Hacker News Reader

It seems you like you still hire based on puzzle as a first filter (based on on your careers page). Just wondering, what is the ratio of people who apply with only a resume vs those who solve the puzzle (I understand you probably can't reveal). And, more importantly, are those on the puzzles side show to be more successful on the interview?

View on HN

I'm sure someone knows that ratio, but not me. :)

But the puzzle process, as originally conceived, (in 2000!) was not necessarily supposed to be a hard filter. As an applicant, you had several ways to stand out, and doing a great job on a puzzle was one. Having someone who already worked for us say you were awesome was another. Being an open source superhero was another. Etc.

In actual implementation, though, it probably was/is used as a hard filter.

In actual implementation, though, it probably was/is used as a hard filter.

It always becomes a hard filter, there is a lot of ego in development and test are an area where ego's shine through. It's my major beef with quiz exercises in interviews, they always become the hardest filter, no matter how much we try to contain them.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com