Update: my friend took my advice, reverse interviewed both Doordash and Amazon, and went with Amazon! They said the reverse interview - and talking with their future manager - made a *huge* difference. I really recommend doing a reverse interview if you are in doubt. (Don't forget: each situation, offer and team is different! Don't take any signal on whether Amazon or Doordash is "better", in general. There is no "general"!)

@malwared5105

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great videos and insightful content! Video idea: your thoughts on the reported 2020 software engineer salaries for new grads www.levels.fyi/2020/ - I was surprised to see companies like Lyft, Roblox etc at the top and not any FAANG.

On the reverse interview topic, I think Facebook beats almost any company out there because you get to choose your team after joining. I joined FB 1 year ago and I interviewed ~6 teams before making my decision. The difference was huge and I'm sure I wouldn't be as happy as I am now in most of these teams.

@Sanyu-Tumusiime

2 жыл бұрын

how do y'all even get selected? i put in my application in t he online system and get rejections.

This is pure gold Gergely, thank you so much for these videos! Especially loved the part the inside thoughts about Amazon and door dash as well as that bit about reverse interviewing after you get an offer. Would love more of these videos where you give your own thoughts on other big tech companies and also interested in the calibration video. Keep killing it!

The amount of knowledge in these videos are too much, many thanks buddy.

Please do a video on negotiation tactics - very interested in that!

This is such good advice and I loved how you showed your process of going through the reviews in blind and glassdoor and not just take it at face value. I'd be interested in a negotiation video that starts at step -1 haha, like what should I type in the email to recruiter or should I request a call with them or hiring manager.

Thanks man, I have am close to the offer stage with Doordash and this vid was super helpful to get some insight on the culture of Doordash. Much thanks!

Really informative and thanks for sharing this. Would love to see your views and insights on the Calibration. Also, curious to know when can we expect the Eng Guidebook (hopefully it's on track for release in next few months).

Thank you very much. Video about calibration sounds very interesting!

love the content. Thank you!

Would love the calibration video you talked about. I've no idea on it but would love to know more, thanks Gergely! :)

Great video! I'd have never thought about asking for a short interview with a future manager in case the candidate gets an offer. I'm surprised you didn't mention as well things like engineering blogs where teams outline their coding practices or their onboarding process.

@mrgergelyorosz

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Good point on engineering blogs: I should have mentioned this. In my case, I’m probably just too familiar with both these companies’ eng culture. A note on engineering blogs: though having a good one definitely gives insight into the culture (eg the importance of good docs, writing, sometimes the existence of a tech writer team), I’ve found it gives surprisingly less signal on what the engineering culture is like. Blog posts for larger tech companies will be edited thoroughly by tech writers. Btw reading the eng blog and coming preparing for the interview is a good way both to make a better impression, but also to ask more interesting questions (over “what is your tech stack?” “Umm... have you read our eng blog where there’s multiple articles on this?”)

Great video, thanks for the insights! Small note is that Atlassian is pronounced At-lass-ian not Alt-ass-ian. I only notice because I made this mistake myself for ages.

Best channel! Let's go

I unsubscribed from the Teach Lead (and bl4cklisted him for good!) And then I found this channel: The Pragmatic Engineer seems to know a lot more about the current, real Big Tech. I appreciate these videos. Thanks! I hope to join Big Tech soon (as a millionaire)

Great video!!

Wow, your videos are getting better and better!!!!

I am currently interviewing with Amazon. Just after the first round I asked whether I can speak to the hiring manager.

Very interesting video! Could you please explain this PIP better? And how to use apply one of those (in the correct way, not to threat everyone)?

@mrgergelyorosz

3 жыл бұрын

A PIP (Perormance Improvement Plan) is a formal indication of you not meeting expectations, and is a plan your manager and HR put together with specifics you need to improve in a limited time. If you fail to improve, you will be terminated. If you make the improvements - in theory - you will be fine. I think of it as a "final warning". Ideally, it should come as no surprise if this happens. It's not a pleasant experience, even if you clear it (which I know several people who did). You'll likely see little to no bonuses that year, and many people start looking for new positions after, even if they succeed with the PIP. There are people who bounce back as well, though this will be the minority.

Great video once again, Gergely!. Can you do a video on Design Docs?

@davidkezi6086

3 жыл бұрын

Please do this. 🙏🏿🙏🏿

@mrgergelyorosz

3 жыл бұрын

Hey Kwabena - I’ll add this to my backlog and get around to it. To clarify: I mean “engineering planning docs” under design docs. Is that what you meant? I’ve done lots of this the past years, so happy to share approaches. What would you be interested in? Examples, structure, how to collaborate?

@kwabenaberko5317

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrgergelyorosz Yes, Structure, examples, processes and collaboration and finally, how it's done in Big Tech.

Thank you for the great tips! For companies such as Facebook or Robinhood where they do team match after one joins, what would be a good replacement for the reverse interview?

@mrgergelyorosz

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t think there is a replacement at those places. You could ask to speak with a manager or engineer if you really wanted to, to get a feel for the culture (engineers are usually a lot more blunt than managers).

@yjli8472

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrgergelyorosz that makes sense. And for team-wise culture I'll get a chance to understand during team matching process.

Ive been a full time doordash delivery guy for 2.5 years now. I have recently struck an interest in learning development. Im starting to learn now. The doordash app is so buggy. I currently gave 9240 lifetime deliveries. I have to constantly refresh the app, the app just has a lot of bugs. Maybe someday i can help them solve these issues XD

I would chose Amazon. It's an easy choice. Doordash is much more limited. Amazon has a bigger product portfolio, which means there are more possibilities on the projects you could work on.

Do you recommend negotiation before reverse interviewing?

@juandager5220

2 жыл бұрын

I'd say negotiate when it "feels" like the best moment. (Or a good enough moment.) The company usually makes the first move: "We want you! This is what we offer..." Then between that moment and your acceptance of their contract, that is the time to negotiate. (They may set a deadline. But never let anyone rush you.) I couldn't give you any more specific advice because everything else is too personal so "it depends."

"Designing Data-Intensive Applications" pretty exposed in the background :) Maybe a video on recommended reading some other time?

gold content

I say go Amazon and hop to FANG or Pre-IPO unicorns after a year.

damn, imagine having job offers 🥺

@Cyborg1170

2 жыл бұрын

I am Desi. I have 10 job offers very easy if you Indian like me from India. 300k+ per year easy

this is not a fair test because you had "popular" selected for rank in glassdoor. you should rank by "latest" to get more fair.

former employees can still be using blind under the company name.

Pause. If you're pissed you have to do one dropoff per month imagine you were supporting yourself with that income. Imagine the inherent danger in this work before the pandemic existed. I hope I get one of you on a ride along.

No amazon, thanks, no way.

still doordash today?

pip pip pip pip amazon pip

This is honestly somewhat naive. If you look at work life balance and attrition, it’s obvious that Amazon is never a good choice. That says a lot about their culture. You sealed the deal by explaining the compensation breakdown too. Forget the reverse interview, that’s just a waste of time in this particular case.

This was a great video. Thanks a lot!! I am definitely interested in the calibration video.

@mrgergelyorosz

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds good - I’ll bump it up my list. Calibration is something I only heard bits and pieces about... until I became a manager and was thrown into these without much warning.