7 ms·

> What's wrong with 'to see how you program', though? * Dear dentist, can you please show me how you fill cavities? * Dear lawyer, can you please show me how

> What's wrong with 'to see how you program', though? * Dear dentist, can you please show me how you fill cavities? * Dear lawyer, can you please show me how you law? * Dear surgeon, can you please show me how you operate? * Dear accountant, can you please show me how you do taxes? * Dear architect, can you please show me how you design?

valand 7y ago
What's wrong with those?
yen223 7y ago
Dentists, lawyers, surgeons and accountants have professional bodies issuing licenses or certifications. Those licenses verify that the candidate in question has at least met some arbitrary skill level in their respective field. The software industry, for better or worse, have collectively rejected having such a professional body, which means companies looking for software engineers wind up having to evaluate programming skills individually.
- mrfusion 7y ago
  I think the more important factor is those professions consider themselves high status and wouldn’t put up with incompetent-until-proven-otherwise interviews. Programmers as a group don’t stand up for themselves.
thaeli 7y ago
* Dear writer, can you please show me some writing samples? * Dear graphic designer, can you please show me your portfolio? * Dear welder, can you please weld these test coupons? * Dear actor, can you please audition for the role? There are plenty of professions where a demonstration of relevant work ability is a normal part of the hiring process. The problem with many "coding challenges" is that they take a long time to do - basically, are unpaid paid work. Writing samples and artist portfolios are compiled from work the candidate has already done; the closest we have in software is "looking at someone's GitHub" which has its own set of problems. Welding tests and actor's auditions are distinct because they don't take that much of the candidate's time, and quickly demonstrate if they are suitable for the role or not.

valand 7y ago

What's wrong with those?

yen223 7y ago

Dentists, lawyers, surgeons and accountants have professional bodies issuing licenses or certifications. Those licenses verify that the candidate in question has at least met some arbitrary skill level in their respective field. The software industry, for better or worse, have collectively rejected having such a professional body, which means companies looking for software engineers wind up having to evaluate programming skills individually.

mrfusion 7y ago
I think the more important factor is those professions consider themselves high status and wouldn’t put up with incompetent-until-proven-otherwise interviews. Programmers as a group don’t stand up for themselves.

thaeli 7y ago

* Dear writer, can you please show me some writing samples? * Dear graphic designer, can you please show me your portfolio? * Dear welder, can you please weld these test coupons? * Dear actor, can you please audition for the role? There are plenty of professions where a demonstration of relevant work ability is a normal part of the hiring process. The problem with many "coding challenges" is that they take a long time to do - basically, are unpaid paid work. Writing samples and artist portfolios are compiled from work the candidate has already done; the closest we have in software is "looking at someone's GitHub" which has its own set of problems. Welding tests and actor's auditions are distinct because they don't take that much of the candidate's time, and quickly demonstrate if they are suitable for the role or not.