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Is hackerrank useful as a screening tool? [closed]
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This question may well be too subjective for SE, but I'm going to try. Help me make it more focused and objective if possible.
I'm writing from the perspective of a job candidate, but I'm interested in answers from either side of the fence.
In the last 3 months, I've been applying for a very large number of jobs. Many of the companies (probably the best of them) have asked me to complete some form of programming assignment. Some were timed, some were live, some were open-ended. Two of the timed ones used hackerrank.
As a job candidate, my experience with hackerrank has been abysmal. I utterly failed the hackerrank tests--not because I got the answers wrong, but because the time ran out before I even figured out how to use the !@#$ interface, what input format was being fed to my subroutine, and where STDERR went, etc.
Compare this to my non-hackerrank tests, and I've been very well received by job recruiters. Google flew me to Mountain View (ultimately they didn't offer me a job, though), and multiple other companies have said they liked my coding, and to date, 3 others (not counting Google) have invited me for on-site interviews.
So I'm pretty sure that the problem isn't simply that my "code test taking" ability isn't there.
Back to hackerrank. I'm sure that I could solve my problems with hackerrank if I spent sufficient time just using the site and learning its nuances, expectations and bugs.
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
As a job candidate, is it worth it to learn the system? Or should I consider hackerrank tests the same way I would consider a large number of IT certifications: GIGO. (And by extension, I likely don't want to work for a company that uses it as a criteria, even if I did pass.)
As a job recruiter, is it valuable? Does it truly filter out "bad" candidates? Or does it filter out good candidates who just don't test well because they haven't spent the requisite hours learning hackerrank?
interviewing recruitment
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
closed as primarily opinion-based by Jane S♦, scaaahu, gnat, yochannah, Masked Man♦ Jul 17 '15 at 8:56
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
This question may well be too subjective for SE, but I'm going to try. Help me make it more focused and objective if possible.
I'm writing from the perspective of a job candidate, but I'm interested in answers from either side of the fence.
In the last 3 months, I've been applying for a very large number of jobs. Many of the companies (probably the best of them) have asked me to complete some form of programming assignment. Some were timed, some were live, some were open-ended. Two of the timed ones used hackerrank.
As a job candidate, my experience with hackerrank has been abysmal. I utterly failed the hackerrank tests--not because I got the answers wrong, but because the time ran out before I even figured out how to use the !@#$ interface, what input format was being fed to my subroutine, and where STDERR went, etc.
Compare this to my non-hackerrank tests, and I've been very well received by job recruiters. Google flew me to Mountain View (ultimately they didn't offer me a job, though), and multiple other companies have said they liked my coding, and to date, 3 others (not counting Google) have invited me for on-site interviews.
So I'm pretty sure that the problem isn't simply that my "code test taking" ability isn't there.
Back to hackerrank. I'm sure that I could solve my problems with hackerrank if I spent sufficient time just using the site and learning its nuances, expectations and bugs.
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
As a job candidate, is it worth it to learn the system? Or should I consider hackerrank tests the same way I would consider a large number of IT certifications: GIGO. (And by extension, I likely don't want to work for a company that uses it as a criteria, even if I did pass.)
As a job recruiter, is it valuable? Does it truly filter out "bad" candidates? Or does it filter out good candidates who just don't test well because they haven't spent the requisite hours learning hackerrank?
interviewing recruitment
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
closed as primarily opinion-based by Jane S♦, scaaahu, gnat, yochannah, Masked Man♦ Jul 17 '15 at 8:56
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
4
Well, their editor is locking up in Chrome, which is enough to make me write them off as irrelevant... (Cute concept. I presume they're hoping to sell lists of pre-screened applicants. But I can immediately see about 6 ways to game their system...)
– keshlam
Jul 16 '15 at 22:00
2
Ask your recruiters. Don't ask us.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jul 17 '15 at 2:21
1
Ask three recruiters, get four answers. Voting to close as primarily opinion based!
– Jane S♦
Jul 17 '15 at 2:28
Anecdotally: I got a job after completing a hackerrank test. Didn't like it. Leaving next week. And yeah, the site itself was the biggest problem - if I hadn't pre-prepared, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to do the test in time. Despite all this, I'm not sure this could be made non-subjective, and/or anything but a hacker rank bashing post, so voting to close.
