4 ms·

I had an incredibly positive experience with Bridgewater. I didn't get an offer, but I witnessed their celebrated "radical transparency" first-hand. Everyone w

by m52go 10y ago

I had an incredibly positive experience with Bridgewater. I didn't get an offer, but I witnessed their celebrated "radical transparency" first-hand. Everyone was respectful and courteous throughout, from the recruiter to the CCO who interviewed me. The moment I'll never forget: when the CCO came back to the conference room to tell me they weren't going to give me an offer. Most people would stop there, maybe say sorry, and send me on my way. Nope. He asked me, "what do you think?" and "do you think this is a reasonable decision, why or why not?" and "how could we have improved the process" etc. I reasoned with him. We had an amazing, rational, open conversation. I learned why they rejected me. They learned how their process could be improved. Remember: this is with a C-level executive of the world's largest hedge fund, not some rinky-dink middle-manager. A similar conversation took place with the recruiter as she walked me out. We complain so much, on this forum especially, about how flawed the recruiting process is. Yet we almost NEVER ASK FOR FEEDBACK. These guys are doing that, with every candidate who walks through their doors, and they're finessing their process bit by bit. It shows. Perhaps all parts of the company aren't like that (it's quite large, especially by hedge fund standards), but I was thoroughly impressed with the side of Bridgewater I experienced.

abecedarius 10y ago
What is a CCO? There seem to be a lot of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCO
- indiosmo 10y ago
  In the context of hedge funds, I'm assuming compliance.
  - m52go 10y ago
    Yah—Chief Compliance Officer.
bayonetz 10y ago
I don't think it is fair to say "we almost never ask for feedback". Every dev I know asks for feedback during the interview process. They rarely get it because of strict company policies on not giving out feedback. Simply asking does not make a company give feedback. I've found feedback can be gotten from even the strictest companies though but it has to be "hacked", for example, by asking somewhat indirect but still very feedback-related questions to your interviewer at the end of your sessions when you get 5 minutes, etc.
- goodcanadian 10y ago
  I think the grandparent was referring to the other side of the table; despite being aware that the recruitment process is flawed, companies rarely ask interviewees for feedback on making the process better.
  - m52go 10y ago
    BINGO.
fapjacks 10y ago
I would pay a surprising amount of money for that kind of interview. I interview quite a lot, having my ear to the rails pretty much all the time, and to keep my interview skills up to par. I interview perhaps once or twice every couple of months, or less if I don't have the spare time, since it is expensive to do this much interviewing. I have yet to interview at any tech company -- literally any tech company -- that has made good on their promise to tell me why I was rejected when it happens. Not a single one that has ever rejected me has ever gotten back to me. I should say that I'm rejected probably a couple of times a year. It happens more regularly than you would think. I should say that I don't mean I want to pay one of those interview boot camps. I want the kind of interview you've just described.
- m52go 10y ago
  It was memorable. I'm not sure it taught me how to interview better, but it have me a first-hand glimpse of elements I will integrate into my company/team the first chance I get to run one. In spite of its flaws (which company doesn't have flaws?), Bridgewater is an exceptional company.
- ma2rten 10y ago
  Pinterest gave me helpful feedback. I can also recommend a service called gainlo.co that organizes mock interviews with interviewers from big tech companies and a YC startup called pramp that matches you with a peer for free to interview each other.
- godzillabrennus 10y ago
  http://www.joinjune.com http://www.joinjune.com - version 2.0 of our site is coming to take a new approach to hiring.
- eru 10y ago
  Facebook is actually pretty good about giving feedback.

by m52go 10y ago

abecedarius 10y ago

What is a CCO? There seem to be a lot of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCO

indiosmo 10y ago
In the context of hedge funds, I'm assuming compliance.
- m52go 10y ago
  Yah—Chief Compliance Officer.

bayonetz 10y ago

I don't think it is fair to say "we almost never ask for feedback". Every dev I know asks for feedback during the interview process. They rarely get it because of strict company policies on not giving out feedback. Simply asking does not make a company give feedback. I've found feedback can be gotten from even the strictest companies though but it has to be "hacked", for example, by asking somewhat indirect but still very feedback-related questions to your interviewer at the end of your sessions when you get 5 minutes, etc.

goodcanadian 10y ago
I think the grandparent was referring to the other side of the table; despite being aware that the recruitment process is flawed, companies rarely ask interviewees for feedback on making the process better.
- m52go 10y ago
  BINGO.

fapjacks 10y ago

I would pay a surprising amount of money for that kind of interview. I interview quite a lot, having my ear to the rails pretty much all the time, and to keep my interview skills up to par. I interview perhaps once or twice every couple of months, or less if I don't have the spare time, since it is expensive to do this much interviewing. I have yet to interview at any tech company -- literally any tech company -- that has made good on their promise to tell me why I was rejected when it happens. Not a single one that has ever rejected me has ever gotten back to me. I should say that I'm rejected probably a couple of times a year. It happens more regularly than you would think. I should say that I don't mean I want to pay one of those interview boot camps. I want the kind of interview you've just described.

m52go 10y ago
It was memorable. I'm not sure it taught me how to interview better, but it have me a first-hand glimpse of elements I will integrate into my company/team the first chance I get to run one. In spite of its flaws (which company doesn't have flaws?), Bridgewater is an exceptional company.
ma2rten 10y ago
Pinterest gave me helpful feedback. I can also recommend a service called gainlo.co that organizes mock interviews with interviewers from big tech companies and a YC startup called pramp that matches you with a peer for free to interview each other.
godzillabrennus 10y ago
http://www.joinjune.com http://www.joinjune.com - version 2.0 of our site is coming to take a new approach to hiring.
eru 10y ago
Facebook is actually pretty good about giving feedback.