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I’d also love to know the answer to this question. I have a few good friends that are really passionate about computer science and programming and we talk all t

by Dig1t 5y ago

I’d also love to know the answer to this question. I have a few good friends that are really passionate about computer science and programming and we talk all the time about it. However, finding more has been pretty hit or miss. There seem to be a much larger proportion of people like that working at Google, Facebook, etc that I have met, but working at those places obviously isn’t a guarantee that they’re like that. I guess the only advice I could generalize from this would be to seek out the people working at the top end of whatever industry you’re interested in, as the people who are truly passionate about a subject are likely to be talented and probably working at whatever place is considered the “best”.

version_five 5y ago
> as the people who are truly passionate about a subject are likely to be talented and probably working at whatever place is considered the “best” I'd be cautious with this assumption. Not that it's always wrong. Places that are considered the best attract type-A's that crave external recognition and don't really care about their trade. In another era they would have been in finance. Not that I think software is saturated with these people, but your assumption could break down. For example, you end up getting people organizing a meetup or code+coffee or whatever because they want to be seen as organizing it and not because they actually care about it.
- giraffe_lady 5y ago
  I am also just generally skeptical of reputations because of how they can outlast the behaviors that earned them. Years ago I worked for a great company, truly wonderful group of people with a really careful, respectful approach to work. Then there were a bunch of big leadership changes and it turned to shit and I left. I kept on hearing about that amazing "culture" for 2-3 years after that, they actively used that reputation in recruiting even. I still knew people there and it was even worse than when I left. Once companies know they are known for something good they will milk it whether or not it's real.

by Dig1t 5y ago

version_five 5y ago

> as the people who are truly passionate about a subject are likely to be talented and probably working at whatever place is considered the “best” I'd be cautious with this assumption. Not that it's always wrong. Places that are considered the best attract type-A's that crave external recognition and don't really care about their trade. In another era they would have been in finance. Not that I think software is saturated with these people, but your assumption could break down. For example, you end up getting people organizing a meetup or code+coffee or whatever because they want to be seen as organizing it and not because they actually care about it.

giraffe_lady 5y ago
I am also just generally skeptical of reputations because of how they can outlast the behaviors that earned them. Years ago I worked for a great company, truly wonderful group of people with a really careful, respectful approach to work. Then there were a bunch of big leadership changes and it turned to shit and I left. I kept on hearing about that amazing "culture" for 2-3 years after that, they actively used that reputation in recruiting even. I still knew people there and it was even worse than when I left. Once companies know they are known for something good they will milk it whether or not it's real.