The reality of working for Facebook - BBC

Summary

The video script highlights a company culture that thrives on innovation and embraces failure, exemplified by regular hackathons where the 'like' button was born. Facebook's unique approach to employee engagement includes two birthdays, family days, and pride events with celebrity inspirations. The company's focus is on community building and social value rather than profit, with a mission to connect the world and tackle global issues. With an impressive recruitment strategy, Facebook is rapidly hiring engineers to drive future growth, offering a 6-week boot camp and job flexibility to ensure alignment with the company's values and impact.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The organization values innovation and risk-taking, with regular hackathons to encourage new ideas.
• 🎂 Employees celebrate two birthdays: their own and their 'face-versary', marking their time with the company.
• 🏢 The company culture includes family-friendly events and pride celebrations, aiming to inspire and connect employees.
• 🚲 The campus features amenities like bikes, shops, and an arcade, all free to help employees focus on their work.
• 🌐 The company's mission is to connect the world and address global problems, with a focus on social value.
• 💼 The company is rapidly hiring engineers, with over 10,000 people hired in the last year and plans to double in size.
• 🌟 New employees, called 'noobs', undergo a 6-week boot camp to understand the company's departments and culture.
• 🔍 Employees are encouraged to choose their own projects, focusing on problems they care about, which can lead to departmental pitches.
• 👥 The company's approach is unique, with engineers driving change rather than managers dictating it from above.
• 💰 Despite having a revenue of over fifty-five billion dollars, the company prioritizes community and social impact over profit.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the 24-hour lock-in event known as a hackathon?

The hackathon is an event where staff are encouraged to innovate and try new ideas. It is a platform for employees to develop and test new concepts, such as the like button, which was developed during one of these events.

How often do these hackathons occur?

These hackathons occur every few months, with each office getting together for their own 24-hour lock-in.

What is the significance of having two birthdays for employees?

Employees have two birthdays: their own and their 'face-versary,' which is the anniversary of their joining the company. This is a way to celebrate their personal and professional milestones within the organization.

What kind of events does the company organize to engage the workforce?

The company organizes events such as bring your family to work days, pride events, and even invites celebrities to inspire the workforce.

What is the company's approach to employee benefits and facilities?

The company provides a small village with bikes, shops, and an arcade, all free for employees to use. This is to ensure that everyone can focus on their work and the mission of connecting the world.

What is the current hiring rate for engineers at the company?

The company is hiring more engineers at a staggering rate, with over 10,000 people hired in the last year and 50 new engineers arriving in London every week.

How does the company view the role of engineers in its operations?

Engineers are seen as the drivers of change in the company, rather than managers passing the change downwards. This is a significant shift in the typical corporate structure.

What is the company's revenue and how does it influence their recruitment strategy?

With a revenue of over fifty-five billion dollars, the company has the financial power to attract the best engineers globally, using a unique approach to recruitment.

What is the term used for new employees and what is the process they go through?

New employees are called 'noobs' and they go through a 6-week boot camp where they are introduced to various departments and allowed to choose where they want to work.

How does the company handle the issue of inappropriate content and potential harm on its platform?

The company is aware of the challenges of people trying to reach out to minors for inappropriate purposes and signals that something terrible might happen. They are working on addressing these issues to ensure the safety and integrity of their platform.

What is the company's primary focus in terms of product decisions and community impact?

The company is designed to create communities and let those communities make a difference in the world. They focus on whether each product decision does good in the world, with money being a secondary consideration.