Answer by paparazzo for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
I recently got a take home test. It was full blown application that needed to connect to a socket server that had to simulate a slow feed. Client had up update dynamically, be able to cancel the feed,...
View ArticleAnswer by eee for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
Unfamiliar mouse or unexpected keyboard layout (especially Mac vs PC), or different IDE may slow performance dramatically without any difference in competence. Also, a complete application often...
View ArticleAnswer by gnasher729 for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
As a direct reply to Bobo's answer (which is the accepted answer because the guy wrote it and accepted it himself, which frankly I feel is a bit pathetic): You are coming from a totally wrong premise....
View ArticleAnswer by bobo2000 for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
Thought that I will answer this question, it has been a year since it has been posted, and we have stuck to it.FINDINGSPositives of approach1) Take home test weeds out the demotivated candidates, and...
View ArticleAnswer by JessieArr for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
I think that you have phrased your question a little bit wrong, but the way you've phrased it reflects a common misconception about hiring programmers. Are the candidates being "scared off" by the...
View ArticleAnswer by aroth for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
Do you want to hire programmers who can't program?I'm going to venture that you do not. Hiring programmers who can't actually solve problems and write code is a good way to ruin a tech company. And...
View ArticleAnswer by Peteris for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
What is your business problem?Disregarding all the arguments for or against particular tests, it all comes down to a tradeoff - more filters will scare off some good candidates, less filters will let...
View ArticleAnswer by NotMe for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
Let me start off with: I've been given tests to complete at home that ranged from 15 minutes to 10 hours.I've been given online tests to run through. I've been tasked with writing out the answer to...
View ArticleAnswer by Tim for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
I'd send them to an online quiz where you can filter out people who have no clue. At least you'd have a sense whether they know what they're talking about.Early in my career headhunters told me "you're...
View ArticleAnswer by koan for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
In my opinion, the problem you have here is not necessarily the programming test. First you have the telephone technical interview and then a work from home test before a face to face interview. It...
View ArticleAnswer by deworde for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
One thing no-one appears to have mentioned; even if the test is not your issue, you should be looking for other ways of attracting talent.If you are hunting for good people based on their existing...
View ArticleAnswer by Rolen Koh for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
IMHO there is almost 0% chance that a fresh college graduate would be able to do a tough programming code at an entry level. If your coding test takes one week time to complete then you should clearly...
View ArticleAnswer by Wayne Werner for A programming task is scaring off candidates,...
I used to be a firm believer in coding tests and whiteboard coding, but I've started to realize that they're pretty much useless, becauseWhat are you testing, anyway?A whiteboard test, or short...
View ArticleAnswer by user70848 for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
I don't like take-home tests as part of interviews, for many of the reasons people have already mentioned - extends the hiring process, devalues applicant's time, may not get a call back anyway, etc....
View ArticleAnswer by Kevin for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
Here is another point that I don't see covered in the existing answers (which I think cover the topic well in general). I would take a close and serious look at how long it actually takes people to...
View ArticleAnswer by CPerkins for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
A contrasting view, from someone in the trenches on both sides of this question. I suspect this answer will attract down-votes, but it's a highly informed opinion, developed over several decades in...
View ArticleAnswer by Peter for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
Why no at home tests?Even if we ignore the possibility of cheating, and the reverse-filter which causes good and honest candidates to avoid companies with at-home coding tests, the value of at home...
View ArticleAnswer by James Kingsbery for A programming task is scaring off candidates,...
I really think it can help establish who really knows the languages listed on their resume.If that's really your goal, I would consider a different approach. As other answers indicated, YES, you should...
View ArticleAnswer by sevensevens for A programming task is scaring off candidates,...
In my experience, take-home projects don't weed out bad coders, and likely make good coders find a job where they don't have to jump through a hoop to talk to the hiring manager.Think about it this...
View ArticleAnswer by Shane for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
You need a programming test. But it should be 5-10 minutes. 30 minutes tops. There is no 2 hour test that will tell you exactly how good a programmer is. You won't be able to tell if they continually...
View ArticleAnswer by disappointed in SO leadership for A programming task is scaring off...
As others have noted, some developers may be put off by a 1-2 hour programming exercise to apply for a job. What may work better is having a white-boarding session, where the candidate solves a problem...
View ArticleAnswer by Dan for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should we...
Coming from the standpoint of a person seeking a job, I generally avoid places that take over 1 hour to code. One time I went to this place that required a nearly 3 days worth java coding project. I...
View ArticleAnswer by user8365 for A programming task is scaring off candidates, should...
DO NOT GET RID OF THE CODING TEST!!!!If you want to be a programmer you have to write code that does something. Answering trivia questions is not that important. Chatting about past experiences is...
View ArticleAnswer by Lawrence Aiello for A programming task is scaring off candidates,...
Let me begin by saying hiring employees in general is a pathetically inexact science, and you will get various results no matter what you try. Having said that, I felt I should share my thoughts on...
View ArticleA programming task is scaring off candidates, should we ditch it?
It is the first time that I am doing HR, and we are looking for a developer. The selection process is three rounds: technical phone interview, programming task (0.5 - 1 hr challenge), and then finally...
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