In a high performance environment like a startup consisting of about 20-100 developers where they are handling millions of users, it is vital to be both fast AND efficient at the same time. These developers wear multiple hats, ranging from devops, testers, developers and designers, etc at the same time. Usually, they are paid way more in average.
That is why, in most cases, these tests are included in the interviews conducted by unicorn startups and other bootstrapped companies, where time and efficiency is the key to achieving greater heights. It not only tests the developers capability to solve problems, but also how effectively you solve it (efficiency here is the measure of the most optimal solution in the least possible time) so that the developer is free as soon as possible for solving other problems.
The time limit allotted in these tests - anything from 30 mins to 3 hours are just an arbitrary limit by which a developer can come up with an optimal solution. But if you do practice coming up with solutions under such time limits, your personal time averages for coming up with solutions in general also decreases, since you are training your mind to think that way.
What I don't support, is that lately even normal companies who do not require such idealistic developers have started to follow this trend.
Yea, the company I experienced this was not a startup. And they don’t do anything that complex.
Good points though. But I’m not interested in training up to become the best in some “programming sports league.” I want to become the best at being the happiest me. :)
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In a high performance environment like a startup consisting of about 20-100 developers where they are handling millions of users, it is vital to be both fast AND efficient at the same time. These developers wear multiple hats, ranging from devops, testers, developers and designers, etc at the same time. Usually, they are paid way more in average.
That is why, in most cases, these tests are included in the interviews conducted by unicorn startups and other bootstrapped companies, where time and efficiency is the key to achieving greater heights. It not only tests the developers capability to solve problems, but also how effectively you solve it (efficiency here is the measure of the most optimal solution in the least possible time) so that the developer is free as soon as possible for solving other problems.
The time limit allotted in these tests - anything from 30 mins to 3 hours are just an arbitrary limit by which a developer can come up with an optimal solution. But if you do practice coming up with solutions under such time limits, your personal time averages for coming up with solutions in general also decreases, since you are training your mind to think that way.
What I don't support, is that lately even normal companies who do not require such idealistic developers have started to follow this trend.
Yea, the company I experienced this was not a startup. And they don’t do anything that complex.
Good points though. But I’m not interested in training up to become the best in some “programming sports league.” I want to become the best at being the happiest me. :)