Dropbox (YC S07) looking for Android Developer

#10

Post by amichail » Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 4:06 AM UTC

mattrepl wrote: post #9

huangm wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your problem is that you're taking job postings personally. Dropbox isn't posting a job posting to make an objective statement about what makes someone good. They're posting it to fill a position in their company. Your bachelors degree institution also isn't just a pedigree. You can't perpetually argue that 'everyone is equal'. People aren't equal, and where you went to school is a useful signal. Beyond all this, the…

There is probably a correlation between top-tier CS pedigree and performance, but using it as a filter for joining a startup is detrimental. The chance you're missing a "diamond in the rough" is high, and those are exactly the folks you want. If you're Google and have tons of résumés to sort, then fine; but in this case it seems a good way to miss a great hire.

But maybe this requirement will attract more applicants from 1st tier universities.