[lbo-talk] a bitch needs to fan herself

[Tayssir John Gabbour]

On 2/17/07, Chuck <chuck at mutualaid.org> wrote:
> I find this kind of interview trick to be offensive. How many interviews
> for other professions involve a "puzzle" during an interview? Do lawyers
> have to get up and stage a mock defense of a client? Do doctors have to
> perform surgery to demonstrate their knowledge? Do architects have to
> design a house?

I think that's an exaggeration; 50 or so lines of code is not like any
of those things. Maybe it's like a chef being asked to prepare an
omelette. (But without all the in-person interview pressure.)

I think this practice emphasizes merit rather than what university you
went to, what company you worked at, or even how you appear.

Plus, they're generally offered in the spirit of fun. Programmers I
know seem to like them. People speak favorably about ITA's relatively
difficult ones:
<http://www.itasoftware.com/careers/puzzle_archive.html?catid=39>

Probably far better than those controversial Microsoft puzzles, where
they'd actually ask you questions /during/ the physical interviews
like, "Why are manhole covers round?"


> I can see providing my portfolio to an employers, but interview gimmicks
> like you describe is a clear warning bell for me that I'm not going to
> be treated professionally when I'm actually working for the employer.

Perhaps we have different ideas of professionalism in the tech sector.
I think the book _Peopleware_ discusses the matter best, from a
managerial standpoint, with the part on "Popcorn isn't professional!"

Tayssir