> You can learn a lot about a candidate, particularly those applying to senior positions, by looking at how they work under uncertainty and time/resource constr

> You can learn a lot about a candidate, particularly those applying to senior positions, by looking at how they work under uncertainty and time/resource constraints, because ultimately that's how real life is. Starting a project from scratch, shipping it and supporting it is quite a bit more difficult than regular company drudgery. I've never had an issue with someone hired via this method struggling to perform once in the door. > Having a team of just top performers would not change that fact, but you will still have to pay top salaries and get into bidding wars with other companies trying to poach them. You should always pay a fair salary, but you'd be surprised that when you use this method you can hire some amazing people for "regular" pay. Respect goes a long way with top notch developers. A lot of the best people won't even do the leetcode dog and pony show, even if it results in very high pay. People will usually compensate for what they view as a toxic environment by demanding a higher salary (and quitting a couple of years in).