Re:How to interview engineers as a startup
by mseebach on Monday September 23, 2013 @10:20AM
(#6431102)
Well, what isn't a gamble of the candidates time? I'm assuming that the two hour test is done from home, and depending on travel time, that's a lot smaller investment of time than travelling in for an on-site interview, plus it's likely to give significantly better signal than a two-hour on-site session early in the process.
Yet another way to look at it is as leveling the paying field. A two hour on-site costs the company at least two hours engineering time, so you have to sort more aggressively in incoming applications - this puts those with "high value brands" (top universities and well known employers/internships) at an advantage over a maybe equally qualified candidate with an off-the-beaten-path CV. A complete-from-home test is much, much quicker and comfortable to "grade" and can thus be given out much more broadly.
Yet another way to look at it is as leveling the paying field. A two hour on-site costs the company at least two hours engineering time, so you have to sort more aggressively in incoming applications - this puts those with "high value brands" (top universities and well known employers/internships) at an advantage over a maybe equally qualified candidate with an off-the-beaten-path CV. A complete-from-home test is much, much quicker and comfortable to "grade" and can thus be given out much more broadly.