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Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out all at once?

Hi HN,

I have been a software developer for 2 years, all at the same company. Last week, I got asked to interview for a position at Google. I was stoked, took the phone interview a few days ago. Today, I got emails from both Microsoft and Amazon.

This can't be a coincidence - why have these tech companies decided to reach out to me now of all times?

This sounds crazy, but the only thing I can think of is that I had a tweet go lowest-key viral among a subgroup of a subgroup associated with tech.

Does anyone with knowledge of Big Tech recruiting know what's going on?

( 21 comments | 11 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by bgirard on Thursday May 19, 2022 @01:46AM (#31431182)
Are they finding your profile from something like LinkedIn? It's possible your profile is getting more exposure for one reason or another. It might even be a positive feedback loop where your profile getting more views is causing it to get better ranking leading to yet again more views.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by throwaway203482 on Thursday May 19, 2022 @10:32AM (#31435169)
I’ve had a LinkedIn profile for years which has changed very little.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by HeyLaughingBoy on Thursday May 19, 2022 @01:24PM (#31437530)
Same thing happened to me, but with medical device companies. Right after I accepted a position, I was bombarded with ads from competitor companies for essentially the job I was just hired into.

Either it's coincidence, or it's a feature that LinkedIn offers to its clients. Either way, I'm not looking rn.

Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by version_five on Wednesday May 18, 2022 @09:25PM (#31429642)
I had two of FAANG reach out in very close proximity recently as well (and I had not had them contact me in the past). No insight as to why, it may be just a coincidence, or maybe they have all been doing a hiring push recently and casting a wider net to adjusting their search criteria
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by leros on Thursday May 19, 2022 @10:52AM (#31435440)
You might have done something online that made you look like a more active candidate. Companies are using all sorts of fancy recruiting tools these days to help them more efficiently reach out to candidates.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by the_only_law on Thursday May 19, 2022 @11:06AM (#31435633)
Need someone to document these so I can game it like they did with ATS scanning back whenever that was becoming popular.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by leros on Thursday May 19, 2022 @02:14PM (#31438161)
Updating your LinkedIn is probably enough.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by LinuxBender on Wednesday May 18, 2022 @09:20PM (#31429609)
My first step would be to ask the Google recruiter/manager where they obtained your information. That is likely the same place the others obtained it but that is a guess. Do you have a linked-in account?
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by t-3 on Thursday May 19, 2022 @12:34AM (#31430817)
Just speculating, but in this age of big data, maybe they or a recruiter somehow knew you were a developer, and you recently passed some milestone (years of experience?) that put you onto their radar?
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by MiddleEndian on Thursday May 19, 2022 @01:26AM (#31431088)
I can say that while I was interviewing at Amazon not too long ago, during the interview process, Amazon reached out to me. After much deliberation, I took a position with Amazon.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by t0suj4 on Wednesday May 18, 2022 @10:33PM (#31430032)
The odd coordination makes it look like a scam.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by mindentropy on Thursday May 19, 2022 @02:56AM (#31431525)
Yes. It has happened to me recently. I was approached by Meta and now Amazon.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by WalterGR on Thursday May 19, 2022 @12:42AM (#31430860)
Coincidence.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by throwaway203482 on Thursday May 19, 2022 @10:34AM (#31435197)
Two companies reaching out at the same time, I would agree with you. But three seems outside the realm of possibility, or at least, probability.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by CogitoCogito on Thursday May 19, 2022 @12:14PM (#31436556)
> Two companies reaching out at the same time, I would agree with you. But three seems outside the realm of possibility, or at least, probability.

There's no support for your claims. You know neither the probabilities involved nor the number of individuals contacted by these companies. You have no reason not to believe this isn't a coincidence.

edit: It's funny to receive downvotes for a statement so devoid of opinion and so obviously mathematically/statistically correct.

Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by WalterGR on Thursday May 19, 2022 @01:28PM (#31437577)
It would be easy to calculate for someone who - unlike me - remembers something from their stats / probability class(es).

Assume that all 3 companies reach out yearly. They each reach out during a randomly chosen week. What's the probability that they will all reach out in a 2-week span?

Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by CogitoCogito on Thursday May 19, 2022 @02:00PM (#31438007)
Yes _if_ you know the probability distributions, then it _would_ be easy to calculate. But you _don't_. You can't assume your way away from that.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by psnehanshu on Thursday May 19, 2022 @05:34PM (#31440473)
Wow, lucky you!
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by VoodooJuJu on Thursday May 19, 2022 @06:29AM (#31432756)
It's because you're special. They're in deep and they need The One Who Can Save Us. You are The Chosen One.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by throwaway203482 on Thursday May 19, 2022 @10:33AM (#31435185)
I always knew this was true, but I’m glad to get it confirmed by random people on the internet. Time to start my hero’s journey.
Re:Ask HN: Why are all the big tech companies reaching out a... by smarri on Thursday May 19, 2022 @10:07AM (#31434828)
Follow the white rabbit, neo