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There is a huge pool of exceptional junior engineers

(workweave.dev)
263 points mooreds | 11 comments | 30 Sep 25 03:17 UTC | HN request time: 0.223s | source | bottom
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Cornbilly ◴[30 Sep 25 04:08 UTC] No.45421796[source]▶
When I hire juniors, I try to give them problems that I know they likely won't be able to solve in the interview because I want to see how they think about things. The problem has become that a lot of kids coming out of college have done little more than memorize Leetcode problems and outsourced classwork to AI. I've also seen less and less passion for the career as the years go by (ie. less computer nerds).

Unless the company is doing something that requires almost no special domain knowledge, it's almost inevitable that it's going to take a good while for them to on-board. For us, it usually takes about year to get them to the point that they can contribute without some form of handholding. However, that also mostly holds true for seniors coming to us from other industries.

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Aurornis ◴[30 Sep 25 04:50 UTC] No.45421994[source]▶
> The problem has become that a lot of kids coming out of college have done little more than memorize Leetcode problems and outsourced classwork to AI. I've also seen less and less passion for the career as the years go by (ie. less computer nerds).

I started browsing spaces like /r/cscareerquestions and joined a few Discords to get a sense for what young devs are being exposed to these days. It's all very toxic and cynical.

I've noticed an inverse correlation between how much someone is immersed in Reddit, Twitter, and Discords and how well they function in a business environment. The Reddit toxicity seems to taint young people into thinking that their employer is their enemy and that they have to approach the workplace like they're going into battle with evil managers. I've had some success getting people to chill out and drop the Reddit vibes, but some young people are so hopelessly immersed in the alternate reality that they see in social media that it's hard to shake them free.

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darth_avocado ◴[30 Sep 25 05:05 UTC] No.45422100[source]▶
> The Reddit toxicity seems to taint young people into thinking that their employer is their enemy and that they have to approach the workplace like they're going into battle with evil managers

What you’re saying is very true unfortunately and is going to be a real problem. It not only affects how you view your employers and companies but also your peers. If you’re exposed to extreme views even before you start your first job, what happens when you eventually start your first job?

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1. LtWorf ◴[30 Sep 25 19:57 UTC] No.45430456[source]▶
> If you’re exposed to extreme views even before you start your first job, what happens when you eventually start your first job?

You are less likely to be taken advantage of?

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2. darth_avocado ◴[30 Sep 25 21:11 UTC] No.45431306[source]▶
The more likely outcome is going to be that these people will be left behind. If you came in with extreme views like say for things like DEI, would you be able to work that well with a female manager or a black coworker? If you came in with extreme views about lofty wage expectations or not working extra as a salaried employee, how likely are you to be hired or be put up for promotion? Keep in mind, we are not talking about reasonable takes, we are talking about extreme views that are formed solely through online spaces and not personal experiences.
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3. bluefirebrand ◴[01 Oct 25 05:07 UTC] No.45434424[source]▶
> not working extra as a salaried employee

This is not an extreme view :/

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4. paulhebert ◴[01 Oct 25 06:02 UTC] No.45434748{3}[source]▶
Agreed. I’m a senior dev. With rare exceptions I work 8:30 to 4:30.

My previous job gave us every other Friday off.

I get things done, do a good job and get nothing but positive feedback from my bosses.

5. LtWorf ◴[01 Oct 25 06:40 UTC] No.45434988[source]▶
> or not working extra as a salaried employee

Getting paid to work is a normal expectation…

6. kelnos ◴[01 Oct 25 06:59 UTC] No.45435095[source]▶
Cynicism usually doesn't help you, no matter how trendy it might be to be a cynic.

The more likely outcome is that you'll (intentionally or unconsciously) perform poorly, have a bad attitude, and always act like your employer is out to get you. Your managers will notice this and not like working with you. Eventually you'll get managed out or fired, and then your cynical opinion will be reinforced by this experience, even though it was avoidable.

I'm not saying you should think your company is your friend or your family (they're not!), and I'm not saying you should work uncompensated overtime, or buy into the whole company "mission" and "values" and stuff. But do go in with a healthy attitude, get your work done to the best of your ability, and act professionally and, sure, be friendly toward your coworkers, and develop relationships with them and your managers (professional ones, not personal ones, if that's not your thing). If your management still treats you poorly, then yes, absolutely, get out of there. But going in with a bad attitude isn't going to set anyone up for success.

7. monkeyelite ◴[01 Oct 25 14:40 UTC] No.45438280[source]▶
Framing DEI skepticism as an inability to work with minority or protected groups makes me think you don’t understand the position well.
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8. darth_avocado ◴[01 Oct 25 16:55 UTC] No.45440054{3}[source]▶
Framing some of the extreme views of DEI as DEI skepticism makes me think you don’t understand the extent of radicalization that young unemployed people are going through.
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9. darth_avocado ◴[01 Oct 25 16:59 UTC] No.45440095{3}[source]▶
> Keep in mind, we are not talking about reasonable takes, we are talking about extreme views that are formed solely through online spaces

You’re taking it out of context. I’m not talking about a 996 culture or regular overtime, I’m talking about ocasional extra push to make things work. Any full time salaried employee will tell you that it is completely acceptable to work extra here and there, when you are allowed to take it slow at times.

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10. monkeyelite ◴[01 Oct 25 17:05 UTC] No.45440178{4}[source]▶
I think you may be imagining a disruptive person who can’t work with others, and then associating it with a political position.
11. LtWorf ◴[02 Oct 25 05:53 UTC] No.45446695{4}[source]▶
No it's not acceptable. At the very least they must let you take that extra time off at a moment of your choosing.