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Comment by jstx1 | Hacker News Reader

Layoffs at the top companies put downward pressure on the entire job market - fewer open positions, less mobility for everyone, more competition... if you're working at an average non-tech company and want to move up in salary, now you're competing with a bunch of people who have big tech on their resume and who were good enough to pass the big tech interview loop in the past.

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> "and who were good enough to pass the big tech interview loop in the past"

I would rephrase that to "who were willing to go through the big tech interview loop in the past". The big different between the people who go through this and don't is not ability but desire from my experience.

I agree that the way those tech interviews are designed makes them more of a marathon that tests determination.

Doesn't change that the prestige of having it on your resume will cause many other companies to blindly hire you.

> The big different between the people who go through this and don't is not ability but desire from my experience.

I know 4 developers that work for FAANG companies, I don't know why, but all 4 of them are women.

One is a brilliant programmer, team leader and generally a wonderful person to hang around with. The other 3.... well... I have no idea how on Earth they made it, they're clueless when it comes to programming; of which 2 have serious personality issues also.

Funny you should say this. I often had this feeling that those interviews favor a certain kind of personality somehow.

It depends.

- It's unclear if the layoffs hit software engineering, or if it's mostly business roles.

- Engineers from FANG (or whatever the acronym now is) aren't competing for all the roles out there. They generally aren't looking to join banks/insurance/telco or what they would consider "boring" roles.

If you are looking to join a cool well paying startup in SF, then yes, I imagine the competition is extra tough right now.

I would disagree with that. Your company probably has a hiring freeze at the moment. You are not competing with external people. If you are a crucial person to your company, you are actually in a decent position to get an increase. If you are not crucial, you are on the list for the second round.

No way, increasing compensation for current employees was difficult even when the market was hot. I'm not buying that the companies with hiring freezes are giving out raises (certainly not more raises than before).

Both make sense, while new grads always hurt.

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