[lbatx]

I don't have the stats in front of me, but my recollection is something like (using the same base number for Phone Screen but our rates):

Applications: 5000 candidates; ~20% pass rate (vs unknown)

Phone Screen: 1000 candidates; ~50% pass rate (vs 40%)

Technical Test: 500 candidates; ~40% pass rate (vs 25%)

On-site interview & reference checks: 200 candidates; ~50% pass rate (vs 40%)

Offer: 100 candidates; ~80% hire rate (vs 60%)

Hired: 80

So by some arguments you could say Firebase was 2.5x as selective (40 offers vs 100). With a funnel like this, even small changes to the percentages end up having a larger overall effect.

Unfortunately, we don't have the Applications number from the blog post, though he says "we considered a great deal more applicants than that [1000] on paper." I suppose a "great deal" could be anywhere from double to 10x...

[pmiller2]

What it looks like to me is Firebase put more emphasis on the technical test. If you keep your exact numbers, except change the test pass rate to 25%, then you come out with 62-63 offers, which, by the argument you reference, would mean Firebase was 56% more selective.

That makes sense to me, because a smaller company needs to filter out as many people who couldn't possibly get hired at earlier stages, since the later stages are even more time intensive than code reviewing the technical test.