I'd also like to add my own experience dealing with recruiters from Amazon, Facebook, Google, Netflix.
They are liars. They most definitely will e-mail you whatever it takes to get you into the first part of the funnel. They'll tell you its a "special project" or try and make it seem like somehow you're exactly what they are looking for. It's not true; I've been down the route a few times and have easily been able to spot the deception at second phone call. I do wonder how many brilliant people are abjectly turned off by these tactics and don't make it into these companies. But I rather think that's a good thing, call it bio-diversity. No one company should get too many very smart people.
And, unlike the OP, I can actually solve the bizarre algorithm questions they ask. Although I 100% believe they tell you absolutely nothing about the person but their ability (read: desire/motivation) to read and comprehend a basic text on the subject. No, you don't need this knowledge (unless specifically required) to be effective at your job despite what others here are posting on about.
Tech companies, once they reach a certain size, become little more than meat shops; corporate behemoths, not unlike other large companies that run the same dog and pony shows but for different kinds of human talent and capital. This is not to say they can't be good places to work, or have cool and creative teams within them, but the chances of you getting hired into one have nothing to do with the recruiting process, unless the hiring manager or manager of a specific team reaches directly out to you. If it's a recruiter doing the reaching, you'll be forced through the opaque funnel and likely lied to or manipulated in some way. Its just the nature of their job.
By far the best way to find a great job is to:
If you don't already have contacts in the industry or niche you want to work in: Go to work for a startup in the space to build your network and domain expertise.
If you do have a contact, have this person refer you from the inside. In many cases your interview process will be completely different. Following this I've actually not had to deal with recruiters much at all; maybe only as a formality.
They are liars. They most definitely will e-mail you whatever it takes to get you into the first part of the funnel. They'll tell you its a "special project" or try and make it seem like somehow you're exactly what they are looking for. It's not true; I've been down the route a few times and have easily been able to spot the deception at second phone call. I do wonder how many brilliant people are abjectly turned off by these tactics and don't make it into these companies. But I rather think that's a good thing, call it bio-diversity. No one company should get too many very smart people.
And, unlike the OP, I can actually solve the bizarre algorithm questions they ask. Although I 100% believe they tell you absolutely nothing about the person but their ability (read: desire/motivation) to read and comprehend a basic text on the subject. No, you don't need this knowledge (unless specifically required) to be effective at your job despite what others here are posting on about.
Tech companies, once they reach a certain size, become little more than meat shops; corporate behemoths, not unlike other large companies that run the same dog and pony shows but for different kinds of human talent and capital. This is not to say they can't be good places to work, or have cool and creative teams within them, but the chances of you getting hired into one have nothing to do with the recruiting process, unless the hiring manager or manager of a specific team reaches directly out to you. If it's a recruiter doing the reaching, you'll be forced through the opaque funnel and likely lied to or manipulated in some way. Its just the nature of their job.
By far the best way to find a great job is to:
If you don't already have contacts in the industry or niche you want to work in: Go to work for a startup in the space to build your network and domain expertise.
If you do have a contact, have this person refer you from the inside. In many cases your interview process will be completely different. Following this I've actually not had to deal with recruiters much at all; maybe only as a formality.