I’m a software engineer who sometimes interviews other software engineers. I’m not given a script to go off of, I get to ask them whatever I want. Usually we just talk about technology and coding from a high level. I’m not a big fan of whiteboard tests.

I’ve noticed, however, that a lot of people applying to software engineering jobs feel very alien to me. I started coding when I was 12 and spent most of my teenage years on technology forums. A lot of people applying to these positions are very much ladder-climbing type people who got into the career for the money. Working with these people is an absolute drag.

We also interview for “culture fit”. I would like to add in a single question to my interviews to assess that: what is your favorite science fiction book. You don’t even have to have read it recently, you just have to have read one and formed an opinion on it. My thoughts

Pros:

  • Weeds out a lot of people since half of Americans don’t read books at all.
  • Theoretically filters out people who love this kind of tech subculture from people who are just in it for the money

Cons:

  • It’s unfair to people who enjoy fantasy novels, or any other form of fiction
  • Being motivated by money probably shouldn’t be a disqualifying factor (I certainly wouldn’t do this job for free), I’m just tired of working with yuppies and lashing out at poor unsuspecting Jr Devs

I’m half-hearted on this. I see why it could be considered unfair but I’m really tired of the kinds of people I work with.

  • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
    4·
    4 hours ago

    No.

    You say that a lot of people applying feel alien to you. Why not attempt to bridge the gap instead of forcing them into your persecption of what a software designer should be like in their free time. I’m sorry that you don’t work with people who have the same passion, but people shouldn’t be punished because they’re just trying to make money. It’s a job, not their family or friends. Wanting to climb the ladder is not a bad motivation to work.

    Try and take a step back, maybe even put the shoe on the other foot. Would you feel okay if you weren’t hired because you didn’t partake in a certain hobby? What if the person hiring you thinks you should be a Star Trek fan of the highest order, or that they think you need to be up to date on philosophy. That’s just not a reason to deny someone a job imo and it’s not fair. I low key see it as boomer behavior to include something like a hobby as a factor in hiring.

    • shortrounddev@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      I feel that if we only hire purely based on technical ability, we are creating dysfunctional and unempathetic workplaces. If we all see our jobs inherently transactionally, it breeds discontent. Employees are less likely to stay more than a couple years and institutional knowledge becomes weak with a constantly rotating roster of hot-swappable engineers. Obviously, this requires the employer to treat the employees well; if someone is a good performer then they should get more than a cost of living adjustment every other year. We are creating economic engines and not cultures worth spending 8 hours a day in

      • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 hours ago

        I don’t think you need to do it purely on technical ability, but I think the question seems to align too much with your personal opinion of how the employee should be and that makes it seem like you’re looking for a duplicate of yourself/another employee versus just a good fit. I think “tell me about yourself/what you do outside work” is a question that could get you the same information without it being so pointed. Asking about a specific genre, show, etc. automatically puts anyone with a different genre, hobby, etc. at a disadvantage based off of something that doesn’t appear to corelate to their talent or fit. I think even without knowing it, you could make assumptions if you don’t like the answer, or if they just don’t enjoy reading.

        low key in my feelings cause I don’t read Sci fi lol