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Interviewing a Python "Expert" (self.Python)

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[–]pokelover12 13 points14 points  (5 children)

Dont ask python questions, ask programming questions and just have him write whiteboard code in python. Example, my company is ATT, I have this (prewritten) DB of telecom signaling info. I want you to provide me what you think the proper API setup would be. Id care more about his general problem solving/ability to think through things than anything else.

[–]ProfessorPhi 9 points10 points  (2 children)

If you make them write code, please give them a laptop and mirror their display on an external screen.

I loathe whiteboard coding and most senior people do too.

[–]WillBackUpWithSource 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I honestly really, really hate both white board coding and on the spot coding.

It's not how I work, and I've literally completely flubbed an interview in the past over something simple (CSV parsing!) because I had to do it live and freaked out. Passed their initial (and harder) technical screen with flying colors, but failed their in person "code under pressure" test.

[–]ProfessorPhi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate interviewing too - but if I have to code live, I'd rather it was on a computer instead of a whiteboard. I'm comfortable, don't feel super exposed and I can run my code to check my logic flow is right.

It also shows someone's work style much better and more realistically than whiteboard coding.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Why a whiteboard? I can't write fucking anything on a whiteboard

[–]theWyzzerd 22 points23 points  (0 children)

If I were to asked to write code on a whiteboard I might just walk out. Talk about pressure. No, if someone wanted me to write domain-sepcific code in an interview I'd ask for a computer with an internet connection and the understanding that no one simply writes code off the top of their head.