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Comment by wallflower | Hacker News Reader

Facebook's number of active users served per employee is very impressive. The ridiculous number of photos uploaded every second.

I've long ago figured out that I'd never be able to pass the screens for Facebook, Apple (and at one time, Microsoft). I do still dream of Apple, even after reading the $0.99 Fortune Kindle single on how 'it's not about getting hired at Apple, it's about being able to stay'

What makes me happy however is creating apps that people use (and sometimes even enjoy using).

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I always heard how hard the interviews were tough at Google, Facebook, et al. So never seriously considered applying.

Last year I was invited to interview at Facebook based on some work I'd posted online. I was quite flattered but never expected to get through more than a one or two rounds. Long story short, I've now moved to the US and am in my third week at Facebook.

What makes you think that you'd not make it in? I'm a community college dropout. Research the company, check out some of the "easy" puzzles, etc. And send me an email if you are interested.

Just curious, how has your experience been getting jobs as a dropout? I dropped out of college a couple years ago as well, but found that a lot people wouldn't even talk to me simply because I didn't have a degree (or stopped talking once I told them), so I graduated eventually.

Lots of luck and some hard work. At the time (mid 90s) the job market was much better and everyone was hiring people to build ecommerce sites. It's harder in some ways now to get that entry level job. On the other hand it's phenomenally easier to start your own projects and get experience and attention. In the early 2000s I did a few open source projects which helped a lot. In 2007 or so I started writing articles on a regular basis, basically patching up holes in my education by taking on some subject and trying to explain it. If you lack one social signal ("he went to MIT") you can replace it with another ("he started the foobar project" or "he wrote that post about xyz").

Thanks for your offer and for sharing your personal story! I do not think I am that serious and hopefully another HN reader will take your offer and see where it goes.

I look forward to checking out your library of articles that you have authored.

Do I take it that you work for Apple?

facebook engineer as per his HN profile

And why exactly it is hard to stay? I couldn't find the article, that's why I'm asking.

I've known a couple of folks who worked at apple, and described the experience as "Hell on Earth".

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