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I interviewed there in 2012. The engineer called me, did his little talk and we jumped into the questions. His first question was the subset sum problem. The
by eddigo 9y ago
I interviewed there in 2012. The engineer called me, did his little talk and we jumped into the questions. His first question was the subset sum problem. The literal problem. It wasn't even couched in a practical application. So I said "this is subset sum. You can solve it with dynamic programming. I would look it up in a book." His response was "but I want you to solve it." I stopped the interview and thanked him for his time.
I'm a senior engineer. Those types of interviews are to stoke the egos of green engineers who remember the solutions to their algo finals questions. If I can look it up in a book, it's not worth the time to quiz me on it.
- flippy2 9y agoLol. Actually, they are the kind of questions us really sr people ask to ensure people are willing to actually do work. Anyone who brushes off a question stating that it's beneath them is going to get walked right out of the building by my team.
- driverdan 9y agoWhich team is that? I'd like to know so I can avoid it.
- jburwell 9y agoDitto. Sounds like a bunch of egos I want to avoid at all costs.
- civilitty 9y agoYeah, no. Senior people don't want someone to waste time coming up with their own bug ridden solution when it's readily available elsewhere in a peer reviewed form. That kind of experience is what makes gives them the senior qualifier.
- ng12 9y agoSo Palantir wants senior people who still know how to write code. If you consider it below you, then don't work there. What's the problem?
- eddigo 9y agoDon't get up. I'd gladly show myself out.