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I worked for a few years in fintech (NYC) after I left SF (more than a decade working at FAANGs). I'd say your experience as a full stack software developer is

I worked for a few years in fintech (NYC) after I left SF (more than a decade working at FAANGs). I'd say your experience as a full stack software developer is basically irrelevant. At the end of the day, for a typical non-leadership engineering role, the hiring decision is not going to be based on your previous work experience. They are looking for strong algorithmic fundamentals and the ability to think outside the box (I've interviewed for both in the past).

MisterSandman 4y ago
How were you able to get an interview at that company? Was it through networking or did your FAANG experience show some kind of algorithmic prowess? I'm a university student who's found out a little too late that I might be interested in Quant. I have great marks and algorithmic foundations but my past experience has been in Full Stack/Web Dev, and I've struggled to get an interview from any of these firms (and I don't entirely blame them).
- metadat 4y ago
  Maybe they're not looking for current students? That alone leads me to pass over a candidate unless I'm trying to fill spots for a summer intern program.
scarface74 4y ago
> I'd say your experience as a full stack software developer is basically irrelevant This seems to basically be true for any well paying ( > $200K) job at any of the better paying tech companies in the US. It’s all about the passing the algorithm coding interviews.
- imnotreallynew 4y ago
  I don’t believe that’s true. There a number of large, well funded “startups” that don’t do the traditional algorithm based interviews but still pay at or above that range.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    So what are these startups and do they pay in the range of these companies. https://www.levels.fyi/2020/ https://www.levels.fyi/2020/
- Hermitian909 4y ago
  > It’s all about the passing the algorithm coding interviews. As someone who's been involved in hiring for these companies - it's more accurate to say that for all but the most exceptional candidates, a decent score on the algorithms interview is necessary but not sufficient. I've seen fairly similar performances in technical interviews result in offers for mid-level (~$350k), senior (~$500k), or staff (~$700k) based on experience and the behavioral interview.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    Of course, every leveling guidelines for tech companies level above mid based on system design, and history of working problems involving “scope” and “impact”
imnotreallynew 4y ago
Are you talking for a quant role, or a SWE role in those companies? I can’t imagine how 10 years of experience as an SWE would be irrelevant for another SWE position, even if the industry is different.
- Kranar 4y ago
  As someone at a quant firm, it's true of both. Years of experience really counts for next to nothing. Two people with X years of experience could have vastly different skillsets and it genuinely signals next to nothing about how qualified they would be for this job. Both roles involve highly technical interviews and then a 3 month probationary period that is quite challenging. If you have a lot of experience then I'd expect you to do well in the technical interview, although unfortunately in practice this doesn't end up being the case.
- jen20 4y ago
  Part of the question there is whether a candidate actually has ten years worth of experience, of one year of experience ten times.

MisterSandman 4y ago

How were you able to get an interview at that company? Was it through networking or did your FAANG experience show some kind of algorithmic prowess? I'm a university student who's found out a little too late that I might be interested in Quant. I have great marks and algorithmic foundations but my past experience has been in Full Stack/Web Dev, and I've struggled to get an interview from any of these firms (and I don't entirely blame them).

metadat 4y ago
Maybe they're not looking for current students? That alone leads me to pass over a candidate unless I'm trying to fill spots for a summer intern program.

scarface74 4y ago

> I'd say your experience as a full stack software developer is basically irrelevant This seems to basically be true for any well paying ( > $200K) job at any of the better paying tech companies in the US. It’s all about the passing the algorithm coding interviews.

imnotreallynew 4y ago
I don’t believe that’s true. There a number of large, well funded “startups” that don’t do the traditional algorithm based interviews but still pay at or above that range.
- scarface74 4y ago
  So what are these startups and do they pay in the range of these companies. https://www.levels.fyi/2020/ https://www.levels.fyi/2020/
Hermitian909 4y ago
> It’s all about the passing the algorithm coding interviews. As someone who's been involved in hiring for these companies - it's more accurate to say that for all but the most exceptional candidates, a decent score on the algorithms interview is necessary but not sufficient. I've seen fairly similar performances in technical interviews result in offers for mid-level (~$350k), senior (~$500k), or staff (~$700k) based on experience and the behavioral interview.
- scarface74 4y ago
  Of course, every leveling guidelines for tech companies level above mid based on system design, and history of working problems involving “scope” and “impact”

imnotreallynew 4y ago

Are you talking for a quant role, or a SWE role in those companies? I can’t imagine how 10 years of experience as an SWE would be irrelevant for another SWE position, even if the industry is different.

Kranar 4y ago
As someone at a quant firm, it's true of both. Years of experience really counts for next to nothing. Two people with X years of experience could have vastly different skillsets and it genuinely signals next to nothing about how qualified they would be for this job. Both roles involve highly technical interviews and then a 3 month probationary period that is quite challenging. If you have a lot of experience then I'd expect you to do well in the technical interview, although unfortunately in practice this doesn't end up being the case.
jen20 4y ago
Part of the question there is whether a candidate actually has ten years worth of experience, of one year of experience ten times.