Re:Code Tests are pointless – doubly so for DevRel
by VincentEvans on Monday February 21, 2022 @11:52AM
(#30417885)
I’ve conducted probably approaching a 100 interviews in my career. I don’t know if it’s a low or a high number, being that I am not a recruiter.
My interview approach is simple - I talk to people about the things they’ve done and ask questions based on that. I discuss higher level concepts and don’t worry about syntax. I take about one hour, sometimes a little longer. I have never hired or recommended a hire of a dud.
80% of the people in this industry write CRUD apps, web apps at that, or simple API backends for said apps. Some of course create new languages and kernels, and I don’t know what an interview process needs to be for that skillset, but for 80% what I do is perfectly adequate.
I have encountered them in teams that I’ve inherited, and although I don’t find that it’s the majority of applicants at interview it’s a significant proportion and you get no indication of it from other parts of the interview. I’m talking about people who struggle to work out that they need a loop.
Being able to talk about playing the piano is not the same as being able to play the piano.