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But for some things either you know how to do a job or you don't.

If I need someone to build me a compiler, there's no point sending me any number of job applications who did brilliantly on a coding test, if they have never built a compiler before.

(Of course sometimes it's great to build someone up from scratch, but you can't do that for an entire team all the time).

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We work less well with very specialized positions. However, the approach of identifying strong general programmers, and then matching the ones who want to work on compilers with compiler jobs works surprisingly well (still often results in higher offer rates than the approach that companies themselves take of filtering first on compiler experience, and then checking technical strength)

> We work less well with very specialized positions.

Ah, all makes sense then.

>If I need someone to build me a compiler, there's no point sending me any number of job applications who did brilliantly on a coding test, if they have never built a compiler before.

Ok, then shoot me an email, and we'll build the compiler. I'd be happy to find a position that actually involves compiler work at all.

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