Yes yes yes! This is what drives me CRAZY about the job postings from Y Combinator companies here on Hacker News. I would NEVER apply for a job without knowing what the company does and who is behind it. "Stealth mode" is a lame excuse. We've all learned that execution trumps ideas alone, and is a surprise launch really the cornerstone of your execution?
Before applying for a job, I would want to check out the company's home page and see "do they look competent? Do they look like they're building a product that they're proud of? Is it something that I want to be a part of?" I'd also want to check out the company on LinkedIn or other social networks, to see if they're actually thought leaders in their community, and to see if I know anyone who can give some more color on the people involved.
It's a job seeker's market out there. You may be special, but if you don't tell me who you are, I'm unable to determine whether you're really special or not.
Wow, that post is appalling poor and demonstrates complete lack of understanding of their target audience, namely programmers.
Upfront, it tells you everything you are not getting as an employee... free time, good salary or nutritious food. Then it tells you absolutely nothing about what you are getting... like you know, things an engineer might be interested in... interesting work, spiffy new programming languages etc. Instead they ramble on about how great they are and focus mostly on business figures like revenue. Even with regards to business stuff things sound scary. Revenue slopes you would not ski down on? Makes me think of plummeting revenues.
My thought upon reading that (having recently relocated to SF): They have an office in the most expensive corner of SOMA... and yet they're expecting you to ramen it? That better come with one FAT piece of equity.
When you tell people to take a 6-figure salary cut and starting "$5 subs like it's going out of style" the next line should be about the top-notch equity package they're offering.
Also, expecting people to act like it's a garage-ramen startup when you have an office in the most expensive corner of startup-town is a bit of a non-sequitor.
I am quite surprised that teaching customer/public communication is not something that is part of the YC experience by now. We've seen time and time again the lack of thought in YC companies public communication such as the job postings here and general updates regarding things such as progress, changes or feedback(Dropbox comes to mind). Hipness is one thing, tact is quite different.
Comments
Yes yes yes! This is what drives me CRAZY about the job postings from Y Combinator companies here on Hacker News. I would NEVER apply for a job without knowing what the company does and who is behind it. "Stealth mode" is a lame excuse. We've all learned that execution trumps ideas alone, and is a surprise launch really the cornerstone of your execution?
Before applying for a job, I would want to check out the company's home page and see "do they look competent? Do they look like they're building a product that they're proud of? Is it something that I want to be a part of?" I'd also want to check out the company on LinkedIn or other social networks, to see if they're actually thought leaders in their community, and to see if I know anyone who can give some more color on the people involved.
It's a job seeker's market out there. You may be special, but if you don't tell me who you are, I'm unable to determine whether you're really special or not.
You mean like http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2765209, which is on the front page right now?
Absolutely agree, though.
Wow, that post is appalling poor and demonstrates complete lack of understanding of their target audience, namely programmers.
Upfront, it tells you everything you are not getting as an employee... free time, good salary or nutritious food. Then it tells you absolutely nothing about what you are getting... like you know, things an engineer might be interested in... interesting work, spiffy new programming languages etc. Instead they ramble on about how great they are and focus mostly on business figures like revenue. Even with regards to business stuff things sound scary. Revenue slopes you would not ski down on? Makes me think of plummeting revenues.
My thought upon reading that (having recently relocated to SF): They have an office in the most expensive corner of SOMA... and yet they're expecting you to ramen it? That better come with one FAT piece of equity.
When you tell people to take a 6-figure salary cut and starting "$5 subs like it's going out of style" the next line should be about the top-notch equity package they're offering.
Also, expecting people to act like it's a garage-ramen startup when you have an office in the most expensive corner of startup-town is a bit of a non-sequitor.
I am quite surprised that teaching customer/public communication is not something that is part of the YC experience by now. We've seen time and time again the lack of thought in YC companies public communication such as the job postings here and general updates regarding things such as progress, changes or feedback(Dropbox comes to mind). Hipness is one thing, tact is quite different.