4 ms·
Programming contests show nothing about your organizational skills, which is what companies should be looking for. See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=591
by kaoD 13y ago
Programming contests show nothing about your organizational skills, which is what companies should be looking for.
See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5911235 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5911235
Mathematicians perform very well on programming contests, but they are usually terrible software engineers.
Anyways, I was just kidding :)
- victorhn 13y agoGoogle is full of engineers that did well on programming contests, they even have their own contest, and i don't think they are all terrible software engineers.
- kaoD 13y agohttp://qz.com/96206/google-admits-those-infamous-brainteasers-were-completely-useless-for-hiring/ http://qz.com/96206/google-admits-those-infamous-brainteaser...
- victorhn 13y agoI don't think the problems in algorithmics contests are in the category of brainteasers. As far as i know Google still relies heavily on knowledge of algorithms and problem solving capability to hire their engineers.
- kaoD 13y agoFair point. I still think there are two types of programmers: problem solvers and system architects. The former (e.g. a data scientist) will be good solving a problem but bad building a big architecture. The latter, the other way around. I guess the question is which kind of programmer you are and which skills to look for.
- mtdewcmu 13y agoI think there are probably more than just two types of programmers.
- RivieraKid 13y agoI think that mathematicians don't do well in software development because they simply have much less experience than other devs :) I think that what's most important in software engneering is experience, motivation, intelligence, common sense and good taste (aesthetics).