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I have a cynical take on this. They want to see if you can afford the time it takes to front load data structures and algorithms in short term memory. This is a
by geebee 7y ago
I have a cynical take on this. They want to see if you can afford the time it takes to front load data structures and algorithms in short term memory. This is an excellent indicator of whether you have other demands (such as parenting) or even just outside interests that would interfere with your devotion to the job.
- rco8786 7y agoYea, that’s pretty cynical. It maybe had an inkling of truth when the companies in question were wee startups. But working at FANG companies these days affords a pretty nice work-life balance.
- stevula 7y agoIt’s also a great indicator for whether you already have a job or not. If you do have a job, you probably don’t have as much time to cram for interviews. Not a great thing to select for, in my opinion.
- underwater 7y agoI have a similarly cynical take. It ensures successful candidates have studied a formal CS degree, and haven't "just" come in from a bootcamp or are self taught. It's not deliberate, but does ensure that exclusive FAANG jobs remain the domain of the privileged.
- indigochill 7y agoEven as a self-taught guy I don't agree with this take. I do get hung up on technical interview trivia, but that's because I refuse to load my brain with useless interview trivia. If I was going to play the game, there are plenty of special-purpose resources available that I could cram before an interview. There are also resources like Anki through which I could use spaced repetition to load it into longer-term memory.
- dbmikus 7y agoDon't a lot of boot camp teach you how to do tech interviews as well as how to code?
- _pmf_ 7y agoI'd like to add that, given my personal experience, a formal CS education does not mean that learning is any easier. In my case, there have been few courses where attending actually helped at all. Formal CS education requires good self-learning skills and is not a counter-indicator for self-learning. (I agree with it being a mostly arbitrary criterion for evaluating a candidate.)