When I'm hiring I break off some small slice of my project. Its something like 4-12 hours of work. We negotiate what there wage would be if hourly and I pay that, with a cap. Then I eval their work, code review (if necessary), pay for the work. The process tells me much more than any interview ever would and costs the same (or less). For the final 4|5 candidates it works well for me
Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
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Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#12I'd say it's too much to ask at the application stage. If you want to give a code test after a phone screen, that seems more reasonable. Both parties have more confidence that the position is a good fit, which makes the time required a fair request.
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#13I'd only do that sort of thing if I felt there was a decent chance I might get the job. The application stage isn't far enough along.
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#14It all depends on how you sell it!
If you advertise a salary 50% over market I'll do it.
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#15If they have a good resume, sound good on the phone, and pass the PI test, I usually give them a coding test when I bring them in for a formal interview.
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#16That's more the type of question I'd hang out as a programming puzzle on the web and then encourage people who solve it (guide them to a solved screen) to apply with a link to a gist or similar. I've applied to companies before just because I like solving programming puzzles, and once you're at that point, why not? FWIW, speaking as an SDET lead, I'll do something like that voluntarily, time allowing. But I A) don't…
This is a great perspective, I tend to think an affinity for puzzles is a good indicator of the SDET mentality I'm looking for; I was trying to attract people who'd be interested by that challenge.
However, the universally negative response to having the challenge this early has made me rethink a bit. I think I may make it much more optional and/or apply it later. Maybe look for places to hang it out on the web...
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#17Can you post a similar or simplified challenge here? It seems like a nice exercise
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#18That's more the type of question I'd hang out as a programming puzzle on the web and then encourage people who solve it (guide them to a solved screen) to apply with a link to a gist or similar. I've applied to companies before just because I like solving programming puzzles, and once you're at that point, why not? FWIW, speaking as an SDET lead, I'll do something like that voluntarily, time allowing. But I A) don't…
This is a great perspective, I tend to think an affinity for puzzles is a good indicator of the SDET mentality I'm looking for; I was trying to attract people who'd be interested by that challenge. However, the universally negative response to having the challenge this early has made me rethink a bit. I think I may make it much more optional and/or apply it later. Maybe look for places to hang it out on the web...
People who have an affinity for puzzles or interested in a challenge won't necessarily have any interest in YOUR challenge.
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#19That's more the type of question I'd hang out as a programming puzzle on the web and then encourage people who solve it (guide them to a solved screen) to apply with a link to a gist or similar. I've applied to companies before just because I like solving programming puzzles, and once you're at that point, why not? FWIW, speaking as an SDET lead, I'll do something like that voluntarily, time allowing. But I A) don't…
This is a great perspective, I tend to think an affinity for puzzles is a good indicator of the SDET mentality I'm looking for; I was trying to attract people who'd be interested by that challenge. However, the universally negative response to having the challenge this early has made me rethink a bit. I think I may make it much more optional and/or apply it later. Maybe look for places to hang it out on the web...
If you came up with a testing challenge in particular, I'd be interested to see it!
I wouldn't use this as your only feeder--as someone else mentioned, puzzle affinity isn't going to be a 100% crossover with the people you want to track. I'd see a puzzle as one of a few tactics to all try simultaneously.
That's probably another argument against making something like this mandatory--it essentially becomes your only feeder/filter if everyone goes through it.
Re: Ask HN: Is it reasonable to have job applicants complete a test before applying?
#20Yep there should be some indication of mutual interest before any reasonable candidate would expend energy on that.