That’s incorrect. They have “directors” of development teams, which they call “studios.” They also have a variety of vice presidents, etc.

Overheard at the party: “I love the way they keep resetting the virtual DJ through that notebook…Sooooooo ‘Linden’”

I had posted my resume ahead-of-time, and received a confirming email that I should ask to go directly to the VIP room. But when I did ask, the hostess at the front desk sent me off into the regular top-floor frenzy. Only after I actually got to talk with the Lindens there, did they decide that I should indeed get the sparkly blue arm-band that opened up VIP.

While downstairs, I really tried to discuss issues relating to my target job (Boston Web Content Editor). But they suggested that I file my comments online, through the resume page, as “addenda” to my original application. I did, and haven’t heard a peep since.

I’ve contacted folks through email and in-world IMs, but everyone’s very closed-mouthed! I also found Cory Linden’s original blog about the party, and noticed that the last comment was asking for information about who got hired. But when I seconded that motion, my post was removed.

Short of dropping in during a Linden’s in-world office hours, I don’t know what else to do. Maybe nothing… I just noticed that the Boston Web Content Editor has been removed from their jobs page. Maybe that’s the only indication that people who aren’t hired will receive.

For those who are aware of/also attended the F8 launch keynote/hackathon, that is NOT what I’m talking about. Facebook has also held several hiring focused events.

At the Facebook hiring event, there _was_ an open bar. And very nice finger foods. It was a relatively small gathering, perhaps 40 to 50 potential hirees. It was not open invitation. Recent applicants, and folks targeted by facebook’s employees and recruiters were invited. There were small gifts given to each attendee (these included a small wine glass with a facebook related etched image). Facebook also invited some folks who are NOT being recruited NOR work for facebook, just because they work on interesting projects and have interesting things to talk about. It was not overly loud – you could converse easily with people. Folks wore name tags. Facebook employees went out of their way to get conversations going and include everyone. I didn’t see people wandering around alone or with noone to talk to.

Facebook’s CEO _did_ give a formal presentation with slides. We were made to feel very welcome, and we were given a good understanding of what Facebook is about – not just the information you can learn easily with a little research about the product and company, but what it’s really like to work there.

I went away from it feeling that they’d done a very good job presenting themselves as a company, and their employees as your potential future coworkers.

Does this hiring event represent “silicon valley companies” or culture, any more or less than the Linden Labs event does? I have no idea. Did Linden Labs did do a good job, with their event, of representing their employees and what it’s like to work there? If so, then kudos to the planners.. if not .. then hopefully someone from Linden Labs is listening here and learns from this.. if that party didn’t represent what Linden Labs is about, they might want to consider doing things a little differently next time.

Based on the descriptions, I hope it doesn’t represent them accurately. But if it does, they’re probably pretty pleased with themselves!

But I’m writing this mainly in reaction to the comments about silicon valley culture. Facebook is not the only company whose hiring events I’ve been to, they’re just the most recent. The Google hiring event I attended also did NOT do a split off VIP area – that was in washington D.C. at a conference – so while it was a silicon valley
company, it was an east coast location and a broad set of participants from across the US and other countries as well. That was another silicon valley company’s hiring event which 1) did not do a VIP area and 2) did have
a formal presentation with slides, 3) had an open bar and tasty foods.

I personally think that the VIP area is a very bad idea, and that if you find yourself as a company thinking you need to have one at your hiring event, you might want to think about other ways to achieve the goals you have that led you to think about it.

But if the use of a VIP area accurately reflects the culture of your company.. then.. it makes sense!

Eh. I’m a bit rambly and unfocused. I apologize. I want to “defend” silicon valley culture, because this is my home, my culture, and I’m a hiring employer, and I’ve been to hiring events of other silicon valley companies that I thought did a great job. .. but it’s possible MY experience is the anomaly. So I’m just putting my thoughts out there to add to the mix.
-jessica

Maybe they do it differently on the East Coast.

Yuh. They do.

And I’m glad finally to get a reading on this from someone who could actually comment as to whether this was “Silicon Valley Culture”. Of course Pathfinder, being from Boston, might be expected to know it is NOT East Coast culture (if one can speak of such a thing) but it’s often the case that new recruits to a cult can be the most vigorous in its promulgation and dissemination of its culture.

It would be one thing if the notice said, “Send your resume and get an invitation to our VIP lounge,” and it made it clear that if you didn’t send in a resume, you’d be in the first floor area with the newbs and rubes.

But…that isn’t how they said it. They said “Come to this party, and if we like the way you look and act, you’ll be invited to our VIP lounge.”

Ugh.

What?’ – Cocoanut

What what? What part of my statement do you not understand?

really. go the fuck away. i mean, supposedly you hate SL, right? so leave already.

the fact that you stay and continue to complain kinda betrays the truth of the situation… you LIKE to whine. you are whiners.”

Truer words have not been spoken, Mr. Bean!

And to the notion that these cryers are “tied in” to SL because of financial reasons I say “GET A REAL JOB”. Anyone that quits their day job and tries to make a living off of something like SL are complete tools and deserve whatever they get. You’re Chinese gold farmers with access to a Starbucks with Wi-Fi.

I see both sides of this story…one that LL has a bunch of dot commers that time forgot who’s shit don’t stink but I know for a fact that is a generalization and isn’t true for many of the employees…maybe just the management.

I also see the other side…a company wanting go-getters with charisma that aren’t afraid to get up and talk to everyone. If it’s a job fair for only one company then you should have ALREADY done your homework and found out what the company is about.

Companies that participate in multiple-company job fairs need employees…companies that have their own job fairs have employees that need them.

Maybe they do it differently on the East Coast.