5 ms·

Where the time went during a “laptop” coding interview

15 points by picture 5y ago

musicale 5y ago
Pretty much. It's a bizarre test that you have to study for. It doesn't really resemble actual programming work in any non-superficial way. As the author notes, being timed, observed, and periodically interrupted can add major cognitive load. I'd probably prefer a written math test, since usually nobody is looking over your shoulder and interrupting you, and since it would be obvious that it's merely a hoop to jump through that is largely unrelated to actual work tasks. Also you're 22 you may be more used to taking tests than someone who is 32 or 42.
phyzome 5y ago
OK, I get what she's saying about it being artificially constrained and anxiety-provoking. I think that's her main point, no? And I think I'd agree. Take-home interview assignments, as long as they're not too time-consuming, seem like a better option. But... « Pre-emptive sidebar: "she should have used Python". Just go away. You are so missing the point. » ...honestly, it is pretty remarkable how much time she had to spend on just reading lines from a file. It's even something she highlighted in her own post, so it's pretty hard to ignore all of that (apparently self-imposed) make-work. (I'm assuming that the sidebar implies choice of language.)
2143 5y ago
> Pre-emptive sidebar: "she should have used Python". Just go away. You are so missing the point. She really should've used Python or something equally higher-level; input processing logic would've taken only a couple of minutes. I know Kroll is ferociously good with C, but it's simply a bad language for tech interviews. (Heck if I was the one hiring and if Kroll applied, I'd straightaway hire her because I know she knows her stuff). Tech interviews are horrible as it is. Python or something similar allows you to focus on solving the actual problem rather than all the nitty-gritty details of getting things airborne.

5 ms·

Where the time went during a “laptop” coding interview

15 points by picture 5y ago

musicale 5y ago
Pretty much. It's a bizarre test that you have to study for. It doesn't really resemble actual programming work in any non-superficial way. As the author notes, being timed, observed, and periodically interrupted can add major cognitive load. I'd probably prefer a written math test, since usually nobody is looking over your shoulder and interrupting you, and since it would be obvious that it's merely a hoop to jump through that is largely unrelated to actual work tasks. Also you're 22 you may be more used to taking tests than someone who is 32 or 42.
phyzome 5y ago
OK, I get what she's saying about it being artificially constrained and anxiety-provoking. I think that's her main point, no? And I think I'd agree. Take-home interview assignments, as long as they're not too time-consuming, seem like a better option. But... « Pre-emptive sidebar: "she should have used Python". Just go away. You are so missing the point. » ...honestly, it is pretty remarkable how much time she had to spend on just reading lines from a file. It's even something she highlighted in her own post, so it's pretty hard to ignore all of that (apparently self-imposed) make-work. (I'm assuming that the sidebar implies choice of language.)
2143 5y ago
> Pre-emptive sidebar: "she should have used Python". Just go away. You are so missing the point. She really should've used Python or something equally higher-level; input processing logic would've taken only a couple of minutes. I know Kroll is ferociously good with C, but it's simply a bad language for tech interviews. (Heck if I was the one hiring and if Kroll applied, I'd straightaway hire her because I know she knows her stuff). Tech interviews are horrible as it is. Python or something similar allows you to focus on solving the actual problem rather than all the nitty-gritty details of getting things airborne.