Is FAANG overhyped by desi software engineers?

Facebook is Meta now. It’s high time we add Uber and Dropbox to this list and start calling them GAANDU, you know, like WITCH. How great would it be if someone says, Hey, I work for one of the GAANDU companies, or, I moved from WITCH to GAANDU.

On the hiring process. Never wrapped my head around it.
Been rejected after reaching the final stages so many times.
One time, the recruiter told me my hiring packet at Google was amongst the last two. But because the other dude had an MBA, he was ultimately picked - because otherwise we were neck to neck

Not fucking around, it was the most heartbreaking thing because I thought I’d made it that time

Indians love to make rat race out of everything. Sbc to pbc, pbc to faang.

No, I don’t think FAANG/MAANG is overhyped at all. These companies consistently set benchmarks in technology, innovation, and employee benefits. They offer exceptional career growth, competitive compensation, and opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects that impact millions.

While they may not be the right fit for everyone, dismissing their significance simply because they’re hard to get into or aren’t part of your journey feels more like misplaced criticism. It’s okay to pursue different paths, but let’s give credit where it’s due.

On point about 'but it doesn't guarantee job satisfaction or career fulfillment' Have several friends at Google Meta. The ones who aren't very ambitious appreciate the comfort but complain about the work. The ones who are very ambitious hate the comfort and the work, but cannot leave.

"There are plenty of other companies in India that offer competitive salaries and much better WLB" Can you share companies other than startups please? As startups don't have WLB. Thanks

I believe the over obsession with these so called brands is ruining talents for a lot of smart Indian engineers. All they wish for is to get a job in these MNCs and eventually end up on a path to pursue MS, which let's just is pretty idiotic choice to be made for any Indian in this Era Work in home grown Indian startups and get exposed to best learnings of different industries I would suggest. Faang should be left for Tier 2 and 3 engineers in future

Let's agree to disagree

I have a different take-

1. There are far few companies(including startups) now apart from faang(and it's adjacent) that match pay at faang.
2. On lot of points, it's much more brutal/worse outside of faang. Points like - perks, wlb, pay, stock appreciation value, leave benefits, talent pool etc
3. Hiring is tough where pay is great. The same toughness exists for top startups as well. Top startups pay well, but your impact is still not that great than more budding startups.
4. Most startups(unless well known) won't create any impact on your resume and even if they do, it would be within India. FAANG creates impact globally and you get the option to work outside India should that opportunity come by!

Ofc, exceptions like remote top pay apply. But those are exceptions!

To conclude - faang is hyped more for a bunch of reasons, and those are undoubtedly totally valid in case of India. Faang just opens up so many new opportunities once you are there. There are only few companies in this country which pay decent salary. Rest are happy to hire people at even 3.5L and make them work > 8hrs on average every day

Take it from me on good authority that it is very overhyped and horrible. If you have talent they won't actually hire you, they only go for so called big degree names like IIT or Ivy league colleges.

Source: I'm a toxic troll who is also a hypocrite and a sore loser. If I can't achieve something I just call it overhyped and useless and move on with my life. My behaviour stems from deep seated insecurity issues and an inferiority complex. I usually blame everything on others. My behaviour and mediocrity is also a result of bad parenting, not really my fault. Never is