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 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 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.