3 ms·
On the one hand, I agree with you. I've never had to solve a program like this and I doubt I ever will. On the other hand, I do understand the theory behind a
by rprospero 11y ago
On the one hand, I agree with you. I've never had to solve a program like this and I doubt I ever will. On the other hand, I do understand the theory behind asking it in an interview.
Imagine that you're interviewing a prospective player for a football team. As a test, you ask the player to climb a single flight of stairs in a minute. Now, this is obviously a stupid test. There are no stairs on a football field. David Beckham never won a game by being the first guy to the top of a flight of stairs. No play will ever involve the player climbing stairs.
Yet, despite all that, I wouldn't hire someone who, after sixty seconds, was only sitting half-way up the stairs, panting for breath.
Now, whether the primes problem is similarly a trivial task that any competent program can effortlessly solve is a matter for debate.
- rubberstamp 11y agoActually I was able to solve it later in under 30 minutes. But the pressure at the time of interview was kind of preventing me from thinking clearly. I solved 3 fairly hard questions within an hour, taking only 20 minutes to solve one question on average. So I didn't stop panting halfway up the stairs. I did better than what I was asked for. But in the next step, someone was watching my screen share while I code. I wasn't able to concentrate better as this is new for me. I didn't need to google or cheat to do better. I have read some reviews that this stage was easier than codility tests, so I was a bit unprepared you could say, when I got this question instead. And having to wait 3 months before I could try again is really too long. I definitely cannot wait 3 months to try again. If this interview represents Toptal's working environment, then I don't want to work there. If this isn't typical of their working environment, why should they interview like this in the first place?
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- xsolid 11y agoHei rubberstamp - Kenan from Toptal here, seems like you have been really close! There is of course the pressure element and even some of our best developers needed more then one attempt to pass the screening process. I'd love to help - if you wish I could connect you to some of our community members to give you some tipps on how to approach the whole exercise. Please feel free to reach out to me at kenan@toptal.com at any time and I am happy to help where I can. Hope to see you become part of the community soon :)