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Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

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Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#31

Post by daenney »

gt5050 wrote: post #16
drdaeman wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Real-time interviews are the worst of two worlds (emergency fast coding and live demonstration at the same time) and barely show anything about how one normally does things. E.g. in emergency coding I automatically assume I'll inevitably make mistakes due to haste, so I run a lot of sanity "is 1+1 still 2, do I remember that right?" checks. It helped me a few times when the servers were on fire and I needed to…

Real time coding interviews are really necessary to avoid hiring people who dont have basic proficiency in coding ( https://blog.codinghorror.com/why-cant-programmers-program/ ) The problem given in a coding interview should be a simple one and the candidate should be allowed to choose the solution language.

A simple homework assignment will do much of the same and allow them to do it at their own pace and having full access to any tool, instead of during some arbitrary time limit with someone else breathing down their neck. Or having to feel guilty about reaching for Stack Overflow and wondering how that would affect their interviewer's opinion of them. Sure they could Google the question but then give them something that requires a litte bit of creativity on their side and ask them to talk through their submission.

In an interview I'm much more interested in hearing how people would structure and architect applications, how they think about and would deal with tech debt, how they'd iterate and improve, how they think about reliability, instrumentation, testing and what not than having them solve a simple question in 30m. I'm not hiring people for a position that boils down to "solve a simple problem in 30m" either.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#32

Post by newusertoday »

OT : has anyone noticed that microsoft is adding features which were covered by niche saas companies?[1] There is a similar tool that has recently been introduced by microsoft for feedback form,automated mails and chat(drift/intercom) that integrates with outlook.

[1]https://coderpad.io/ I liked the entreprenure who developed coderpad, he gave a talk on youtube as well.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#33

Post by jasonjei »

This seems like a good option for hiring remote engineers. The reason I like to call people to come in person for fizz buzz tests is to verify that they're not collaborating with someone. With the simultaneous video chat and text editor, you can examine one's thought process while preserving some integrity of the interview process.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#34

Post by rdiddly »

naturalgradient wrote: post #5

While this looks like a well developed feature, I despise the concept of coding in a phone interview too much to not worry about this enabling more of it just because it's more convenient. Especially for research-heavy positions, the amount of nonsense exercises really makes or breaks a company impression for me. case 1) Have a serious technical conversations with questions testing my understanding, asking about my p…

Yep, obviously there are good ways and bad ways to use any tool. And the shiny shiny lures a lot of people into using new tools poorly when they already know how to use old tools well.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#35

Post by coob »

necrodome wrote: post #25
audessuscest wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same. Hired 12 developers so far with this method and I made only one mistake, others are all great developers.

What does "the mistake" look like?

You can't always easily tell when someone is going to be a pain to work with on an interpersonal level.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#36

Post by acangiano »

ffumarola wrote: post #28
acangiano wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At IBM, I review hundreds of resumes and interview dozens of candidates each year (mostly students or new graduates). I used to ask tough algorithmic questions, require a small coding assignment, etc. I no longer do that. Today, I have technical conversations like you describe. I don't need you to remember that 415 is Unsupported Media Type. But I need you to be able to discuss how REST works, the difference between…

"Generally speaking, I can tell within 5 minutes who is a great candidate." How do you validate that this is true?

Based on the performance of the people I have hired over the years. Of course, there is always the possibility that a candidate might have been great and this was not discovered by my approach, but I think this is an inherent risk.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#37

Post by acangiano »

dzonga wrote: post #30
acangiano wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At IBM, I review hundreds of resumes and interview dozens of candidates each year (mostly students or new graduates). I used to ask tough algorithmic questions, require a small coding assignment, etc. I no longer do that. Today, I have technical conversations like you describe. I don't need you to remember that 415 is Unsupported Media Type. But I need you to be able to discuss how REST works, the difference between…

can I send you my resume ?

Are you based in Canada? At any rate, feel free to get in touch. Worst case scenario I can provide some tips.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#38

Post by paulddraper »

jsjohnst wrote: post #19
dmoy wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, I don't enjoy coding interviews, but the number of people I've interviewed with ostensibly many years of programming experience who can't actually write some basic code with a for loop and a couple of variables makes me extremely hesitant to hire without a coding interview. If you haven't run across people like this yet, you simply haven't done enough interviews yet, or have somehow entered into an alternate fai…

> or have somehow entered into an alternate fairytale land where everyone is honest This won't likely be a popular answer, but more likely than what you described above is simply that you don't know how to weed out the bullshit a candidate might spew without shoving a code editor or dry erase marker in their hand. It's perfectly understandable that many don't have this skill as it's rarely ever taught before you star…

> you don't know how to weed out the bullshit a candidate might spew without shoving a code editor or dry erase marker in their hand

I'm sure we could figure out a non-code non-marker way. I'm also sure I could figure out a commute involving only right turns.

But why would I arbitraily constrain my solution like that?

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#39

Post by hobarrera »

These ideas are great on paper, but in real life, don't really work.

Most developers (especially senior ones) have their preferred IDE/editors/tools/etc. Forcing them to use a custom one for an interview, where they have to constantly fight memory muscle and work with a new tool is likely to give unrealistic results.

Quick example (by no means the only one!): On vim insert mode, ctrl+w deletes a word. On a browser, it closes the tab. It's really hard for me avoid memory muscle jumping in and closing a tab. TBH, I simply cannot code python on a browser textfield, since I end up closing the tab sooner or later.

Screen sharing works great, and has really no drawbacks.

Re: Interviews on Skype: Test candidates using a real-time code editor over Skype.

#40

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

mustacheemperor wrote: post #27
shock wrote: post #24

> Calling capabilities are only supported on Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. Feels like I'm back in time a decade. I don't understand why other browsers are not supported: are they using non-standard features? I can't imagine what those would be. WebRTC is supported by every browser nowadays.

Probably ORTC (O is for "object), a similar but different tech Microsoft is pushing.

Then why Chrome?
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