👋 AMA: I’m Michael - ex-Meta Principal Engineer + #1 code committer, now co-founder at Formation.dev + interview expert. 📌🎈💥 AI popped the Bootcamp & LeetCode bubbles. Ask me anything about how tech careers have changed in 2025, how to stand out, and what still gets you hired. No 🍬🧥. No 🐂💩

👋 AMA: I’m Michael - ex-Meta Principal Engineer + #1 code committer, now co-founder at Formation.dev + interview expert. 📌🎈💥 AI popped the Bootcamp & LeetCode bubbles. Ask me anything about how tech careers have changed in 2025, how to stand out, and what still gets you hired. No 🍬🧥. No 🐂💩 # TUESDAY APRIL 15th, 10AM PT/1PM ET: ADD QUESTIONS ANYTIME Hey everyone, I'm Michael Novati - a friendly moderator of the sub, former Principal Engineer and the #1 code committer at Meta, and now co-founder and lead engineer at Formation.dev. I've done hundreds of technical interviews at Meta, built some big stuff, and even had an industry archetype called "Coding Machine" modeled after my work. Here's the blunt truth: The hiring landscape in tech has drastically shifted in 2025. The bootcamp-to-job pipeline and the LeetCode grind have both been heavily disrupted by AI. These changes broke the "gamification" of getting a job and while that's healthy overall for the industry, it's a lot harder to follow a script/fixed path to get a job nowadays. What worked between 2009-2017 (when I was at Meta seeing thousands get hired) doesn't fly anymore. We got a bit too cozy with the "factory farm" hiring processes that companies relied on and bootcamps that were setup to "beat the system" are failing. Companies now want real experience, raw intelligence, and adaptive skill sets - think top-tier test scores, proven coding ability, real experience on gigantic systems, and the grit to evolve fast. Interestingly, with all of these changes, the interview formats for these roles **haven't changed**, and it's more important than ever to focus on the **right things** in your interview performance. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I've got strong opinions and plenty of firsthand experience on what's happening right now. I've personally felt the disruption too - AI has replaced what made me as a “Coding Machine” 10 years ago so successful and I’ve had to adapt. This AMA is your chance to ask about: * How the heck do you get hired in tech in 2025? * What actually matters now in interviews and resumes? * The impact stock market turbulence and tariffs could have on jobs Disclaimer: All opinions shared here are purely mine - not official statements from Meta (Facebook/Instagram) or Formation unless explicitly noted. Fire away - I'll answer candidly, no sugar-coating.