Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
businessinsider.fr
Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
1–10 of 348 posts
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#2Was the clickbait title part of your plan?
[ edit ]
I am interpreting the amazingly rapid swarm of downvotes in response to a valid critique of a poorly drafted clickbait title which HAS SINCE BEEN EDITED to be due to a concerted campaign of paid advertisers, not probono janitorial effort of an impartial-ish tech community.
Community management is important people.
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#3https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering.
>(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have to write the code to reverse a linked list (copy-paste anyone?) or fill a 747 with any kind of ball.)
The manhole cover question is actually a valid industrial design or UX question even if it's not appropriate to ask for software interviews. The linked-list question is the equivalent of Fizzbuzz for data structures. And the 747 question is a valid Fermi problem. The exact number doesn't matter but the steps required to estimate the answer are similar to other estimation problems when mapping out a business strategy and trying to determine if it's profitable. Or maybe the company is interested in salvaging sunken planes: https://www.iusmentis.com/patents/priorart/donaldduck/
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#4The quality of interview depends on quality of questions. A qualified question is one which has many solutions, then the interviewee could pick the best solution on his own.
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#5https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering. >(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have…
I've interviewed at MS a couple of times and I've never had a question as easy as "reverse a linked list".
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#6https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering. >(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have…
Isn't the round manhole covers just to make sure they can't fall in?
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#7https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering. >(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have…
Isn't the round manhole covers just to make sure they can't fall in?
It’s actually several things. It’s stronger, cheaper, rolls, lighter, no need for alignment etc. You can make sure any shape does not fall in, but strength to weight ratio is important as you want people to open them with hand tools while supporting dump trucks.
PS: At ~250 lb you can see why a less optimal shape might be a problem.
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#8https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering. >(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have…
Isn't the round manhole covers just to make sure they can't fall in?
[deleted]
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#9https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering. >(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have…
Isn't the round manhole covers just to make sure they can't fall in?
Less raw materials to produce, easier to transport by rolling, easier to place onto the manhole, easier to stack when transporting/storing in bulk, etc
Re: Microsoft changed how it interviews software developers
#10https://blog.usejournal.com/rethinking-how-we-interview-in-m... is the original post by a PM at Microsoft. It doesn't have any useful information about a pure technical interview for software engineering. >(Note: I started at Microsoft when we were still asking questions about why manhole covers were round, how many ping pong balls would fill a 747, and how to reverse a linked list. In 20 years here, I’ve yet to have…
Isn't the round manhole covers just to make sure they can't fall in?
According to the Wikipedia [1]
Reasons for the shape might include:
* A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover might fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the hole. The existence of a "lip" holding up the lid means that the underlying hole is smaller than the cover, so that other shapes might suffice. (A Reuleaux triangle or other curve of constant width would also serve this purpose, but round covers are much easier to manufacture.)
* Round tubes are the strongest and most material-efficient shape against the compression of the earth around them.
* A round manhole cover of a given diameter has a smaller surface area than a square cover of the same width, thus less material is needed to cast the manhole cover, meaning lower cost.
* The bearing surfaces of manhole frames and covers are machined to assure flatness and prevent them from becoming dislodged by traffic. Round castings are much easier to machine using a lathe.
* Circular covers do not need to be rotated to align with the manhole.
* A round manhole cover can be more easily moved by being rolled.
* A round manhole cover can be easily locked in place with a quarter turn (as is done in countries like France), which makes them hard to open without a special tool. Lockable covers do not have to be made as heavy, because traffic passing over them cannot lift them up by suction.