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by yodsanklai 479 days ago
The role of such standardized coding interviews is to ensure consistency when hiring at very large scale. Some big tech companies hire thousands of people a year, and interview ten times that.

Candidates have a very diverse set of backgrounds, age, experience, culture, education, interests, experience. The coding interview is a common denominator: undergrad algorithmic knowledge, being able to solve problems which are application of classic algorithms. This is something that a decent coder should be able to prepare for within a few months of regular practice. In my case, I can tell that these months of practice were the best investment in my life. And honestly, I feel I'm a better programmer after this preparation.

> Cue the vague feeling of disgust on the interviewer's part that the interviewee didn't know something "so simple" in a tense environment with lopsided power dynamics.

This is your interpretation of the situation. As an interviewer, I want the interviewee to succeed, I understand it's stressful for them as I've been in their shoes before.

Ultimately, there are more candidates than positions, so whatever the interview is, people will complain about it. I think leetcode is a decent interview technique. I wish we would give more time to candidates though.