Video: Effective Pair Programming Interviews

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The Talk discusses the problems with online coding tests and the benefits of pair programming interviews. It emphasizes the importance of hiring and growth, including creating a positive interview experience and considering the cost of hiring. The job of a software developer extends beyond coding and requires multiple skill sets. Pair programming provides a more accurate assessment of skills required for software development. The Talk also covers implementing a tennis scoring system and customizing pair programming interviews for different roles and levels.

This talk has been presented at TechLead Conference 2023, check out the latest edition of this Tech Conference.

FAQ

The talk focuses on the issues with traditional online coding tests, the inefficacy of platforms like LeetCode, and the benefits of integrating pair programming interviews into the hiring process to enhance the selection of candidates.

Muhammad believes that pair programming interviews offer a more realistic assessment of a candidate's coding skills and teamwork capabilities, as they simulate actual work environments and problem-solving situations, which leads to better hiring decisions.

Traditional online coding tests are criticized for focusing too narrowly on a candidate's ability to solve algorithmic and data structure problems under time pressure, which may not accurately reflect the skills needed for day-to-day software development.

Theodo, where Muhammad works, incorporates pair programming interviews that involve realistic coding tasks and environments to better assess the practical and collaborative skills of candidates.

Muhammad's decision to join Theodo was significantly influenced by his positive experience during a pair programming interview, which he found enjoyable and representative of the actual work environment at Theodo.

Theodo looks for candidates who can write maintainable and understandable code, solve problems effectively, and work well within a team, emphasizing practical skills over just theoretical knowledge.

Muhammad recommends using tools like CodeSandbox or Visual Studio Code's LiveShare extension, which allow for real-time collaborative coding in a realistic environment that mimics daily work settings.

A tennis scoring kata is a coding exercise used during interviews to simulate real-world programming tasks. It involves implementing the scoring logic for a tennis game, serving to evaluate a candidate's coding and problem-solving skills in a practical scenario.

Mo Khazali
Mo Khazali
32 min
09 Mar, 2023

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