4 ms·

IMO first fix the hiring process for engineers. Asking someone to implement a splay tree, B+ Tree and other obscure algorithms (which is usually Googled 15 mins

IMO first fix the hiring process for engineers. Asking someone to implement a splay tree, B+ Tree and other obscure algorithms (which is usually Googled 15 mins before the interview or is a pet interview question) in 45 mins is pointless. It has absolutely no corelation to how the potential employee will perform in his/her job. Asking reasonable design questions followed by a simple implmentation is more preferable than a textbook implementation of a typical coding interview question. The other beef I have with hiring is the attitude "we only hire A players". Really? If you are doing work worthy of "A players" then that's fine. But if you aren't (and this is true in most cases), please don't pretend that you do cutting edge work and drop the attitude. Diversity is harder problem to solve. How do you integrate potential employees who aren't from a "privileged" background (I say that in quotes, because I don't mean money)? It has to be trial and error...

renaudg 10y ago
> The other beef I have with hiring is the attitude "we only hire A players". Really? If you are doing work worthy of "A players" then that's fine. But if you aren't (and this is true in most cases), please don't pretend that you do cutting edge work and drop the attitude. That's the thing, this is Facebook, arguably the A-player requirement is sound. The issue is that departments have misaligned incentives, and each work to optimize their own : diversity figures is a major yardstick for HR, and the one by which they're judged. Technical managers optimize for teams that work and have exceptional problem-solvers in its ranks, which leaves no place at Facebook's level for other considerations.
- ashwinaj 10y ago
  > That's the thing, this is Facebook, arguably the A-player requirement is sound. I would argue otherwise, not all roles in FB require A players. Not everyone in FB is working on AI, machine learning, ad optimization etc. There are a bunch of people working in maintaining legacy code bases, tools, IT, and other positions which doesn't necessarily not require A players.
  - ashwinaj 10y ago
    EDIT: and other positions which doesn't necessarily require A players

renaudg 10y ago

> The other beef I have with hiring is the attitude "we only hire A players". Really? If you are doing work worthy of "A players" then that's fine. But if you aren't (and this is true in most cases), please don't pretend that you do cutting edge work and drop the attitude. That's the thing, this is Facebook, arguably the A-player requirement is sound. The issue is that departments have misaligned incentives, and each work to optimize their own : diversity figures is a major yardstick for HR, and the one by which they're judged. Technical managers optimize for teams that work and have exceptional problem-solvers in its ranks, which leaves no place at Facebook's level for other considerations.

ashwinaj 10y ago
> That's the thing, this is Facebook, arguably the A-player requirement is sound. I would argue otherwise, not all roles in FB require A players. Not everyone in FB is working on AI, machine learning, ad optimization etc. There are a bunch of people working in maintaining legacy code bases, tools, IT, and other positions which doesn't necessarily not require A players.
- ashwinaj 10y ago
  EDIT: and other positions which doesn't necessarily require A players