I'm a software engineer at ZenPayroll, and it's truly an awesome place to work. The founders and team have taken great care to build an amazing company culture, and I'm really excited to see us grow over the next few years.
We're not interested in a candidate's ability to write sorting algorithms, because those aren't the kind of problems we're solving. Our technical interviews are working on a problem with an engineer. We care a hell of a lot more about how you think than regurgitating Big O notation.
We work in Ruby and CoffeeScript, but we've hired engineers without direct experience in either because we knew they could translate their ample programming knowledge. We're looking for smart people that want to do the best work of their lives. That sounds like bullshit, but we're pretty serious about that. Turns out you can hire smart, passionate people and they'll naturally do awesome things.
For a more in depth look at how we think about hiring, you can check out:
ZenPayroll Is Not Hiring Hackers https://zenpayroll.com/blog/zenpayroll-is-not-hiring-hackers...
The Value of Cultural Interviews https://maddo.xxx/thoughts/how-to-conduct-cultural-interview...
If you have any questions, shoot me an email. I'm chris@
More to the point (yes, I worry that I'm not being pointed enough ;) ) I have worked with plenty of people that weren't a 'cultural' fit with me, and we did great things. So, I have evidence in direct contradiction of your claims.
It comes down to the way you want to spend your time. If all you want is a paycheck, that's fine. Take the money, go do something else you feel is more important. I don't mean that we are a family in that we're trying to replace your actual blood relatives.
If you're spending 10 hours a day with a group of people, would you rather give yourself to a cause with a group of people you trust, believe in, who you genuinely want to see succeed beyond any selfish desires of your own, or a group clocking in for a paycheck? Ultimately, which situation do you think will make you happier?
I'm not asserting that it is what everyone wants, but these are our values. This is the type of company we want to build.
The question is whether or not I'm a "hacker" :)
If the company is awesome, just suck it up for a day. Once you join you can try to change the interviewing process.
I think the thing most people don't realize is that these traditional "interviewing" techniques (like whiteboard coding) are just what gets you in the door. Your real interview starts on day 1, and if you don't perform at the real task, you'll be asked to leave.
Writing sorting algorithms is like tuning a guitar. It's true there exist people who are good at tuning but actually terrible at playing (ie: good at puzzles, but lousy programmers).
But there are few, if any, amazing guitarists who can't quickly tune an instrument. It's a signal.
If my application essay was graded for spelling, grammar, sentence construction, complexity, and other features like I were writing for the AP English exam, I would agree completely with that statement. However, the purpose of such an essay is to communicate why you will succeed in your studies and why the university should admit you. Yes, it takes a minimum level of writing proficiency to do this, but that should be secondary to the message. If you are a university admissions officer who is grading essays on proficiency you should be fired for not doing your job properly.
> If the company is awesome, just suck it up for a day. Once you join you can try to change the interviewing process.
Which just perpetuates the system.
> I think the thing most people don't realize is that these traditional "interviewing" techniques (like whiteboard coding) are just what gets you in the door. Your real interview starts on day 1, and if you don't perform at the real task, you'll be asked to leave.
Then why the hell are you doing them? Just randomly choose a resume that has enough buzzwords and make that person an offer.
> Writing sorting algorithms is like tuning a guitar. It's true there exist people who are good at tuning but actually terrible at playing (ie: good at puzzles, but lousy programmers).
> But there are few, if any, amazing guitarists who can't quickly tune an instrument. It's a signal.
Writing sorting algorithms for a software developer is like tuning a guitar for a musician. Both are broad terms that cover a number of specialties. Most specialties of software developer can write efficient sorting algorithms, but some can't because they have no need to. If you want to hire a guitarist, advertise that you are looking for a guitarist; don't advertise that you are looking for a musician and reject everyone who isn't a guitarist at the interview stage.
No. Thank you, but no.
But I should stop before this turns into a full on rant...
I feel like a have more control over my schedule which in turn gives me a better sense of ownership over what I create.
If you've ever done freelance work it's very similar in that it gives you freedom to create your own schedule while providing a more stable form of income. That's not to say I wouldn't go back to freelancing I'm just enjoying the current situation I'm in.