5 ms·

Do you have any favorites, or any places to look?

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
Categorically, (and this is part personal experience, so sample bias), the kind of companies I'm talking about in my parent comment are about to go public (multiple rounds of investing), recently went public, etc. They have a good amount of process to them, but not too much. Silos aren't fortified. There's less direction, but more personal ownership. For someone like me, who doesn't have the most polished communication skills (but is technically proficient), I'm in a position where I can make an impact -- whereas at FANG-type companies, I'd just get ignored because there were too many cooks in the kitchen; too many A-type personalities. At these slightly smaller places, you have a better chance of getting a seat at the table, and you have more opportunity to contribute to projects that play to your strengths.
- bradlys 7y ago
  Can you list some examples of actual companies? Because, I haven't seen any here in SV. Everyone and their mom asks leetcode AFAICT.
  - JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
    I interviewed with Lyft for a front end SWE role and got no leetcode questions. I ran through a bunch of 45-minute "make-this-thing-in-React" panels, and passed all with flying colors. That's only one example, but the type of questions I find unusually challenging (dynamic programming) -- the only time I was asked those, was at Google.
    - usaar333 7y ago
      I wouldn't expect frontend to get random DP questions at any company (well you never know with Google..) I interviewed a couple of years ago at Lyft (for a backend team) and definitely got FAANG-class systems whiteboard questions.
      - JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
        Google doesn't hire front end software engineers specifically. They hire general-purpose leetcoding machines (e.g, people that can can crank out DP problems), then assign those people to work on front end tasks.
        otras 7y ago
        For a data point, when I applied and interviewed for a frontend-focused position at Google ~1 year ago, I had the option of one of my interviews being a front-end specific interview that would focus on FE rather than algorithms.
        JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
        That interview track contains the DP-type problems. So now, not only do you have to show your DS&A algorithms skills, you need to showcase your front-end skills. If you interview as a backend engineer, you'll get more algorithmic questions, but overall question set will cover less breath and a similar level of depth.
    - whycombagator 7y ago
      I thought it was common for frontend interviews to not focus as much on CS stuff/things people typically associate with FAANG-style interviews. Facebook does this for example[0] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18782786 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18782786
    - bradlys 7y ago
      What about companies for more backend roles? Usually frontend interviews just means you're going to get asked frontend and DS&A but some just go really hard with frontend questions.
  - dominotw 7y ago
    lol dead silence as expected. These companies only exist in HN imagination.

Categorically, (and this is part personal experience, so sample bias), the kind of companies I'm talking about in my parent comment are about to go public (multiple rounds of investing), recently went public, etc. They have a good amount of process to them, but not too much. Silos aren't fortified. There's less direction, but more personal ownership. For someone like me, who doesn't have the most polished communication skills (but is technically proficient), I'm in a position where I can make an impact -- whereas at FANG-type companies, I'd just get ignored because there were too many cooks in the kitchen; too many A-type personalities. At these slightly smaller places, you have a better chance of getting a seat at the table, and you have more opportunity to contribute to projects that play to your strengths.

bradlys 7y ago
Can you list some examples of actual companies? Because, I haven't seen any here in SV. Everyone and their mom asks leetcode AFAICT.
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
  I interviewed with Lyft for a front end SWE role and got no leetcode questions. I ran through a bunch of 45-minute "make-this-thing-in-React" panels, and passed all with flying colors. That's only one example, but the type of questions I find unusually challenging (dynamic programming) -- the only time I was asked those, was at Google.
  - usaar333 7y ago
    I wouldn't expect frontend to get random DP questions at any company (well you never know with Google..) I interviewed a couple of years ago at Lyft (for a backend team) and definitely got FAANG-class systems whiteboard questions.
    - JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
      Google doesn't hire front end software engineers specifically. They hire general-purpose leetcoding machines (e.g, people that can can crank out DP problems), then assign those people to work on front end tasks.
      - otras 7y ago
        For a data point, when I applied and interviewed for a frontend-focused position at Google ~1 year ago, I had the option of one of my interviews being a front-end specific interview that would focus on FE rather than algorithms.
        JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
        That interview track contains the DP-type problems. So now, not only do you have to show your DS&A algorithms skills, you need to showcase your front-end skills. If you interview as a backend engineer, you'll get more algorithmic questions, but overall question set will cover less breath and a similar level of depth.
  - whycombagator 7y ago
    I thought it was common for frontend interviews to not focus as much on CS stuff/things people typically associate with FAANG-style interviews. Facebook does this for example[0] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18782786 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18782786
  - bradlys 7y ago
    What about companies for more backend roles? Usually frontend interviews just means you're going to get asked frontend and DS&A but some just go really hard with frontend questions.
- dominotw 7y ago
  lol dead silence as expected. These companies only exist in HN imagination.