3 ms·

Perhaps I didn't get the message but over-engineering is not something to brag about in an interview. The real challenge is keeping things simple, readable, ma

by hu3 3y ago

Perhaps I didn't get the message but over-engineering is not something to brag about in an interview. The real challenge is keeping things simple, readable, maintainable.

WJW 3y ago
I think you have indeed missed the joke, yes. This author has an entire series of blog posts about this witch doing insane low-level stuff during interviews.
- hu3 3y ago
  Thank you, I did read the series thanks to ReleaseCandidat links below.
vundercind 3y ago
I think the joke is this person is actually very good at programming but has no idea what they are socially expected to do for these alleged tests of programming skill, so approaches it earnestly as a programming challenge instead of a “regurgitate the standard answer as if you are inventing it on the spot” performance. [edit] it’s also connected to folk and religious tales that feature someone so wise that they basically no longer understand how to be mediocre or how to care about things that do not matter to the wise, often to the consternation of those around them. “Here’s the excellent white steed I told you about”; “uh… this horse is dappled brown”; “Hm? Oh, I’m not sure about that.”; “… you said this guy’s a horse expert, right?”; (but of course it does turn out to be a superb horse). That sort of thing.
ilc 3y ago
Oh, but it is. I once had a debugging interview on Linux. In my head. No terminals. Interviewer would propose a hint about the problem, but he was tipping the answers. I could see where he wanted to go every time. So I applied a concept from Bridge: WHen you are given unintended information from your partner, you must take any logical action except for what is indicated. So I'd spit out ALL things that came to mind, then finally the answer. (Like 4 or 5 thing PER STEP.) And I wan CONSISTENT. The more he tipped, I just kept doing it. At the end of the interview, I asked my questions, and asked if they played bridge. They said no. I explained the concept of Active Ethics, and that throughout the interview I was using active ethics. ;) Got the job. That guy was one of my best friends in the joint. At times... Simple questions involve complex answers. :)

by hu3 3y ago

Perhaps I didn't get the message but over-engineering is not something to brag about in an interview. The real challenge is keeping things simple, readable, maintainable.

WJW 3y ago

I think you have indeed missed the joke, yes. This author has an entire series of blog posts about this witch doing insane low-level stuff during interviews.

hu3 3y ago
Thank you, I did read the series thanks to ReleaseCandidat links below.

vundercind 3y ago

I think the joke is this person is actually very good at programming but has no idea what they are socially expected to do for these alleged tests of programming skill, so approaches it earnestly as a programming challenge instead of a “regurgitate the standard answer as if you are inventing it on the spot” performance. [edit] it’s also connected to folk and religious tales that feature someone so wise that they basically no longer understand how to be mediocre or how to care about things that do not matter to the wise, often to the consternation of those around them. “Here’s the excellent white steed I told you about”; “uh… this horse is dappled brown”; “Hm? Oh, I’m not sure about that.”; “… you said this guy’s a horse expert, right?”; (but of course it does turn out to be a superb horse). That sort of thing.

ilc 3y ago

Oh, but it is. I once had a debugging interview on Linux. In my head. No terminals. Interviewer would propose a hint about the problem, but he was tipping the answers. I could see where he wanted to go every time. So I applied a concept from Bridge: WHen you are given unintended information from your partner, you must take any logical action except for what is indicated. So I'd spit out ALL things that came to mind, then finally the answer. (Like 4 or 5 thing PER STEP.) And I wan CONSISTENT. The more he tipped, I just kept doing it. At the end of the interview, I asked my questions, and asked if they played bridge. They said no. I explained the concept of Active Ethics, and that throughout the interview I was using active ethics. ;) Got the job. That guy was one of my best friends in the joint. At times... Simple questions involve complex answers. :)