
## Ep 1: React Sucks

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It's almost 2022, but:
  — we still don't have adequate approaches that the community agrees regarding state management;

  — there are a lot of options for conditional rendering, but each of them is a compromise;

  — JSX is a nightmare;

  — it's just slow. Maybe examples from their documentation page are working fast, but whenever someone starts to work on something a little bit more complex, react starts to create problems for you;

  — seems like all form libraries in the ecosystem have been created to make the DX as awful as possible.

P.S. Spoiler: other frameworks aren’t better.

P.P.S. In the meantime, I'm looking for middle and senior React and Node.js Developers.

P.P.P.S. It's the first post of the series of "😈 Unpopular opinions" where I'm making statements most people don't agree with and trying not to read/write comments.


😈 Unpopular opinion. Ep 1

> And then she asked "So, how to join Toptal?"

The question I have heard a lot of times during past weeks. It was a little bit
confusing to forward the same message, so I decided to prepare an article.

Below you can find my ultimate description of Toptal interview and work process 👇

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## Table of contents

- Part 1. [Interview process](#interview-process)
  
- Part 2. [Preparation](#preparation)
  
- Part 3. [FAQ](#faq)
  

<hr />

## Interview process

### Application / CV

The inital stage for toptal application includes registration on the platform
using LinkedIn or Email.

Recommendations:

- Don't forget to attach your CV
- Prepare professional photo for the application.
  <a
    target="_blank"
    rel="noopener noreferrer"
    href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12NFL9vVDXss3c9TU52T-ZRGPnPnM0QkI/view?usp=sharing"
  >
    Sample
  </a>

Toptal usually checks applications quickly.

<a
  href="https://topt.al/4bcPwK"
  target="_blank"
  rel="noopener noreferrer"
>
  <button
    type="link"
    style={{ backgroundColor: "#1f4fce" }}
    className="w-full flex items-center justify-center px-8 py-2 border border-transparent text-base font-medium rounded-md text-white hover:bg-indigo-700 md:py-2 md:text-lg md:px-10"
  >
    Join Toptal
  </button>
</a>

For referrals:

- In case of any question, feel free to reach me out using one of the social links in website [footer](#footer).
- Using my referral link will help you to earn additional bonuses when you join the network (up to $2500).

### 1st stage: English Screening / ☕️ 15 min

When your application is accepted, the very first stage of your journey starts!
You need to schedule a quick call with English Screener.

Usually the whole process is going to take around 10-15 minutes and
the goal of this stage is to check English speaking and listening skills.

Recommendations:

- Don't panic and be confident.
  Your english most probably is more than enough for this stage.
- Prepare the environment. Toptal is using BlueJeans for all sorts of calls
- Prepare to answer for questions like these:

  > Tell me about yourself?

  > What's your strenghts?

  > Tell me about your past experience?

  > What you love about being an engineer?

### 2nd stage: Online testing / ☕️☕️☕️ 90 min

So, right after the process of screening your English
you are going to get an email about the next stage which is an online coding test.

The test is 90 minutes long(from the moment you clicked the link)
using the [Codility](https://www.codility.com/) platform.
During this stage, you are free to use google.

Recommendations:

- Play with Codility before taking test.
  I started without getting acknowledged with platform and it costed me valuable time.
- Prepare to get algorithmic questions (see [Preparation](#algorithms-and-data-structures) section).
- Prepare for react in case of frontend track (see [Preparation](#frontend-track) section).

### 3rd stage: Live coding / ☕️☕️ 30-60 minute

After the online test, you will get a chance to schedule the next step which is Live Coding
with TopTal technical screener.

During this stage, the hardest part is time restriction:
you must solve 1-2 tasks under short time frame.

You will start screen sharing, get the task description and after
confirmation that requirements are clear, the countdown starts.

Recommendations:

- Try using timer during preparation in order to get ready for this step
- In case of algorithmic tasks get acknowledged with platform (Codility)
- In case of frontend track prepare environment (disable Copilot, prepare code editor, language syntax highlights)
- Understand your salary expectations: this is the first step when interviewer asks about your desired rate

### 4th stage: Technical Task / ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ up to 1 week

The last and the longest step is the technical task. Technical screener will send
requirements by email and you will start working on the project using GitLab.

Recommendations:

- Get acknowledged with GitLab (Merge Requests, Squash commits)
- Test everything before submission
  - Validations
  - Access Rights
  - Paginations, etc.
- Avoid using technologies you are not famillar with
- Prepare 10-20 hours for the task
  Use vacation or have weekends ahead before starting

## Preparation

### Algorithms and Data Structures

1. [Grokking Algorithms](https://www.amazon.com/Grokking-Algorithms-illustrated-programmers-curious/dp/1617292230) —
   The best book to start your journey of learning algorithms.
2. Solve tasks using one of the websites

- [Codility Lessons](https://app.codility.com/programmers/lessons/1-iterations/)
- [Leetcode](https://leetcode.com/)

3. If you are looking for something like a course with tons of materials prepared earlier, then use [AlgoExpert](https://www.algoexpert.io/)

### Frontend Track

1. [React Docs](https://reactjs.org/) —
   Don't forget to pay attention to both Class components (lifecycle) and Hooks.

