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Discussion on: Developer Interview Bloopers

 
codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald

Well, to play "devil's advocate" again, look at it from their perspectives. A lot of questions you/we would judge as a "pop quiz" question is actually the best, or only, way to probe knowledge of the more theoretical aspects of programming...especially those important to the job!

I was once asked to describe virtual classes, and why you'd use them over normal classes, in C++. That's theory, it can't be "whiteboarded", but I understand why he asked.

So, if those sorts of questions cause you to freeze up, it goes right back to your main point: practice. There's no other solution.

And that's what my original statement about "pop quiz" questions referred to; all the things that cannot be adequately measured by any other method in an interview. We have to ask, simply because there are a LOT of applicants who flat out don't know, and they'd be a liability in that particular position.

See what I mean now?

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wstocker profile image
Wendy Stocker

I would agree with that, but when it's a little more open ended it gives your brain a second to process the information and retrieve it from memory.

The interviewer is at a way bigger advantage to make a judgement call on this, because well, they know what the questions ARE.

So if someone asked me to draw and explain polymorphism for example, I could take some time to think about my answer while drawing it out. Unlike the 5 seconds you have to dig it out memory and describe it. All the while worrying about every second that goes by so you just start flapping your mouth with the first thing that comes to mind. LOL!

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codemouse92 profile image
Jason C. McDonald

Sometimes just having an interviewer say "take your time" makes all the difference in the world.

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wstocker profile image
Wendy Stocker

Yes, but then all eyes on you! Haha it's just super stressful either way, definitely doesn't work the best for me. I do like the fact that it's quick though, so if you do well, you might be saving yourself a 6 hour project that you have to build out for free.