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I think this is a reason why Leetcode style interviews are popular. They remove at least one type of bias of race - the ability to solve coding problems. If you

I think this is a reason why Leetcode style interviews are popular. They remove at least one type of bias of race - the ability to solve coding problems. If you can solve Online Assessment, Phone Assessment and Onsites, you keep moving on to the next round, regardless of your race or ethnicity. It is a way for companies to claim that there is no bias in hiring.

tstrimple 4y ago
I don't think this is true at all. People who pass the leetcode can still be passed over for "cultural fit" or they may not even make it to the coding portion of the interview at all.
Zvez 4y ago
well, no. First companies usually have separate interview for 'cultural fit'. Second, the thing with discriminations, they can be quite hidden. The 'leetcode style tasks' can be performed very differently. If I as interviewer don't like you, I can do a lot to make sure you don't pass it. Starting from making question harder to understand and end with plain 'strong not hire' for vague reasons even if you did well.
- bradlys 4y ago
  Correct. Seen this exact scenario and opposites. In the end - many companies aren’t super rigorous about whether your code that was written passes a test suite and compiled correctly. I’ve known a few (token) people who have said that they were able to just “talk their way out of having to do leetcode” when presented with the problems. In my personal experience - there’s no way to do that at FAANG and crew if you’re not part of a special group. You either solve all problems asked optimally while not being part of a group the person hates or you don’t pass. It’s no coincidence that certain races consistently give me leetcode hards as I’m not in their specific group. It’s also no coincidence they still give me a no when I solve the problem optimally when others give me a yes. ;)
- lowbloodsugar 4y ago
  Yeah. “Cultural fit” is de facto discrimination, but you have absolutely no chance to prove it unless they haven’t been told by their lawyers not be stupid enough to put it in writing.
dixie_land 4y ago
Have you seen the discussion boards of Leetcode? It’s all Indians
- webmobdev 4y ago
  That's because we understand how the system works, and are competitive - it's ingrained in us from childhood how important it is to study and compete and understand the system because there are a billion+ of us and so few opportunities.
adamsmith143 4y ago
This just introduces another type of bias, the "did you just graduate from a top 30 CS school or are you able to spend 6-12 months teaching yourself DS/Algorithms while working full time" bias. Lots of "Stockholm syndrome" surrounding Leetcode style interviewing practices.
- ummonk 4y ago
  Or are you smart enough to teach yourself DS/Algorithms in a couple weeks.
- therealdrag0 4y ago
  Which bias would you prefer? Immutable characteristics or those that can be build with hard work and intelligence?
  - adamsmith143 4y ago
    So there is no possible way that people with intelligence and high work ethic aren't able to graduate from a top 30 cs school or spend a year outside work hours teaching themselves obscure algorithm trivia to pass an interview? I'm afraid you are a 22 year old recent graduate with little grasp on life outside School or Silicon Valley.
    - therealdrag0 4y ago
      I don’t follow tbh. If you need a top 30 school or a year of prep then you’re doing it wrong or are not good enough sorry. But that’s okay there is a sliding scale of employers out there. If you think I’m a 22 yo or in SV then you need to update your heuristics, cuz you’re incorrect.
deleted 4y ago
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tstrimple 4y ago

I don't think this is true at all. People who pass the leetcode can still be passed over for "cultural fit" or they may not even make it to the coding portion of the interview at all.

Zvez 4y ago

well, no. First companies usually have separate interview for 'cultural fit'. Second, the thing with discriminations, they can be quite hidden. The 'leetcode style tasks' can be performed very differently. If I as interviewer don't like you, I can do a lot to make sure you don't pass it. Starting from making question harder to understand and end with plain 'strong not hire' for vague reasons even if you did well.

bradlys 4y ago
Correct. Seen this exact scenario and opposites. In the end - many companies aren’t super rigorous about whether your code that was written passes a test suite and compiled correctly. I’ve known a few (token) people who have said that they were able to just “talk their way out of having to do leetcode” when presented with the problems. In my personal experience - there’s no way to do that at FAANG and crew if you’re not part of a special group. You either solve all problems asked optimally while not being part of a group the person hates or you don’t pass. It’s no coincidence that certain races consistently give me leetcode hards as I’m not in their specific group. It’s also no coincidence they still give me a no when I solve the problem optimally when others give me a yes. ;)
lowbloodsugar 4y ago
Yeah. “Cultural fit” is de facto discrimination, but you have absolutely no chance to prove it unless they haven’t been told by their lawyers not be stupid enough to put it in writing.

dixie_land 4y ago

Have you seen the discussion boards of Leetcode? It’s all Indians

webmobdev 4y ago
That's because we understand how the system works, and are competitive - it's ingrained in us from childhood how important it is to study and compete and understand the system because there are a billion+ of us and so few opportunities.

adamsmith143 4y ago

This just introduces another type of bias, the "did you just graduate from a top 30 CS school or are you able to spend 6-12 months teaching yourself DS/Algorithms while working full time" bias. Lots of "Stockholm syndrome" surrounding Leetcode style interviewing practices.

ummonk 4y ago
Or are you smart enough to teach yourself DS/Algorithms in a couple weeks.
therealdrag0 4y ago
Which bias would you prefer? Immutable characteristics or those that can be build with hard work and intelligence?
- adamsmith143 4y ago
  So there is no possible way that people with intelligence and high work ethic aren't able to graduate from a top 30 cs school or spend a year outside work hours teaching themselves obscure algorithm trivia to pass an interview? I'm afraid you are a 22 year old recent graduate with little grasp on life outside School or Silicon Valley.
  - therealdrag0 4y ago
    I don’t follow tbh. If you need a top 30 school or a year of prep then you’re doing it wrong or are not good enough sorry. But that’s okay there is a sliding scale of employers out there. If you think I’m a 22 yo or in SV then you need to update your heuristics, cuz you’re incorrect.

deleted 4y ago

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