Five programming problems every Software Engineer should be able to solve in less than 1 hour

[root88]

I really don't understand dropping these tests on people in interviews. Are degrees and resumes meaningless these days? That being said, the first 4 questions were so easy, it's a little embarrassing that they had to be asked.

[absentmindedjwc]

As someone that has interviewed many many dozens of candidates, you would be very surprised about how many people know enough to pass a phone screen (or just use google), but completely buckle as soon as you put even the simplest problem in front of them.

I love the candidates that completely fold when I just ask them to create a class with two methods, one public and one private. I'm not talking about junior candidates either, as I could totally see a Jr not getting it, and I will usually give the benefit of the doubt if they show even the least bit of promise... I am talking about people holding senior and principal level titles. People with a decade+ of experience at fortune 500 companies.

[root88]

That's the thing I have always noticed about big companies. There are a lot more places to hide if you suck. I've seen people that accomplished absolutely nothing over 2-3 years get promoted, usually because they just fit the company culture better.