u/SoManyCrafts wrote (the comment Michael replied to):
Unfortunately there are going to be bad apples in every bunch no matter where you go. Saying you have 12+ months of experience isn’t at all what we are told or asked to do, and the GitHub commit history being 2 weeks doesn’t make sense, as we work on GitHub the entire time we are
u/michaelnovati replied · · edited ★ FEATURED
Hey thanks for the thoughtful reply.
regarding GitHub, I’m speaking specifically about the fake work experience project contributions. People also often have separate "open source" experience with 3 other projects. I have all the raw data carefully logged and can share with you but it's specifically the fake company experience listed on LinkedIn and contributions to those specific projects.
That said I do agree with you about the ends justify the means argument. Like I said, I work with some awesome Codesmith alum that I love and support dearly (AND HIRED ONE MYSELF). The people are performing well then is it really so wrong?
I do have anectodal evidence that people have challenge Codesmith leadership about it being implied, but not directly told, to fake the experience, as well as to pass background checks. Not going to mention who, but I'm sure Codesmith alumni reading this know about their 3 hour along resume prep lecture with one of the leaders. This is the piece that's wrong to me.
Regarding the mid-level. I don't really know how to explain this and I hope any alumni at Facebook will back me up. But the levelling system is NOT based on technical ability, it is based on scope of responsibility, and it rewards you after you have ALREADY demonstrated that scope of responsibility for 6+ months consistently. So if you worked somewhere for a year, you could get hired as an E4 at Facebook and that has nothing to do with Codesmith! I talked to a lot people at Codesmith who felt otherwise and when you look into it, there are contract roles, non SWE roles on a different scale, people calling E3 midlevel, etc...
Other companies are different. Amazon for one this could happen. And other FAANG adjacent companies. Facebook and Google, definitely not.
EDIT: Sorry if the blanket midlevel statement offended you. To clarify, I'm speaking specifically about midlevel roles are Facebook, Google and other top tier companies with similar calibrated levelling systems. I have no doubt that people, Codesmith, or otherwise, get mid level jobs with no experience at other companies.