Anyone here work at a prestigious company but couldn't pass the interview before trying again?

Amazon
fICL14

Go to company page Amazon

fICL14
Dec 6, 2017 95 Comments

I work at a non-prestigious company and it's been my dream to work at Goog/FB/Airbnb, but I failed the first round interviews at each of them. I didn't think I was stupid, but I don't know. I'm wondering if there's anyone here who can provide advice/motivational stories/reality check on whether or not someone with average intelligence could pass these interviews (or at least get past the first round) with studying. If I had gotten past the first round, I wouldn't have felt as bad, but I didn't. Alternatively, if it's not possible for an average intelligence person to pass the first round by studying please let me know.

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TOP 95 Comments
  • Amazon / Design
    MiddleWest

    Go to company page Amazon Design

    MiddleWest
    For a lot of people, Amazon is prestigious, and the folks I know at Google and Facebook are pretty damn respectful of Amazon. They probably wouldn’t join it, though 😂
    Dec 6, 2017 9
  • Amazon
    gdSe61

    Go to company page Amazon

    gdSe61
    OP, you’ve been asking the same question multiple times since the past few months. I think you should find a psychiatrist. Moreover, please get the F out of amazon. If you need help with that, please share your details.
    Dec 6, 2017 4
  • Microsoft / Eng
    MP3

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    BIO
    Troll living under the I-5 overpass
    MP3
    Just like math is all about practice, so is programming. Sure, some can be more mathematically inclined and have better problem solving skills, but that doesn’t mean it is not possible to catch up to them.

    You already got into Amazon, so the problem here is probably insufficient practice in problem solving, communication skills. And that is an easy problem to solve :).
    Dec 6, 2017 4
    • Amazon
      fICL14

      Go to company page Amazon

      fICL14
      OP
      Well I think many smart people do get in though. And iq isn't a bullshit metric, completely. But if it's possible for someone with average intelligence to get in with studying, then why am I not improving? Why is it that anyone who works at those companies is a genius and not an average joe from the street?
      Dec 6, 2017
    • Microsoft / Eng
      MP3

      Go to company page Microsoft Eng

      BIO
      Troll living under the I-5 overpass
      MP3
      @flCL14:
      I assure you that they are a lot more average than you think. Sure they may have went to top schools, have better stock options or whatever, but who cares? Thinking about that will give you zero benefit but demotivation and grief. Why do you think about it when it works against you? How is thinking about how much less intelligent you are compared to some imaginary image you created based on no meaningful real world data gonna help you?

      I’ve met plenty of very dumb people and extremely smart people where I work. And guess what? Intelligence alone is not a good metric.

      You’re not improving because
      1) you may not be studying enough or studying the right stuff
      2) maybe it is not the programming skills, but communication is where you’re failing?
      3) your mindset about smart/not smart is sabotaging you and you don’t even realize it
      4)????
      Dec 6, 2017
  • Amazon
    genkee

    Go to company page Amazon

    genkee
    I wonder if it’s the same person who keeps posting about “prestigious companies”
    Dec 6, 2017 1
  • Amazon
    Qlch60

    Go to company page Amazon

    Qlch60
    You have an insecurity complex and a serious one. Your work does not define you. You think you've average intelligence and you hope that a prestigious company will define you.
    Dec 6, 2017 12