4 ms·

Same goes for [unpaid] take-homes and leetcode grind.

by zerr 2y ago

jahewson 2y ago
I don’t get the hate for unpaid take-homes. It’s not like you are getting paid for multiple hours of interviews.
- theideaofcoffee 2y ago
  It's the asymmetry of time invested that gets me. You (the interviewee) are expected to put in your personal time preparing a hastily thought out and assigned example problem that usually has, in my experience, nothing to do with the position, on top of investing even more time talking to interviewers beyond that. The interviewers are already getting paid to do that on their side so you're suffering opportunity cost not being able to take other interviews that may be more relevant. It's just a completely whack system and all about the power imbalance. But then again, whack is describing this stupid industry more and more these days so I guess it fits. Personally, I think the main post hits it right on.
  - jahewson 2y ago
    Ok the asymmetry complaint makes sense. I’m confused that you’d cite the opportunity cost of interviews as an issue - the cost to the employer is substantial. It costs thousands of dollars in engineering time to put a candidate through a full round of interviews and pulls employees away from their “real work” that has deadlines.
- michaelt 2y ago
  When I spend an hour at an interview, someone at the company spends an hour at an interview. So they've got every reason to read my damn resume first and not waste both of our time. A take-home test, though? They can waste 3 hours of my time to save 5 minutes of their time. Send me a take-home test, I spend a few hours and pass it with flying colours, then they reject me for being "too expensive". No thanks.
  - jahewson 2y ago
    How’s that different from sitting through 3 hours of interviews to be rejected for being “too expensive”? I just don’t get the logic.
- zerr 2y ago
  Besides other replies, for the take-homes, unlike an hour-long interview, you are often expected to spend 8+ hours, several evenings, the whole weekend...
- em-bee 2y ago
  i still got a job and a family to take care of. i don't have time for additional take home tests. any interview/testing needs to be time bound so i can plan ahead.

Same goes for [unpaid] take-homes and leetcode grind.

by zerr 2y ago

Same goes for [unpaid] take-homes and leetcode grind.

jahewson 2y ago

I don’t get the hate for unpaid take-homes. It’s not like you are getting paid for multiple hours of interviews.

theideaofcoffee 2y ago
It's the asymmetry of time invested that gets me. You (the interviewee) are expected to put in your personal time preparing a hastily thought out and assigned example problem that usually has, in my experience, nothing to do with the position, on top of investing even more time talking to interviewers beyond that. The interviewers are already getting paid to do that on their side so you're suffering opportunity cost not being able to take other interviews that may be more relevant. It's just a completely whack system and all about the power imbalance. But then again, whack is describing this stupid industry more and more these days so I guess it fits. Personally, I think the main post hits it right on.
- jahewson 2y ago
  Ok the asymmetry complaint makes sense. I’m confused that you’d cite the opportunity cost of interviews as an issue - the cost to the employer is substantial. It costs thousands of dollars in engineering time to put a candidate through a full round of interviews and pulls employees away from their “real work” that has deadlines.
michaelt 2y ago
When I spend an hour at an interview, someone at the company spends an hour at an interview. So they've got every reason to read my damn resume first and not waste both of our time. A take-home test, though? They can waste 3 hours of my time to save 5 minutes of their time. Send me a take-home test, I spend a few hours and pass it with flying colours, then they reject me for being "too expensive". No thanks.
- jahewson 2y ago
  How’s that different from sitting through 3 hours of interviews to be rejected for being “too expensive”? I just don’t get the logic.
zerr 2y ago
Besides other replies, for the take-homes, unlike an hour-long interview, you are often expected to spend 8+ hours, several evenings, the whole weekend...
em-bee 2y ago
i still got a job and a family to take care of. i don't have time for additional take home tests. any interview/testing needs to be time bound so i can plan ahead.