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Comment by baskethead | Hacker News Reader

Leetcode-style interviews : software engineering :: auditions : acting

Auditioning is nothing like being an actor, but that's primarily the only way actors get gigs. Unless you're so well-known that they seek you out. This is exactly the same thing as in programming. You have to submit yourself to a humiliating barrage of LC and systems design questions because that's how companies like Google have decided that's the best way to determine talent. And based on their multi-trillion dollar valuation, it's hard to say that they're wrong.

So unfortunately, unless you can come up with a better way, auditioning for your software engineering job is here to stay, just like auditioning for your acting job. So you might as well accept it.

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>So unfortunately, unless you can come up with a better way, auditioning for your software engineering job is here to stay, just like auditioning for your acting job. So you might as well accept it.

If I was able to come up with a better way, I would sell it to Google and never work a day again in my life.

Pointing out that current methods suck is free advice, though.

valuations are mostly made up and they have nothing to do with how they hire.

and you are wrong that it’s there to stay. if people decide to no longer play ball and organize that will be the end of it.

the current system was created by a single woman who simply created it to build a consulting business around it. and you are all too naieve to see it.

It's ridiculous to imply that Google and Facebook aren't one of the most successful companies in the history of the world. And there's no way they could have made it to one of the most successful companies in history with a company full of terrible employees.

you need to ask the question, why they became succesful and why they are still here, collecting data about you every day. they know you better than yourself.

> created by a single woman who simply created it to build a consulting business

Who's that? (I don't agree but I'm curious about your opinions anyway)

the author of cracking the coding interview

Ok thanks (was a bit who I was guessing you'd mention :-))

Isn't it true that contractors/freelancers aren't expected to do leetcode interviews?

it's probably also true that if they're working for a livable wage they also have a decent portfolio...

How do we know that this is the case?

There was a period when I was looking for freelance gigs via Upwork - I had to send hundreds of applications to get a single few hours worth order. May be it gets better with a higher rating but I never got to this point. I would rather spend a month preparing to leetcode style interviews than spend it writing Upwork applications.

But Upwork is not necessary for this kind of work. In fact, only a small portion of freelancers are on those kind of platforms.

Nope, not true. I’ve been contracting for 15 years and regularly encounter leetcode interviews.

When I can, I’ll outright ask if the client intends to do this kind of interview. If they say yes, I’ll explain my objection to the process and if they aren’t willing to modify their interview approach for me I will decline the interview.

I have on occasion had this sprung on my without warning halfway through an interview and I’ve declined to do it; most of the time I get hired anyway.

Whenever I can I try to convince hiring managers (and I’ve been one myself) to ditch leetcode nonsense for future interviews.

> modify their interview approach for me

What do you like instead of LC?

I think the issue with LC for contractors is unpaid work resulting is the loss of opportunity with other potential clients due to the effort involved. The equation is fundamentally different than for a salaried employee.

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