Comments on: On Hiring Developers

By: Slack Shot

Slack Shot — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 16:01:00 +0000

It’s good to be concerned over it. I worry often. I build systems for non-profits in my spare time. Azure web services, Xamarin.IOS, Xamarin.Android. I don’t do it, because I haven’t talked to them first. Wish you luck though.

By: Quora

Quora — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:40:27 +0000

What is the best way for an early stage startup to hire web designer?…

Check out this post I ran across yesterday. http://blog.trackabout.com/2012/10/03/on-hiring-developers/ I hope it helps your search. As you ramp up your search for other employees, you may want to check out some applicant tracking systems to help manag…

By: Russell Uresti

Russell Uresti — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:32:00 +0000

This type of thing was my initial concern with the approach. The fact that you have to be tested before talking to them is, in my mind, a huge barrier for many people.

Do you feel that the test may have been more tolerable after you had talked to the company and found that you liked the people and principles of the organization, and actually wanted to work for them?

By: Russell Uresti

Russell Uresti — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 19:30:00 +0000

I have no issue with Codility or the concept of testing a developer. It’s the order presented that I disagree with. I feel like the test should come after the initial phone call or meeting – not before.

By: eMBee

eMBee — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:58:00 +0000

when talking to a company about a job i want the coding out of the way or better, be able to use that as a discussion point in the interview.

if codility tests are not to your liking, check out http://www.hackerhires.com/
they design tests specifically for the company where you are applying, so those tests potentially give insight at what kind of work you might be doing.

i like your suggestion for a compromise though.

By: BacMan

BacMan — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 05:03:00 +0000

The challenge is not writing the code, but solving the problem. Once the solution is known translating it to code is trivial.

By: Phoo Bar

Phoo Bar — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:01:00 +0000

“Technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with
liberal arts, married with humanities, that yields the results that make
our hearts sing.”

Steve Jobs

By: Phoo Bar

Phoo Bar — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:22:00 +0000

No, programming is an art. I’ve worked with PhD. programmers, really smart guys who could solve the tests at Codility in 5 minutes, but who have no idea of application architecture, usability, unit testing, creativity, improvisation, and communication skills. Working for a company who relied on such tests sounds to me like a job for a robot, not a human.

By: Hans-Christian Boos

Hans-Christian Boos — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:03:00 +0000

I could not disagree more. Programming is a skill, not an art. And on top of hiring cool guys you want to hire people with the right skills. And having a brain does not contradict the notion of having sex.

By: Phoo Bar

Phoo Bar — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:01:00 +0000

I tried the first test. Nope. There’s no way I even could waste 30 minutes of my life on what amounts to solving a crossword puzzle. Best to use that time adding some features to my application that’s used by 1000s of global users, including IBM. That demo tests whether you are a cold-blooded machine. I would want to hire developers with a heart, not pot-noodle eating, jolt drinking nerds who can tell you how many seconds have elapsed since they never had a girlfriend.