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If the homework assignment is at least somewhat related to the job (not CS esoterica, etc) then I can't really imagine a better way to measure the candidate's r
by caconym_ 10y ago
If the homework assignment is at least somewhat related to the job (not CS esoterica, etc) then I can't really imagine a better way to measure the candidate's relevant programming skill, which is certainly not the only thing you're hiring for (if you're smart) but it's important and I don't really see how it reduces the "diversity" of the hiring pool in any undesirable way. Could you elaborate on your reasoning?
- wahnfrieden 10y agoPeople have children or other life situations that make it harder and less desirable on average to give up weekends and evenings for a homework assignment. It optimizes for people more willing and able to use their off-hours for work, which is not an even distribution across the population or even necessarily a desirable trait in candidates for that matter.
- caconym_ 10y agoAssuming the homework assignment is happening in the hiring phase after the initial screenings, I don't buy this. Getting to that point means it's time to show them why they should hire you, and it's going to take up your time whether you do it in person or "asynchronously". If they give you the opportunity to spend those couple of hours at home rather than at a whiteboard in their office, but you don't care enough to make the time, I don't know why they should care enough to hire you. If the "homework assignments" are just a scheme to get work done for free, or a competent engineer's time is not set aside to review them, then that's a different story. But as a fair test of programming ability, administered in good faith, I don't see the problem, and such a test is important.