[djb_hackernews]

So you play the game (proving your talents by finishing) and then start from square one in the companies interview pipeline? I thought the whole point was to solve that problem?

[matheist]

No, the way it worked for me was that I had a short non-technical chat with an internal recruiter and then we went straight to an onsite interview.

[djb_hackernews]

That sounds exactly like square one in the interview process...

[matheist]

No, square one would have been several phone screens if they liked my resume at all. So it got me to around square four or five.

[jnbiche]

Just to be clear, did the on-site interviews consist of additional technical interviews, or just cultural/general interviews?

[matheist]

Technical interviews.

[mrfusion]

They should also least guarantee no whiteboard coding if you pass the game. That would be worthwhile.

[tptacek]

I would love to guarantee things like that. In fact: I'd love to guarantee no whiteboard coding for anyone, because whiteboard coding is stupid.

But we're just a goofy game company right now, not a force of nature.

Generally: if you're not into the CTF stuff for its own sake, because you like doing this kind of thing for fun, we're not asking you to be involved. We hate the idea of being another hoop to jump through.

If you dig CTF stuff and you're looking for a new gig, we're working on trying to be as helpful as possible for your job search. We're still figuring a lot of this stuff out.

[jgalt212]

> because whiteboard coding is stupid

not so. I've found it's an effective way to not only judge how people think, but also how they communicate and respond to live feedback.

[tptacek]

I've been interviewing developers since 1996. Everyone who has ever done a whiteboard interview says this.

Are you interviewing people for some kind of live coding game show? If so: I concede your point.

[jgalt212]

> live coding game show

like Starfighter?

[tptacek]

Huh? I don't follow. We're not hiring people with whiteboard interviews either.