Yes. It seems bizarre to me to apply for a programming job without knowing how to program, but when I just screen based on resumes there’s usually 10% who can’t do basic things like “write pseudocode to reverse a string” or a fizzbuzz loop.
So my brief exercise has saved me from wasting interviews on those folks. Of course it’s not foolproof and people can have a friend write it, or use ChatGPT, or whatever. But it helps.
It’s a way, and it helps some. I thought about it and discussed with my peers and teams and it seemed useful. I liked it over alternatives like having people write in real time, or submit a portfolio, or so an in depth project.
A 15-30 minute exercise seemed like the best filter that optimized my time and the applicants.
Some applicants don’t have projects they can show. I’d say half have GitHub profiles, but there’s still lots of good programmers at my org who have zero projects they can show to a potential employer. I’m not ready to write them all off, yet.
And my exercise isn’t leetcode, nor is it timed. I just designed it so it doesn’t take a lot of time because time isn’t important for this filter.
And some applicants don't have time and should not be required to grind leetcode.
If you went through a decent 4-year CS program you will have been required to do coding projects, so if you have NO code to show, either you went to a shit program, OR you cannot write code.
It doesn't matter if you have a github. I have lots of code and very little in github because I don't want to open source it.
I cannot imagine how someone can be a good programmer yet NEVER has written any code they can show. So did they have time to spend 6 months grinding leetcode but didn't even write a simple application? That makes no sense to me.
"I just designed it" = it makes sense to me and if anyone else is unable to understand my quirky problem then they can't write software. OK.
Maybe you are replying to wrong comment. I am not suggesting anything. I am asking the question if it is often the case that someone who is applying to programming job truly does not know how to program.
So my brief exercise has saved me from wasting interviews on those folks. Of course it’s not foolproof and people can have a friend write it, or use ChatGPT, or whatever. But it helps.