9 ms·

Wow, what a great filter the CEO came up with. If someone doesn't want to use the product, they probably won't make a good fit to work there.

malfist 3y ago
You don't have to drink the koolaide to be a productive member of the team. Drinking the koolaide doesn't mean you'll be a productive member of the team. Pretty pointless of a filter
- HL33tibCe7 3y ago
  Maybe in a big company, but actually I completely disagree with this in the context of a small startup. In that context, having a tight team of people who are highly passionate about the product is _essential_.
  - malfist 3y ago
    I think you can be highly passionate about solving complex problems without being highly passionate about the product
    - misschresser 3y ago
      The only real complex problem a start-up has to solve is making the product successful. Engineers that love "complex problems" with no love for the product / space it's in is usually a recipe for disaster.
    - dannyw 3y ago
      I think it's completely reasonable for a CEO to have a different view, and when you're a tiny startup, it's very fair.
    - dbbk 3y ago
      You can be, but I wouldn't hire that person. Why would I want an engineer who doesn't give a shit about the actual product they're responsible for?
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
- jjtheblunt 3y ago
  I think the point is the CEO was aware of the old advice "make what you'd want to use", and just decided to roll with that advice in mind.
- paxys 3y ago
  Using the product your company makes in the way it is intended to be used isn't "drinking the koolaid". If you aren't comfortable doing that then you really shouldn't be working there.
- latchkey 3y ago
  Did you mean to say the same thing two different ways? > koolaide In reference to the product, it is Kool-Aid.
  - kirubakaran 3y ago
    Also, to be extra pedantic (why not), it should be Flavor Aid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown#Deaths_in_Jonestown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown#Deaths_in_Jonestown
- namuol 3y ago
  At an early stage startup it’s absolutely critical.
- jameshush 3y ago
  I mean... you don't HAVE to, you're right. However, hiring for most engineering roles is a filtering problem rather than a sourcing problem. I'd rather hire a Javascript engineer who'll at least _pretend_ to be excited about the job than hire a Javascript engineer who is lukewarm to cold right out of the gate. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- lawn 3y ago
  Is using a product once as an interview task really that unreasonable? It's not like he was asking you to adopt Loom into your life or to drink the koolaide.

malfist 3y ago

You don't have to drink the koolaide to be a productive member of the team. Drinking the koolaide doesn't mean you'll be a productive member of the team. Pretty pointless of a filter

HL33tibCe7 3y ago
Maybe in a big company, but actually I completely disagree with this in the context of a small startup. In that context, having a tight team of people who are highly passionate about the product is _essential_.
- malfist 3y ago
  I think you can be highly passionate about solving complex problems without being highly passionate about the product
  - misschresser 3y ago
    The only real complex problem a start-up has to solve is making the product successful. Engineers that love "complex problems" with no love for the product / space it's in is usually a recipe for disaster.
  - dannyw 3y ago
    I think it's completely reasonable for a CEO to have a different view, and when you're a tiny startup, it's very fair.
  - dbbk 3y ago
    You can be, but I wouldn't hire that person. Why would I want an engineer who doesn't give a shit about the actual product they're responsible for?
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
jjtheblunt 3y ago
I think the point is the CEO was aware of the old advice "make what you'd want to use", and just decided to roll with that advice in mind.
paxys 3y ago
Using the product your company makes in the way it is intended to be used isn't "drinking the koolaid". If you aren't comfortable doing that then you really shouldn't be working there.
latchkey 3y ago
Did you mean to say the same thing two different ways? > koolaide In reference to the product, it is Kool-Aid.
- kirubakaran 3y ago
  Also, to be extra pedantic (why not), it should be Flavor Aid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown#Deaths_in_Jonestown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown#Deaths_in_Jonestown
namuol 3y ago
At an early stage startup it’s absolutely critical.
jameshush 3y ago
I mean... you don't HAVE to, you're right. However, hiring for most engineering roles is a filtering problem rather than a sourcing problem. I'd rather hire a Javascript engineer who'll at least _pretend_ to be excited about the job than hire a Javascript engineer who is lukewarm to cold right out of the gate. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
lawn 3y ago
Is using a product once as an interview task really that unreasonable? It's not like he was asking you to adopt Loom into your life or to drink the koolaide.