What are some interesting facts about working at Facebook?
In what seems like a lifetime ago, I responded to a Quora post asking "What are some interesting facts about working at Facebook?". For reasons that are still somewhat unclear to me, it became the most viewed answer I ever gave on that site, still getting views to this day.
In what seems like a lifetime ago (actually 11 years ago this week), I responded to a Quora post asking "What are some interesting facts about working at Facebook?". For reasons that are still somewhat unclear to me, it became by far the most viewed answer I ever gave on that site, still getting views to this day.
For the sake of posterity, I decided to copy it here. Bear in mind these answers are very old and likely out of date, but thinking about them still makes me smile, so, I dunno, make of that what you will.
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Originally posted at Quora on April 6, 2013. I've added some updates below, in callouts like this.
The question is pretty broad, but here's what I've got so far in terms of random tidbits, avoiding the general stuff around perks like free food. I'll add more as I think of them.
- Every Friday, Mark Zuckerberg holds a weekly Q&A where he sums up his thoughts for the week, then takes questions on any topic facebookers want to talk about.
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I believe this still happens, but on Thursdays and with less transparency than in my day.
- Every employee gets a monthly credit to their Ads account so they can dogfood our ad products.
- Every engineer is expected to have code live within one week of starting.
- There are almost no internal barriers in terms of access to company information. From the latest user numbers, to what's happening on secret project x, every employee has access from day one. EDIT: Just to clarify, when I say "company information", I'm referring to metrics and product roadmaps. Sensitive information like User Data and HR info (salaries etc) are kept on a need to know basis and access is carefully monitored.
- The most commonly used internal communication tool is Facebook itself, notably the groups product.
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This would eventually evolve into the Workplace product
- Every year the company throws itself a birthday party and every employee is given a present. This year (2013), it was pajama bottoms. Others have included watches & socks.
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As far as I know, this stopped happening around 2016.
- For smaller pieces of IT equipment like keyboards, chargers etc, there's no paperwork or even human interaction required to get them replaced. The campus is dotted with vending machines where you can just swipe your badge and get whatever you need, instantly.
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This still remains the perk I miss the most day to day. Companies still put too many barriers in front of basic stuff like the hardware or software needed to get your job done.
- The Like sign at the entrance to HQ is actually the old Sun Microsystems sign picked up, turned around and painted on. The campus is full of small reminders that we're not the first big technology company to occupy it, and we should remember that.
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This sign is now a Meta logo, but i'd wager anything it's still the same on the back.
- Almost every single meeting room in the entire company gets its name as the result of an employee vote. There's a Quora answer somewhere with a comprehensive list, but suffice to say, there's a certain amount of in jokes / general humour in the names.
- There's a stadium jumbotron in the main courtyard. Cause, you know, why not?