The Technical Interview Is Broken
Whiteboard algorithms, LeetCode grinding, system design for a CRUD app... the way we interview developers needs to change.
We All Know It
Here's a hot take that isn't actually hot: technical interviews are broken. Everyone knows it. Interviewers know it. Candidates know it. Yet nothing changes.
The Problems
LeetCode Doesn't Reflect Real Work
When was the last time you implemented a red-black tree at work? Solved a dynamic programming problem? Inverted a binary tree?
For 99% of development jobs, you're:
- Building features
- Fixing bugs
- Reading documentation
- Reviewing PRs
- Attending meetings
None of that requires knowing how to solve "Trapping Rain Water" in optimal time complexity.
It Rewards Prep, Not Skill
The people who pass LeetCode interviews are people who spent 3 months grinding LeetCode. That's it. It's a test of "did you prepare for this specific test" not "can you do this job."
I've seen brilliant engineers fail because they didn't prep. I've seen mediocre engineers pass because they memorized patterns.
System Design at the Wrong Level
Junior role? "Design Twitter."
Sir, I'm applying to add buttons to your React app.
It Discriminates
Not everyone can spend months doing unpaid interview prep. Parents, caregivers, people working multiple jobs - they're at a massive disadvantage. This isn't about skill, it's about privilege.
What Actually Works
Paid Trial Periods
Some companies hire for a 1-2 week paid trial. You work on real problems with the real team. Everyone knows what they're getting into.
Relevant Take-Homes
Not "build a full-stack app in 4 hours." More like "here's a PR with some issues, review it" or "here's a failing test, make it pass."
Pair Programming
Work together on a problem. See how someone thinks, communicates, and collaborates. Way more realistic than whiteboard silence.
Just... Talking?
Have a technical conversation. Discuss past projects. Look at someone's GitHub. Read their blog posts. Get a sense of how they think.
My Ask
If you're in a position to influence hiring at your company, push for change. The current system isn't finding the best candidates - it's finding the best test-takers.
And if you're a candidate struggling with this? You're not alone, and it's not your fault. The system is the problem.
Let's talk about this in Coder Life. I know I'm not the only one frustrated.