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> asking the candidate if they'd be comfortable doing an actual task on the actual codebase, having them sign an NDA, and then giving them a bugfix to perform.
by vitus 9y ago
> asking the candidate if they'd be comfortable doing an actual task on the actual codebase, having them sign an NDA, and then giving them a bugfix to perform. They're compensated for their time, of course.
At Google, we call these internships.
Well, more or less -- there are restrictions regarding enrollment in a degree program, the work is for a fixed duration rather than for a fixed scope, etc. But the goal from the company's perspective is largely the same.
I'd be surprised if internships at other companies in the sector don't serve the same purpose.
(obligatory disclaimer about how these are my opinion's, not the company's, etc etc)
- walshemj 9y agodoesn't work for those not still at university and there are strict rules in the USA about the role of an "internship" its meant to educate the intern not be a source of cheap labour
- vitus 9y agoI never said anything about internships being a source of cheap labor. Please don't put words in my mouth. While yes, an intern typically makes less than a full-time engineer, you have to realize that the intern reduces the productivity of the host engineer, who has to spend time training the intern, looking over the intern's work, and so forth. The real value in the internship program is that it essentially creates a extended interview process after which we can evaluate the individual (given firsthand experience of how they operate in a work environment), and the individual can evaluate the company.