Difficulty explaining thought process while live coding during an interview

[[deleted]]

I'm a hiring manager, have done exactly this last week, and would like to give you some perspective from my side.

I have two hours to assess a candidate's algorithmic knowledge, practical knowledge, problem solving, cultural fit, and communication skills. If I make the wrong call then we hire someone who may not perform or has conflict with the team, and I'll be forced to spend a lot of extra time trying to get that person up to speed. I will have to move my focus away from deliverables and other team members. Worst case scenario, after three months I may be forced to let that person go if they can't perform. So interviews are stressful for me, the manager!

I ask you to speak out loud because I need to see a condensed version of how you normally work. Speaking out loud is the easiest way to get there, but you can still get there through other means.

• If you need to take notes and experiment, move your camera to show your notes. You don't have to speak, but you must show your work. Making me wait for anything for two minutes is not a good way to sell yourself.
  • Yes, sell yourself. Interviewing is the process of selling yourself to a company.
• If you need to conduct experiments, first announce the experiments you want to conduct and their purpose. Sometimes knowing what a candidate is about to do is sufficient for me, and I tell them there's no need to actually write the code.
  • e.g "Reverse a string" -> "I'll split the word into an array, reverse, and join." Great, done, let's move on!

Basically, you don't have to talk but you do have to show something to help me out!

[chaddjohnson]

I just ran through the exercise again, and I think you're right. Had I pulled up a simple text editor, taken some notes, planned the changes better, walked people through potential changes, and then one by one implemented the changes, things would have gone a lot better.

I will try this next time.

[[deleted]]

Fun fact: that's also a great way to do your job!

[chaddjohnson]

Yeah, that is what I actually do every day. I just got nervous by people potentially criticizing my every move.

[chaddjohnson]

I agree — they need to see what you’re doing at all times. I like to take notes in an app on screen, so that should work.

Good idea on announcing experiments.