What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
highscalability.com
What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
1–10 of 177 posts
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#2This is absolutely spot on.
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#3I have had this interview. I didn't get the job.
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#4This makes no sense.
Just like having a drivers license is no guarantee you are a good driver, having many years of job experience programming is no guarantee you are a programmer.
On the other hand, you are liable for any damage you do to a car you rent, plus the company is fully insured in the case you do any damage and can't pay. Hiring and firing someone (which is the only real way to know if someone is a good developer) is very expensive.
Here's what it would be like if we hired programmers like we rent cars:
You walk in to a software company and are immediately hired under these conditions: "We'll take you on for 6 months, but if it doesn't work out you need to pay us back all of your salary, plus benefits and payroll tax"
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#5This makes no sense. Just like having a drivers license is no guarantee you are a good driver, having many years of job experience programming is no guarantee you are a programmer. On the other hand, you are liable for any damage you do to a car you rent, plus the company is fully insured in the case you do any damage and can't pay. Hiring and firing someone (which is the only real way to know if someone is a good de…
Actually it does, and spot on to boot.
He's not saying "don't find a good programmer." He's saying that the questions they ask get them no closer to finding out whether he is a good programmer.
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#6While this seems "spot on" at first glance, I can tell you that when I interviewed at Google and Amazon (two years ago), it wasn't anywhere near this bad. Both places asked what might seem like contrived technical questions, but the thing is, you have to pick something that can be tested in an hour (or less). That, and it's not the answer that matters, but more your process of working a problem. They didn't seem to care too much about experience with specific tools. I guess it depends on the organization, and I can see how many places would be much worse. My question is, if they care so much about experience with specific tools, why do they even get to an in-person interview with someone who doesn't have it on their resume?
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#7I've had a few interviews like this.
For future interviews, I've collected similar questions to ask of them (questions that I have conveniently worked out or looked up the answer to beforehand), my rationale being, "I want to make sure I would be working with competent peers." And I don't give a fuck if it rubs them the wrong way.
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#8Right so to ace the interview all one needs is some white racing overalls and a white simpson Daimondback helemt accessorized with a vintage HP calculator and a set of steam tables.
Some say that his not only the man-in-the-middle, he's at both ends and has wiretaps on Alice, Bob, Carol and Dave. and that he once crashed a 10 way IBM sysplex by staring at at it all we know is hes the stigs nerdy cousin.
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#9I've had a few interviews like this. For future interviews, I've collected similar questions to ask of them (questions that I have conveniently worked out or looked up the answer to beforehand), my rationale being, "I want to make sure I would be working with competent peers." And I don't give a fuck if it rubs them the wrong way.
If your rationale is to find out if you're going to work with competent peers, why not asK a question that leads into a proper, deeper technical discussion?
Re: What If Cars Were Rented Like We Hire Programmers?
#10Evidently other people must have been through the same types of interviews as I have.