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Way back when I interviewed a two or three hundred people for software/web dev positions, in hiring meetings I was always saying, "We're not hiring them to do i

Way back when I interviewed a two or three hundred people for software/web dev positions, in hiring meetings I was always saying, "We're not hiring them to do interviews, we're hiring them to write software." It really, really, really doesn't matter if people are nervous or weird or whatever during a job interview. OK sure "culture fit" is great if you want to work with a bunch of bros that can chill together but good lord what a world if only chill bros are allowed to have jobs.

jamesrcole 10y ago
While I agree with the general sentiment of your comment, it comes across as saying that only coding ability matters. (You might not have intended it to come across that way, but it can easily be interpreted as such.) Going on that interpretation... surely part of hiring them to write software generally (but perhaps not necessarily always) includes things like ability to effectively work, and communicate, with others.
- fao_ 10y ago
  That's part of good coding ability: Being able to understand the requirements and implement them
  - chrismealy 10y ago
    Again, being good at interviews doesn't correlate with being good at programming. It doesn't even correlate well with people skills. There are plenty of people with great social skills in general that are bad at interviews. Interviews are mostly terrible and weird.
- taurath 10y ago
  Add a question: "How do you make sure you're working on the correct thing?"
munchbunny 10y ago
"Culture fit" is definitely a euphemism these days, but the opposite isn't "can you write code?" The missing piece is communication and conflict resolution skills. It's crucial for team effectiveness, but it's hard to measure in the interview process. You can be high strung, you can be a chill bro, you can be generally apathetic, but you have to be able to communicate and resolve conflicts effectively. Thankfully, it can be taught.
- valuearb 10y ago
  Don't know why this was downvoted. First it's true. Secondly, my daughter was diagnosed as autistic at age three. We spent much of our savings for ABA therapy and were able to get her mainstreamed at age 8, but even two years later I have trouble communicating with her at times. Might be because she's a ten year old, but her quirks don't help. When she reaches the job market she needs to be able to work in teams. Fortunately she did make honor role and her classmates apparently love her, so whatever we are doing is working. But I expect we will need to do more, and as munch bunny said, these things can be taught. My daughter is proof of that.
CM30 10y ago
I see where you're coming from, but I think some degree of cultural fit matters. Not in the 'best friends with same hobbies outside work' sense, but in getting along and helping each other. The first company I worked for didn't have that. It was certainly 'diverse' in some sense, but it ended up with different factions that never spoke to each other or worked together. Despite doing the same work on the same projects.

jamesrcole 10y ago

While I agree with the general sentiment of your comment, it comes across as saying that only coding ability matters. (You might not have intended it to come across that way, but it can easily be interpreted as such.) Going on that interpretation... surely part of hiring them to write software generally (but perhaps not necessarily always) includes things like ability to effectively work, and communicate, with others.

fao_ 10y ago
That's part of good coding ability: Being able to understand the requirements and implement them
- chrismealy 10y ago
  Again, being good at interviews doesn't correlate with being good at programming. It doesn't even correlate well with people skills. There are plenty of people with great social skills in general that are bad at interviews. Interviews are mostly terrible and weird.
taurath 10y ago
Add a question: "How do you make sure you're working on the correct thing?"

munchbunny 10y ago

"Culture fit" is definitely a euphemism these days, but the opposite isn't "can you write code?" The missing piece is communication and conflict resolution skills. It's crucial for team effectiveness, but it's hard to measure in the interview process. You can be high strung, you can be a chill bro, you can be generally apathetic, but you have to be able to communicate and resolve conflicts effectively. Thankfully, it can be taught.

valuearb 10y ago
Don't know why this was downvoted. First it's true. Secondly, my daughter was diagnosed as autistic at age three. We spent much of our savings for ABA therapy and were able to get her mainstreamed at age 8, but even two years later I have trouble communicating with her at times. Might be because she's a ten year old, but her quirks don't help. When she reaches the job market she needs to be able to work in teams. Fortunately she did make honor role and her classmates apparently love her, so whatever we are doing is working. But I expect we will need to do more, and as munch bunny said, these things can be taught. My daughter is proof of that.

CM30 10y ago

I see where you're coming from, but I think some degree of cultural fit matters. Not in the 'best friends with same hobbies outside work' sense, but in getting along and helping each other. The first company I worked for didn't have that. It was certainly 'diverse' in some sense, but it ended up with different factions that never spoke to each other or worked together. Despite doing the same work on the same projects.