[skewart]

> No. One cannot refuse a whiteboard test.

I completely disagree with you on this. If a whiteboard test is such a strong turnoff to a candidate that they won't want to work at the company because of it, and they're willing to make the highly unusual move of refusing the test, then telling the interviewer about it and ending the interview early is the polite thing to do. As an interviewer I don't want to waste my time - and my team's time - by interviewing someone who certainly won't work out.

Candidates should feel comfortable saying no to anything at any point in the hiring process - of course with the potential consequence that the hiring process stops right then and there. But they shouldn't be expected to do things that make them uncomfortable or violates their personal beliefs. Should a candidate who doesn't drink alcohol be expected to have a beer if their interviewer proposes it? Should a candidate with strong religious beliefs be expected to violate them in an interview setting? What's the reasoning behind thinking that a candidate should always agree to a whiteboard test no matter how strongly they oppose them?

Look, the author of the post - the guy who refused the whiteboard test - does come across as cranky and difficult. He certainly should not have been surprised that the interview ended. And, for the record, I think feeling _that_ strongly about whiteboard tests is a little extreme. I just think that if something is a deal breaker for you as a candidate the polite thing to do is to let everyone know up front - ideally before an on-site so you can end things earlier rather than later and save everyone time.

[exclusiv]

I think the parent was phrasing it as you can't refuse a whiteboard test if you want to work there.

I think we all agree that if either party has made a decision before the interview then nobody's time should be wasted.

At a former job, our office was amazing inside as it used to be an old brewery. In fact it won several design & architecture awards. Anyway, we had a candidate simply drive by and then call saying that it looked too low end for him so he cancelled the interview without even walking inside. We thought that was ridiculous of course but were happy we didn't waste our time with him.