4 ms·

You really didn't know what they wanted? You think they wanted you to find a library that did it?

MrLeftHand 10y ago
Yes, call me stupid. I thought showing resilience by searching for an existing solution and implementing it, instead of reinventing the wheel, will give them a good impression. Clearly I was wrong. But, when you come across a problem, what is the first thing you do? Try to find a solution and use that, or start from scratch every time? This costs money, time and manpower. Having someone who can solve a problem the fastest way possible without compromising the quality by using a known API which is used and tested by millions of others is the most effective way. In my book it is a good solution. Believe me I worked with people who couldn't even do that and they are developers.
- rickr 10y ago
  As long as they didn't state you can't use external libs it IS a good solution. Their response lets their team dynamic and environment shine through. They came across an unexpected but valid solution and instead of accepting their question was beaten within the rules they rejected it. I'd wager they didn't fix the wording of the question afterwords either.
- marcosdumay 10y ago
  Don't call it "stupid". Reading people is a skill like any other, that must be learned like any other. Most people get lots of practice when young, but not getting this practice does not make you "stupid", it makes you lacking on a specific skill.
zeemonkee3 10y ago
He's a developer, not a telepath. In tests like this you make it clear what's allowed - "use the standard library, no external dependencies" etc. Because in a normal working situation, his solution is perfectly valid. If I were interviewing him it certainly wouldn't be a dealbreaker. I'd probably want to discuss more about pros and cons of in-house vs using libraries, because you tend to find out more about the skills and qualities of a developer from human conversation than scribbling on a whiteboard.
- mruniverse 10y ago
  In an interview you are trying to show that you understand the problem. Not just get the right answer.
  - zeemonkee3 10y ago
    How do I know that? What is the interviewer looking for? Maybe in company A they are looking for developers who come up with a solution on their own and don't rely on external libraries or Google. Maybe company B don't like developers reinventing wheels and prefer they at least research prior art first. I don't know what kind of culture your company has, but at the very least out of courtesy you can signal what the requirements are in your test.
  - blub 10y ago
    Alas, there are interviews where the correct solution is using a library and writing your own is wrong, because it shows a NIH attitude. One has to ask, but then the mere act of asking might also annoy some interviewers.

Yes, call me stupid. I thought showing resilience by searching for an existing solution and implementing it, instead of reinventing the wheel, will give them a good impression. Clearly I was wrong. But, when you come across a problem, what is the first thing you do? Try to find a solution and use that, or start from scratch every time? This costs money, time and manpower. Having someone who can solve a problem the fastest way possible without compromising the quality by using a known API which is used and tested by millions of others is the most effective way. In my book it is a good solution. Believe me I worked with people who couldn't even do that and they are developers.

rickr 10y ago
As long as they didn't state you can't use external libs it IS a good solution. Their response lets their team dynamic and environment shine through. They came across an unexpected but valid solution and instead of accepting their question was beaten within the rules they rejected it. I'd wager they didn't fix the wording of the question afterwords either.
marcosdumay 10y ago
Don't call it "stupid". Reading people is a skill like any other, that must be learned like any other. Most people get lots of practice when young, but not getting this practice does not make you "stupid", it makes you lacking on a specific skill.

zeemonkee3 10y ago

He's a developer, not a telepath. In tests like this you make it clear what's allowed - "use the standard library, no external dependencies" etc. Because in a normal working situation, his solution is perfectly valid. If I were interviewing him it certainly wouldn't be a dealbreaker. I'd probably want to discuss more about pros and cons of in-house vs using libraries, because you tend to find out more about the skills and qualities of a developer from human conversation than scribbling on a whiteboard.

mruniverse 10y ago
In an interview you are trying to show that you understand the problem. Not just get the right answer.
- zeemonkee3 10y ago
  How do I know that? What is the interviewer looking for? Maybe in company A they are looking for developers who come up with a solution on their own and don't rely on external libraries or Google. Maybe company B don't like developers reinventing wheels and prefer they at least research prior art first. I don't know what kind of culture your company has, but at the very least out of courtesy you can signal what the requirements are in your test.
- blub 10y ago
  Alas, there are interviews where the correct solution is using a library and writing your own is wrong, because it shows a NIH attitude. One has to ask, but then the mere act of asking might also annoy some interviewers.