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We had a candidate who graduated from an Ivy League school who refused to take our code test with: "I went to ____, I shouldn't have to do this." We would have

by throwaway2016a 11y ago

We had a candidate who graduated from an Ivy League school who refused to take our code test with: "I went to ____, I shouldn't have to do this." We would have probably considered him if he asked "Can't you just look at my Github" like this person but as it stood we rejected him outright because someone with that attitude is not likely a cultural fit for us. However, from the article point for point... "I know how to code, and can show it" -- we don't have the time to read your entire blog and all your GitHub commits. We have hundreds of applicants. "I have a day job, and several side projects: I won't spend a sizable chunk of my free time so they can tick some boxes about my coding skills." -- our software engineers have a job too, they can't spend several extra hours per candidate (when there may be hundreds) to look over your stuff. Second, the time it will take you to do this is WAY less than driving to the office for any of the other suggestions. "work with them on the real job, and see how it feels" -- again, does not scale at all. Maybe he has never been on the other side of the table. But we reject 48/50 people. Many of whom couldn't even do Fizz Buzz. The tech test is a way to make the process scale and make it so we don't waste time. If each of those 48 people cost even one hour of engineering time we just lost thousands of dollars. Edit: on second thought, he did say the company reached out to him. We do tend to do things differently if we reach out specifically to a person. But we do that very rarely.

_vn5r 11y ago
"we don't have the time to read your entire blog and all your GitHub commits. We have hundreds of applicants." Applicants are expected to take their time to submit an application that stands from the rest, and bla bla bla, but employer can't be expected to visit a github profile, nice.
- throwaway2016a 11y ago
  That's not what I said. Employers can be expected to look at Github and websites and all that, for people who pass reasonable screenings. Not any person who emails us a resume. A well designed code challenge takes less than an hour, which is what most candidates would take just to get to the office (one way!). I haven't looked for a job in a while but last time I did, I spent an average of EIGHT hours per company. I would have loved to have a two hour test I can take and be immediately skip four hours in the office asking me about algorithms. To think otherwise is some self entitled bull shit. Having a job is something YOU work for. The company gives you great benefits, high pay, training, advancement opportunities, and meaningful work. If you can't be bothered to do a 1 or 2 hour tech challenge then you don't deserve a good job. Our side of the equation as employers, is we have the money to pay you, we work hard to build a great place for you to work, and we offer opportunities for great people to thrive. That's our investment. We spent tens of thousands or more on that before you even submitted your resume. I don't want to make assumptions and I could very well be wrong but you sound like someone who has never read resumes. Most candidates can't even be bothered to write a cover letter. They blanket dozens of job listing with their resume. So that person who blanketed dozens of listings with their resume has a right to take up engineering time to review their Github? One of our screening questions is "have you installed our app on your phone?" and over half of people say "no" and another quarter lied. So we're expected to spend hours reviewing your code but you can't even install our app on your phone and research the company you applied to? Guess, what, for those people who didn't even bother to look at our app. Congratulations, you don't have to do the code challenge! You saved yourself two hours... and lost the job... but that's not what's important. You don't have to write code! And you know what... I have fifteen years coding experience, 7 years management with hands on coding, a computer science degree from a great school, a couple high-profile names on my resume, and a screaming newborn baby and I wouldn't hesitate two seconds to spend two hours to do the silly code test for a job I want.

_vn5r 11y ago

"we don't have the time to read your entire blog and all your GitHub commits. We have hundreds of applicants." Applicants are expected to take their time to submit an application that stands from the rest, and bla bla bla, but employer can't be expected to visit a github profile, nice.

throwaway2016a 11y ago
That's not what I said. Employers can be expected to look at Github and websites and all that, for people who pass reasonable screenings. Not any person who emails us a resume. A well designed code challenge takes less than an hour, which is what most candidates would take just to get to the office (one way!). I haven't looked for a job in a while but last time I did, I spent an average of EIGHT hours per company. I would have loved to have a two hour test I can take and be immediately skip four hours in the office asking me about algorithms. To think otherwise is some self entitled bull shit. Having a job is something YOU work for. The company gives you great benefits, high pay, training, advancement opportunities, and meaningful work. If you can't be bothered to do a 1 or 2 hour tech challenge then you don't deserve a good job. Our side of the equation as employers, is we have the money to pay you, we work hard to build a great place for you to work, and we offer opportunities for great people to thrive. That's our investment. We spent tens of thousands or more on that before you even submitted your resume. I don't want to make assumptions and I could very well be wrong but you sound like someone who has never read resumes. Most candidates can't even be bothered to write a cover letter. They blanket dozens of job listing with their resume. So that person who blanketed dozens of listings with their resume has a right to take up engineering time to review their Github? One of our screening questions is "have you installed our app on your phone?" and over half of people say "no" and another quarter lied. So we're expected to spend hours reviewing your code but you can't even install our app on your phone and research the company you applied to? Guess, what, for those people who didn't even bother to look at our app. Congratulations, you don't have to do the code challenge! You saved yourself two hours... and lost the job... but that's not what's important. You don't have to write code! And you know what... I have fifteen years coding experience, 7 years management with hands on coding, a computer science degree from a great school, a couple high-profile names on my resume, and a screaming newborn baby and I wouldn't hesitate two seconds to spend two hours to do the silly code test for a job I want.