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Whiteboards, in practice, are never used for writing strict code. They're used for high-level diagramming and high-level pseudocode. The only time I've used wh

Whiteboards, in practice, are never used for writing strict code. They're used for high-level diagramming and high-level pseudocode. The only time I've used whiteboards in my job is either when I need to hash out a solution or approach with my coworkers, because I'm confused or don't understand the problem, or when I need to understand high-level architecture for a system. It's a tool for clearing one's thoughts and for getting a team "on the same page". If you're hiring someone to code-monkey a bunch of JIRA bugs, then whiteboarding might not be a relevant test for them. If you are hiring someone to build out new features efficiently or redesign architecture, then whiteboarding may be useful for having them describe at a high-level how they would solve problems. In both cases, writing syntactically flawless solutions on a whiteboard is a waste of time for both the interviewer and interviewee.

0x00000000 8y ago
At a big 4 company recently, they specifically told me "avoid writing pseudocode"
mountainofdeath 8y ago
Most selective companies require you to have near correct code in the most efficient algorithm, clean, correct, concise, with all edge cases in about 30-45 minutes depending on the question. They also seem to love dynamic programming algorithms and competitive programming tricks (the less common stuff you glossed over in an advanced algorithms class). I say this as someone who worked at one and interviewed at others. You really do need to treat it like an exam.
- anonytrary 8y ago
  Interviews of the sort you describe are like judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Indeed, whiteboards in interviews are used nothing like they are in real work. I'd hope more companies try and make interviewing closer to an actual work environment where the candidate can comfortably use their computer for solving the interview problem, using a whiteboard solely for communicating concepts and other surface level issues.

0x00000000 8y ago

At a big 4 company recently, they specifically told me "avoid writing pseudocode"

mountainofdeath 8y ago

Most selective companies require you to have near correct code in the most efficient algorithm, clean, correct, concise, with all edge cases in about 30-45 minutes depending on the question. They also seem to love dynamic programming algorithms and competitive programming tricks (the less common stuff you glossed over in an advanced algorithms class). I say this as someone who worked at one and interviewed at others. You really do need to treat it like an exam.

anonytrary 8y ago
Interviews of the sort you describe are like judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Indeed, whiteboards in interviews are used nothing like they are in real work. I'd hope more companies try and make interviewing closer to an actual work environment where the candidate can comfortably use their computer for solving the interview problem, using a whiteboard solely for communicating concepts and other surface level issues.