So I got a polite (aren’t they always?) email from a recruiter at Facebook about my interview. Rejection. I guess I’m not too surprised since Facebook is everyone’s favorite company right now. Apparently there are billions of people who want to get a job/internship there, and currently, there’s like ~300 employees. So I didn’t have a very good chance from the start.
Of course, my thought process immediately after reading the message went something like this:
Stage 1: Retaliatory. “I’m going to create the next Facebook-killer and they’ll all regret the day they rejected me!”
Stage 2: Somewhat more realistic, optimistic. “I’m going to create something they can’t help but acquire, which will be my ‘in!’”
Stage 3: Realistic: “Okay, I guess I’ll just improve and maybe try again next year.”
People might wonder why I’m so open to listing my rejections publicly. I think the reason is that I’m not ashamed by them; I actually tend to get motivated instead. For example, when I was rejected by Berkeley, Georgia Tech, UC Irvine and Iowa State, I decided that I’d work extra hard when I finally did begin grad school at Michigan. And I think I’ve been doing a job of getting involved academically.
When I was rejected by Google, I decided I’d become a better programmer (in addition to becoming more interested in real research with stuff like social networks, etc). Plus I made MapsKrieg shortly after the rejection (mostly because I needed to find an apartment, but if I had given up on Google, I might’ve used the Yahoo Maps API instead…).
Apparently I still need to work on this aspect a bit since the Facebook interview was basically a programming/algorithmic question. The “interview” was so short that I doubt anything meaningful about my abilities could have been evaluated. Sure, I didn’t prove P=NP, but I thought I did okay… I think it was a matter of the process being way too competitive (or at least, that’s how I’ll rationalize it to make myself feel better).
So what does this latest rejection mean for me? It means I’ll be working a lot harder in my networks class, for one. I’m working on a fairly interesting project, so hopefully that’ll buff my otherwise slim portfolio. Facebook is the only (should I say first?) company to reject me so far for Summer internships. So I still have a few other good companies to try.
In two years (more like one and a half, now), there might be a better company I’d like to work for. I still have a lot of time before I graduate, so hopefully I can become “acceptance worthy” material by then.
Great outlook, Hung! Just miss out on an opportunity? Turn it into a motivational booster – and go code something great!
Hey dude… I feel your pain. I too was rejected by FB just today. You should feel lucky that they even gave you an interview… they just looked at my stuff and said: “Nuh-uh”. Anyways your post made me feel better about being such a loser. Have a good one and good luck with everything.
Hey Hung, I admire your high spirits.. Keep it up and you’ll get there.. Hopefully me too! we’re in the same boat
& LOL about the Retaliatory stage
I got the offer from Facebook a few days ago. Feel sry for you!
No need to feel sorry! I’m doing just fine without them
i am in india..what do i have to acquire knowledge of? and then how do i apply for an internship in US..being in INDIA ?
I have an interview today… this does not bode well
how did u do in the interviews?
a worthy post for another one similar to you, i guess rejection is better than not trying in at all and one must never suffer from rejections since one good acceptance will dampen their whole desert!
the attitude shows you’ll really do good.
Don’t want to brag but i got a phone call today with facebook saying i got the internship =).
I think a very important factor was the fact the 2nd guy who interviewed me was into the same field of study the I was, which is 3D computer graphics programming.
When the guy asks if you have any questions, make sure you ask him what he likes to do and what kind of projects he’s worked on. Also make sure you seem interested and try to relate.
One question, i need the details about getting a facebook internship ! how do i get it ?
I will see you next summer then.
What school do u go to btw?
I go to University of Massachusetts Amherst. Yeah I may see you, especially if you plan to use company housing like me =)
Company housing? I heard that facebook does not provide housing. Interns need to find a place to live during summer. Am I missing something?
I was told i’ll be given $1000/m for housing, and they have 1000/m company housing
Yes, that’s what they told me too, but they did not tell me that they had 1000/m company housing. BTW, do u have gmail so that I can chat with u directly?
I don’t. I have an aim Argo1516 and windows live messenger argo_15@hotmail.com
Hey guys, don’t forget about me when you’re at Facebook and you wanna refer people
Hi Hung, you had started this thread a while back (07)
any updates on your following internship experiences? btw, checked out your work, you seem very motivated and smart. You’re probably done school now or close to finishing.
Currently doing my 8 months placement at a pretty cool place here in Canada but facebook seems like a place to be for the summer.
What was the programming/algorithmic question?
“How many commenters does it take to screw in a lightbulb?”
Hmm, not funny at all.
hey guys can ny1 tell me hw to apply for internship in fb.
i am pursuing mba at iit roorkee
Probably somewhere around here:
https://www.facebook.com/careers/
just admit it, anyone who gets rejected from fb is just not good enough. period.
each company looks out for a specific skill, not every company wants a web dev or a algo geek. I know people who have been rejected by Microsoft and being picked up by DirectI and come on no kidding both companies are great to work for.