[rbritton]

I'm actually in the hiring process at a place currently, and their process is reasonable for someone in my position coming from freelance:

1. Phone screen amounting to about 45 minutes.

2. Skype interview with small code samples between two interviewers at 45 minutes each.

3. 2-week paid trial doing real work.

I had #2 yesterday and am currently waiting to hear back from them about moving onward.

[Lawtonfogle]

>3. 2-week paid trial doing real work.

That could work for those without a job, but if I'm securely in a job, if I'm going to be switching to a 2 week contract, there needs to be a significant bonus attached.

[ctdonath]

It's #3 that makes all the difference: a task that means something, and makes it worth one's while.

Duolingo wanted a functioning nontrivial (albeit sparse) app, expected to take 10 hours to write. I found it amusing on its own, but interviewed & got multiple offers elsewhere in less time.

[ThrustVectoring]

That's actually harmful for getting quality candidates - "hot" prospects nope out of the process when they get an offer elsewhere.

A clever option is emailing the recruiter at Duolingo with something like "hey, I've got a competing offer, so the 10 hour coding challenge is really not something I have time for at the moment. Is there any other way to proceed through the hiring process?" Either way they answer, you're okay with.

[devonkim]

I did that before during an interview with a pretty good company overall and the employer refused to accelerate the process or make an exception and just stopped the process.

[ctrlalt_g]

Good luck!