Codecademy (YC S11) on Colbert Report

Short answer? Yes. It has nothing to do with Codecademy though, it has to do with the fact that they were ambitious enough and had the drive to learn to code, and pursue it via some means (in this case, Codecademy). That speaks volumes. Of course they'd be put through the same screening as anyone else applying for the role, so it's not like you're hiring someone that does not have the appropriate skillset for the job.

Nice job on the interview Zach. You looked relaxed and like you were having fun. I think the trick with interviewing with Colbert is to sit back and let him be the funny guy.

It reminds me of my experiences talking about Rejection Therapy[1] on TV. With Dragons' Den, I was wound up tight as a clock and I think it had a lot to do with why I had my ass kicked. My appearance on the Jeff Probst Show went much smoother.

Again, it was a remarkably good interview, especially considering the nerdy subject matter.

[1] http://rejectiontherapy.com

I wouldn't hire anyone based on where they learned. I want to see what they've made, and see how they answer some coding questions -- not "why are manhole covers round", but questions about software design, and anything to give a hint about how much experience they have solving coding issues.

I'd ask if they had a blog, or a website they built, or a hobby they're working on. I'd prefer to see a candidate that's passionate about software - that turns on her computer when everyone else is sleeping because she heard about a new framework or language or service on Amazon that she wants to play with.

There are uninspired graduates of good computer science programs, and there are hidden superstars that taught themselves, with no idea how good they are.

Bottom line - experience and passion matter more than where they studied.