This first example is a docx file. It means you’re
likely using Windows, which is a negative in the Ruby world.
You're going to be dinged for a Word doc by some people, some of the time. You created a % chance that your job application got thrown away for something easily remedied. At least take one second to convert to a more generally-viewable PDF.
Besides which, the article is talking about code. Why would anyone cut and paste code into a Word doc at all? A waste of time for everyone involved.
Agreed that it's probably not the best choice for sending code, but the author's point wasn't that it's a terrible format, just that it's a terrible format for code reviews. PDF is equally awful for the reasons the author describes (lack of syntax coloring, inability to run the code, etc.)
Though IMO the author should just be explicit about what he wants; playing mind games with people is never a good idea, and it just self-selects for people who have used GitHub professionally. Choice of SCM system is almost never up to an individual developer anyway, are you going to ding someone with otherwise great credentials because their company uses Mercurial? It takes all of an hour to learn how to use GitHub anyway.
Anyway, I echo the comments I've seen elsewhere that a guy who got his first "adult job" at 30 then hired some people less than a year later is probably not the best person to take career advice from. This guy makes a lot of novice mistakes in his interviewing practices; so take this as a perspective on how some companies do hiring and not a definitive guide of the right way to do things.
I was thinking this exactly. Perhaps the interviewee should have asked what format - but I would argue just be professional and don't try to trip them or play mind games. Put your expectations up front in simple writing (just say "submit in github gist").
There are so many formats and mediums - if you allow the interviewee to guess what you are expecting they will most likely guess wrong.
It was pretty appropriate when I applied to Microsoft last year (didn't get the job but did get hired elsewhere based on that application).
A few years back I started sending PDF copies of my resume in instead of a .doc/.docx
I had a couple places email me back asking for a copy in Word format because their HRIS system could only import Word documents or text files.
Any reason to disregard a resume ("Oh, it's hard open, in some format I don't understand") is just another strike against you.
I'm not saying it's a great reason. Nor is it fair. But it happens. And if you're trying to optimize for success, this is one of the parameters.
Give your resume in PS format and see how far that gets you.
He isn't talking about a resume being sent as a docx file, he's talking about a coding example being sent as a docx file with bad formatting.