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Comment by 31reasons | Hacker News Reader

I feel exactly the same. I can master any and all graph algorithms under the sun if I want to but why? Just for a job? I would rather be building things.

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Adding to that its not ever worth that much trouble.

    1. Master algorithms.
    2. Get a job at <insert a big famous web company>.
    3. ???
    4. Get rich.

What exactly is 3) ???.

Really if you are joining a big company. Whatever that company is. Way to financial safety is not mastering algorithms and data structures. Its more like knowing how to do politics, being your manager yes men etc.

And very rarely are you ever going to get some work where its going to demand some algorithms mastery.

For CS graduates from some big name colleges that go to work on Wall Street or other "finance" it is:

   1. Master algorithms
   2. Get a job at <...X...> & Co.
   3. Use Excel all day everyday
   4. Get rich.

I interviewed at 7 investment banks on Wall Street after college. Never took any of the jobs, however, I had friends who worked on Excel spreadsheets that managed 100s millions in capital. This always amazed me.

They just want smart people in general. CS or not doesn't matter. It still baffles me that they ask algorithms and CS questions then sit in you front to Excel.

The idea is to get in the door. Unfortunately, the bouncer is extremely flawed and often gets it wrong. But once you're in, you should refocus on building things.

I just don't have that much drive to get a job. Maybe I underestimate getting a job at google or similar company.

The only problem with big companies is, no matter who they are on an average large set ups are almost the same. There are some minor variations here and there. But your net experience will converge or move around the same point.

I don't know much about Google. But from whatever I've heard. The awesome projects where all this nirvana level work happens are very difficult to get into and bulk of the work is really maintaining legacy system.

Or in other words, its your usual large company. There is a possibility that the experience is marginally better. But as I said will on a average converge to any large corporate experience.

But they pay way more right ? That has to count for something .

That is why you must contribute what they deserve and nothing extra.

Do they? I've heard (I must confess it was years ago) that google paid less. People went there because it was cool and all that hype.

http://jacquesmattheij.com/Programmers+Salaries+at+google+25...

Claims 130 is about average engineer salary at the big G.

I think with equity and bonuses it ends up being much, much higher with million/year being possible.

million/year ? where did you get that number ? perhaps its possible in the sales department.

For an entry level job fresh out of college, I'd be interested in seeing a person implement algorithms. For a more experienced job, I'd look for a person who knows that these algorithms exist and can quickly look up the details. For a top level person, I'd look for skills at organizing and dealing with large code bases using best practices.

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