Ask HN: Today, HR told me I can't test candidates | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Today, HR told me I can't test candidates

3 pointsvidanay4 comments

I have two open positions on my team that I am trying to fill. Today, while talking to HR, we were discussing strategy and when I mentioned that I would like to ask a couple of candidates to come in to the office and take a practical programming test (sample project), I was told that I can't do that. Apparently, any test would have to be "certified" before it could be used. I have no idea exactly what "certified" means in this context.

I guess standard industry practices for everyone from two person start-ups to Google don't mean anything, and we have to make the decision based on simple questions and "gut" instinct during the interview.

Has anyone ever heard of a requirement in the United States whereby software employment tests must be certified?

If it's a test with a score and a threshold for hiring, it needs to be professionally developed: https://www.hiresuccess.com/blog/is-employment-testing-legal. Such tests are nearly useless for programmers.

What you should do is ask candidates to do a sample project that'll help you understand their strengths and weaknesses so you can dig into them in the interview. That's not a "test" as HR people use the word.

Thank you for that link. That is not the type of "test" I am referring to. I am referring to the sample project style "test" that you mention in your second paragraph. This was explained to HR, with examples and references, but they were unconvinced.

Doesn't sound like a legal requirement. Sounds like HR doesn't want you to design your own test that might expose the company to discrimination suits. That's my guess.

A good substitute is asking someone to walk you through a code review or thinking about how to start a new project. You supply the code or specs, of course.

Programming tests suck for the applicant and don't do a good job of selecting for the traits you want in a new hire.

<cynical thought>So the HR person's cousin has applied, huh?

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