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> Is it really necessary to cram like you're taking the SATs again to get a good job as a software engineer? Frankly, yes. Just as the SATs and ACTs are IQ tes

> Is it really necessary to cram like you're taking the SATs again to get a good job as a software engineer? Frankly, yes. Just as the SATs and ACTs are IQ tests with a shitty veil on top, FAANG interviews are meant to be the same. Everyone knows interview prep has basically zero correlation to job duties in software engineering, but you have to play the game. > the author wound up at Facebook, the most soulless company on the list. Who cares? Searching for meaning through work is fruitless, unless you're at a company that actually really aligns with your values and what you hope to see in the world. Huge comp packages allow people to pursue meaning in life outside of their 9-5. It pays the bills, and allows for hobbies. I'd attempt to be a MotoGP racer if I had unlimited free time, but I don't - what I DO have, is a pretty nice white collar job that pays well and is somewhat mentally stimulating. The paycheck allows me to do things I'm actually passionate about otherwise.

Nextgrid 5y ago
> Searching for meaning through work is fruitless, unless you're at a company that actually really aligns with your values and what you hope to see in the world. IMO there's a difference between finding meaning for yourself and actively making the world a worse place. You can very well ignore the former while still making sure to not do the latter.
sarchertech 5y ago
> Is it really necessary to cram like you're taking the SATs again to get a good job as a software engineer? >Frankly, yes. Just as the SATs and ACTs are IQ tests with a shitty veil on top If you can prep for them they aren't really IQ tests.
- solarmist 5y ago
  There isn’t an IQ test that’s been created that wouldn’t benefit from practice. That’s why the materials are so highly guarded for actual IQ tests. So technically true, but reality doesn’t have any true IQ tests either.
  - R0b0t1 5y ago
    Yes and no. They have patterns to create IQ tests, and those patterns change less frequently.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Patterns is a good way to put it. I can pretty much guarantee that if you stuck a SAT test in front of me today (or one in front of much younger me prior to doing any preliminary tests or test prep), I would not be getting into my undergraduate school of choice.
    - solarmist 5y ago
      Yes, and humans are amazing at pattern matching given any kind of hints, so just knowing the themes, etc give a person a leg up.

Nextgrid 5y ago

> Searching for meaning through work is fruitless, unless you're at a company that actually really aligns with your values and what you hope to see in the world. IMO there's a difference between finding meaning for yourself and actively making the world a worse place. You can very well ignore the former while still making sure to not do the latter.

sarchertech 5y ago

> Is it really necessary to cram like you're taking the SATs again to get a good job as a software engineer? >Frankly, yes. Just as the SATs and ACTs are IQ tests with a shitty veil on top If you can prep for them they aren't really IQ tests.

solarmist 5y ago
There isn’t an IQ test that’s been created that wouldn’t benefit from practice. That’s why the materials are so highly guarded for actual IQ tests. So technically true, but reality doesn’t have any true IQ tests either.
- R0b0t1 5y ago
  Yes and no. They have patterns to create IQ tests, and those patterns change less frequently.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    Patterns is a good way to put it. I can pretty much guarantee that if you stuck a SAT test in front of me today (or one in front of much younger me prior to doing any preliminary tests or test prep), I would not be getting into my undergraduate school of choice.
  - solarmist 5y ago
    Yes, and humans are amazing at pattern matching given any kind of hints, so just knowing the themes, etc give a person a leg up.