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Why don't they trust the universities? If the candidate has a degree in computer science shouldn't he be able to code ?

by toolslive 7y ago

OutThisLife 7y ago
Not in my experience.
- pkolaczk 7y ago
  The same applies to algorithmic challenges given for whiteboard coding. The fact one can reverse a linked list doesn't mean one would be a good developer in a real world project. Whiteboard coding doesn't check the basic system design skills.
  - dragonwriter 7y ago
    Whiteboard coding isn't designed to find good all-round developers, it's designed to filter the candidate pool to decrease the likelihood of candidates being selected that don't have the necessary coding chops. Other aspects of the selection process check other aspects of the desired skill set.
repiret 7y ago
While I think that ought to be a requirement for getting a CS degree, not all universities do. Moreover, being able to code isn't a boolean - while some people are indeed totally incompetent, among the competent people, some are better than others, and some have strengths and weaknesses that would make them more ore less suited to a particular role. It behooves an employer to try to measure these things.
kortilla 7y ago
Computer science doesn’t teach you how to write code.
rsynnott 7y ago
... No.
gwbas1c 7y ago
OP here: Universities are not trade schools, they are often focused on education for the sake of pursuing knowledge, not how to train you for everything you need in your career. Computer science is not software engineering; think of the difference between physics and mechanical engineering. A lot of computer science classes are highly theoretical and have only tangential relationship to what it takes to write a commercially successful program. BTW: This is the similar for doctors, in the US, your doctor has to get a license in addition to a degree, and the license requires self-study in topics that aren't covered in medical school.

Why don't they trust the universities? If the candidate has a degree in computer science shouldn't he be able to code ?

OutThisLife 7y ago

Not in my experience.

pkolaczk 7y ago
The same applies to algorithmic challenges given for whiteboard coding. The fact one can reverse a linked list doesn't mean one would be a good developer in a real world project. Whiteboard coding doesn't check the basic system design skills.
- dragonwriter 7y ago
  Whiteboard coding isn't designed to find good all-round developers, it's designed to filter the candidate pool to decrease the likelihood of candidates being selected that don't have the necessary coding chops. Other aspects of the selection process check other aspects of the desired skill set.

repiret 7y ago

While I think that ought to be a requirement for getting a CS degree, not all universities do. Moreover, being able to code isn't a boolean - while some people are indeed totally incompetent, among the competent people, some are better than others, and some have strengths and weaknesses that would make them more ore less suited to a particular role. It behooves an employer to try to measure these things.

kortilla 7y ago

Computer science doesn’t teach you how to write code.

rsynnott 7y ago

... No.

gwbas1c 7y ago

OP here: Universities are not trade schools, they are often focused on education for the sake of pursuing knowledge, not how to train you for everything you need in your career. Computer science is not software engineering; think of the difference between physics and mechanical engineering. A lot of computer science classes are highly theoretical and have only tangential relationship to what it takes to write a commercially successful program. BTW: This is the similar for doctors, in the US, your doctor has to get a license in addition to a degree, and the license requires self-study in topics that aren't covered in medical school.