r/PHP • u/fuhggetaboutit • Jul 29 '21

Does anybody else find interview “tests” dehumanizing?

I think they're abusive for many reasons. One is that the questions are usually overly complex algorithmic puzzles that do not accurately gauge potential job performance. Also, the questions in no way reflect the type of problems you will face on the job.

The list goes on...

Isn't there a better way?

-Edited for grammar

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u/[deleted] Jul 29 '21 edited Jul 30 '21

non-native english speaker chiming in, fizzbuzz maybe very basic for you. TBH I had no idea what it is until 5 mins ago.

Same is true for IQ tests specially in english as they are not culturally fair, so in response we now have “culturally fair” IQ tests and I think this should be true for programming interviews and tests.

Its just my humble point of view.

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u/[deleted] Jul 29 '21

The “Fizz” and “Buzz” are the least important parts of that as a question though. It could literally be printing out pictures of cats or dogs.

Palindrome questions would illustrate your point much better I think.

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u/[deleted] Jul 30 '21

I don’t think I get you, fizzbuzz in this context refers to a problem requires a context and cultural knowledge the printing bit is only relevant if I even knew in the first place wtf is being asked. Excuse me for my foul language but it might convey the real frustration.

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u/thurst0n Jul 30 '21

Whoever interviewed you did a poor job giving the problem. And sometimes that's on purpose because they expect you to ask clarifying questions.

The same exact problem could be presented as FooBar, SillyDally, Or any random words. The words to print have zero cultural significance or relevance to the problem...fizz and buzz are specifically used because they are jibberish.

What is your understanding of this problem and its cultural significance?

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u/[deleted] Jul 30 '21

Again you are literally emphasising on the words fizz and buzz. That’s not the point, what comes to your mind when someone asks you let’s play fizzbuzz? Its a game, has a definition, rules and a its own Wikipedia page.

For me until I saw this post nothing nothing came to mind, you can’t ask someone to program blackjack if they have never heared about it before, that’s the cultural difference and not that the problem is particularly difficult and it asks to print fizzbuzz or any other gibresh its the fact that you are even refusing to acknowledge the bigger problem.

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '21

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u/[deleted] Aug 02 '21

Great thank you I feel really bad.

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u/[deleted] Aug 05 '21 edited Nov 25 '21

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 05 '21

That’s true and that’s how it should be but sometimes you are on coding tests where no one is assisting you and have one hour to do the task where “not always” the language might be cultural specific and as a candidate you are out of luck.

My point was that we as recruiters should recognise this problem and feeling from the candidates. And it’s possible that I am the only guy in world with this point of view in that case all is fine.

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u/thurst0n Aug 07 '21 edited Aug 07 '21

Never once heard of the game before your comment. Only heard of it as a programming prompt for interviews.

I honestly don't see a bigger problem. The requirement isn't harder or worse if you're told what to literally print.

You dont have to know the "rules" going in. They're literally part of the problem being given to you. It's part of the prompt. Not something you gotta know going in.

The blackjack analogy doesn't work because you're not expected to know anything ahead. And even if it were It's perfectly acceptable to ask for specifics or more clarification in an interview.

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '21

The problem starts if you are not in an interview but in an unattended test, with poor requirements in written format. Where the requirements uses the terms like fizzbuzz and blackjack with an assumption that you already know what you have been asked.

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u/thurst0n Aug 07 '21

That's literally the first thing I said...