The Best Part Of Working At FAANG? Getting The Job

I’m not a FAANG lover (for those unfamiliar with the term, it refers to Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google). Don’t get me wrong - I think they’re great companies, and they’ve all made a significant impact on Society.?

But young peeps look at FAANG and salivate. “Oh my god, could you Imagine getting a job at <Google, Apple>” they say to their friends. “That would be, like, winning the Career Lottery.” And their parents, who likely don’t know any better, agree, and encourage the FAANG obsession. Career centers and many career coaches aren’t any better, as they have a lot to gain by encouraging FAANG mania.?

So the FAANG job announcement on social media is the young person's ticket to Instant Celebrity. Thousands of likes for getting that SWE job (software engineer, for those not familiar with the lingo), the jealousy of all their peers, and complete satisfaction that the person winning this Lottery Ticket is A Worthy And Important Person.?

Quite frankly, this is all quite garish and gross. It’s the worst of our capitalist society. Kudos for their achievement, but it’s excessive.?

However, for the FAANG job winner, this is as good as it gets. It’s not a surprise that after the job announcement is made, the employee disappears from social media.?

“Well duh, Jon, they’re busy with their super important job. Why would they need to be on Social Media?”?

Sure, there’s some truth here. Working at top software companies is stressful and keeps you busy. But there’s more to it than that.?

The fact of the matter is that working at FAANG is just another Big Corporate Job. And no one wants to be the one who comes out and admits this. The highlight reel of getting the job was perfect, and the reality of The Work is an inconvenient truth.?

So what is the reality of the work??

A lot of politics. Divisional factions. High stress and “perform or you’re out” (particularly at Netflix and Amazon). Lack of impact due to So Many Employees. Nothing Gets Done because there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Sure, the perks are nice, but the job itself is just another job.?

I won’t get into why FAANG is so important to people. It is what it is. But the reality is that working at a job is never a perfect panacea, FAANG included. Keep that in mind the next time you’re jealous of your peer who’s gloating in your face how Special They Are for winning the Golden Ticket.?

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My Top LinkedIn Posts From Last Week (In Case You Missed Them)

Employers that ask for ample “previous experience” for entry level positions are just plain stupid.?

Why?

Because less experienced folks have fewer bad habits to correct, and therefore have fewer ways of hurting the company. They’re totally open books, and if they have a Growth Mindset, they can learn to do things The Right Way.?

A great attitude, curiosity, and passion for the job beats experience any day of the week.?

Requiring experience for entry level peeps is actually hurting corporations. So stop the stupidity for everyone’s sake.?

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I never hired an employee because they had an A average.?

Quite frankly, I never really cared.?

And yet, students insist on competing against each other to be the best of the best.?

This is nonsensical. Grades don’t prove your worth to employers.?

So what should you care about instead??

The love of learning, and the love of critical thinking. Those two things will serve you much better than outcompeting other peeps for The Unneeded Carrot.?

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I’ve had thousands of conversations with young professionals, and the only thing they share in common is that they have no clue what they want to do with their lives.?

But they won’t admit this to anyone in public. Of course not!?

Because in public, they’ve got it all figured out. And they have the big smile to prove it, the Brag Post on LinkedIn announcing their new job, the happy parents who can show off to their friends how “successful” their child is doing, the jealous classmates.?

But don’t believe the hype. Because underneath the bravado is a scared person who’s faking it and hoping to make it.?

So rest assured, young professional, that you aren’t alone. You’re not an imposter. You’re just a confused, scared, vulnerable human being who’s learning to make their way in the world. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.?

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