2. [Articles](https://www.robinwieruch.de/) —
   Use Robin's articles regarding different topics

## FAQ

1. How the payments work?

> Toptal sends the money to your Toptal wallet (during 20 days), then you can use 2 options to get the money:
>
> 1. Visa Digital or Physical card — has additional fees (see in payment portal)
> 2. Wire Transfer (1-2 working days) — costs $10 per transfer

2. What about english proficiency?

> You should not be native english speaker to cope with the interviews
> and daily conversations with clients. Good listening and speaking skills
> (around B2) is enough.

3. How long it takes to prepare?

> I'd set aside 5-10 hours for frontend track and 1,5-2 weeks for algorithms

4. Will you help me?

> Use my [referral link](https://topt.al/4bcPwK) and feel free to reach me out in case of questions.

The most ultimative guide on how to apply and pass toptal interview process.

🙋‍♂️ How to Toptal?


Recently Deloitte made the Global Survey<sup>[1](#additional-reading)</sup> which explores the views of more than 27,500 Millennials and Gen Zs about their stress level, attitude towards remote work, individual responsibility, pandemic, and other topics.

In the article, I'd like to share some most important insights into the survey and my opinion about them because understanding the views of our generation regarding different topics might help to understand the direction we are going to go.

## Table of contents

- Part 1. [Remote 2.0 (The changing nature of work)](#remote-20-the-changing-nature-of-work)
- Part 2. [Decentralization](#decentralization)
- Part 3. [Stress and Personal Anxieties](#stress-and-personal-anxieties)
- Part 4. [Individual Responsibility](#individual-responsibility)
- [Additional Reading](#additional-reading)

## Remote 2.0 (The changing nature of work)

The survey among 27,500 respondents shows that 2/3 of millennials and Gen Zs would like to have an option to work remotely. I must admit that I personally also notice the tendency across a lot of IT specialists on social networks, conferences and discussions started to speak about challenges and opportunities that remote work brought to us. As you can see from the charts below respondents say that remote work relieves their stress and enables a better work/life balance.

![Survey on remote working](/images/blog/remote-chart.png)

Although remote work has some challenges (going to write about it in near future, so [subscribe](https://t.me/oganisyancom) to blog to stay tuned ^\_^), I think the post-pandemic world is going to be remote-friendly and need to start to bring some best-practices how to resolve issues like asynchronous chatting, online meetings, human communication, etc.

At the same time, companies like Twitter announced that they are going to have remote-first (keeping office spaces too) approach even after pandemic so in near future we might have examples of remote-friendly environments even among companies with more than 4 thousand employees.

This is the challenge for a lot of businesses because now they should change their management practices. And if in "previous" world it was easier to have things done just because humans are able to self-organize, in remote-first environment companies will face issues connected to their processes and management.

## Decentralization

Past decades have created centralized environments near big cities like New York, Moscow, Shanghai, and regions like Silicon Valley. It makes impossible for us to live outside of the big cities and work with the best companies, universities and on the projects. Hence people started to leave small countries and towns and the difference between the strongest of the world and others. Employers also face issues connected to abnormal salaries and competition among specialists in those big cities and regions. Companies are also unable to reach the best professionals because of the territorial location (and vice verse).

For now, the survey shows that more than half of respondents would prefer to live outside of a major city in case of opportunity to work remotely. And if businesses start to give such an opportunities I guess in the near future we are going to see the decentralization of the world and tons of specialists, companies, and universities all over the world will be able to cooperate.

## Stress and Personal Anxieties

Another important topic is stress and anxieties. Survey shows that almost 50% of all millennials and Gen Zs facing daily stress and the main reasons for anxieties are family welfare, financial future and job/career prospects, social networks (FOMO), and many others. In my opinion, one of the main tasks of Gen Z is to improve the ways we handle our stress in the world where one needs to consume more information that he can ever handle.

![Stress and Personal Anxieties](/images/blog/stress.png)

For now, I'd recommend to read more about [concentration and flow mode](top-apps-for-concentration/) and try to apply them into daily life.

## Individual Responsibility

Events across the whole world: debates regarding constitutional changes in Russia, #blacklivesmatter movement in the USA, and many others showing us that people in the post-pandemic world are started to realize the importance of individual responsibility. People started to sympathize with the needs of others and most importantly the needs of themselves.

The chart below shows that a lot of people were inspired to make positive changes in their life after the pandemic.

![Personal Responsibility](/images/blog/responsibility.png)

Sadly, we still need tragic events like COVID-19 to start thinking on topics like individual responsibility, sympathy and wishes to change the environment that we live in. Anyway, I hope that at least these events will make us be more responsible for our lives.

### Additional Reading

Below you can find a link to the actual survey. I'd recommend to give some time and explore it.

Source:
[Deloitte Millennial and Gen Z survey](https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/millennialsurvey.html)


In the article, I'd like to share some most important insights of the Deloitte's survey which explores the views of more than 27,500 millennials and Gen Zs and my opinion about them.

The changing nature of future

You don’t agree? Let me explain why you are mistaken 🔝

😈 Second Monitor is overrated. Ep 5

Ep 5: Second Monitor is overrated.

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😈 Unpopular opinion. Ep 1

🙋‍♂️ How to Toptal?

The changing nature of future