– yochannah
Jul 17 '15 at 7:32
@yochannah: Why didn't you like it? Is your reason for leaving in any way related to or predictable by their use of hackerrank?
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:27
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
This question may well be too subjective for SE, but I'm going to try. Help me make it more focused and objective if possible.
I'm writing from the perspective of a job candidate, but I'm interested in answers from either side of the fence.
In the last 3 months, I've been applying for a very large number of jobs. Many of the companies (probably the best of them) have asked me to complete some form of programming assignment. Some were timed, some were live, some were open-ended. Two of the timed ones used hackerrank.
As a job candidate, my experience with hackerrank has been abysmal. I utterly failed the hackerrank tests--not because I got the answers wrong, but because the time ran out before I even figured out how to use the !@#$ interface, what input format was being fed to my subroutine, and where STDERR went, etc.
Compare this to my non-hackerrank tests, and I've been very well received by job recruiters. Google flew me to Mountain View (ultimately they didn't offer me a job, though), and multiple other companies have said they liked my coding, and to date, 3 others (not counting Google) have invited me for on-site interviews.
So I'm pretty sure that the problem isn't simply that my "code test taking" ability isn't there.
Back to hackerrank. I'm sure that I could solve my problems with hackerrank if I spent sufficient time just using the site and learning its nuances, expectations and bugs.
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
As a job candidate, is it worth it to learn the system? Or should I consider hackerrank tests the same way I would consider a large number of IT certifications: GIGO. (And by extension, I likely don't want to work for a company that uses it as a criteria, even if I did pass.)
As a job recruiter, is it valuable? Does it truly filter out "bad" candidates? Or does it filter out good candidates who just don't test well because they haven't spent the requisite hours learning hackerrank?
interviewing recruitment
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
This question may well be too subjective for SE, but I'm going to try. Help me make it more focused and objective if possible.
I'm writing from the perspective of a job candidate, but I'm interested in answers from either side of the fence.
In the last 3 months, I've been applying for a very large number of jobs. Many of the companies (probably the best of them) have asked me to complete some form of programming assignment. Some were timed, some were live, some were open-ended. Two of the timed ones used hackerrank.
As a job candidate, my experience with hackerrank has been abysmal. I utterly failed the hackerrank tests--not because I got the answers wrong, but because the time ran out before I even figured out how to use the !@#$ interface, what input format was being fed to my subroutine, and where STDERR went, etc.
Compare this to my non-hackerrank tests, and I've been very well received by job recruiters. Google flew me to Mountain View (ultimately they didn't offer me a job, though), and multiple other companies have said they liked my coding, and to date, 3 others (not counting Google) have invited me for on-site interviews.
So I'm pretty sure that the problem isn't simply that my "code test taking" ability isn't there.
Back to hackerrank. I'm sure that I could solve my problems with hackerrank if I spent sufficient time just using the site and learning its nuances, expectations and bugs.
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
As a job candidate, is it worth it to learn the system? Or should I consider hackerrank tests the same way I would consider a large number of IT certifications: GIGO. (And by extension, I likely don't want to work for a company that uses it as a criteria, even if I did pass.)
As a job recruiter, is it valuable? Does it truly filter out "bad" candidates? Or does it filter out good candidates who just don't test well because they haven't spent the requisite hours learning hackerrank?
interviewing recruitment
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
asked Jul 16 '15 at 21:32
Flimzy
13717
13717
closed as primarily opinion-based by Jane S♦, scaaahu, gnat, yochannah, Masked Man♦ Jul 17 '15 at 8:56
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as primarily opinion-based by Jane S♦, scaaahu, gnat, yochannah, Masked Man♦ Jul 17 '15 at 8:56
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
4
Well, their editor is locking up in Chrome, which is enough to make me write them off as irrelevant... (Cute concept. I presume they're hoping to sell lists of pre-screened applicants. But I can immediately see about 6 ways to game their system...)
– keshlam
Jul 16 '15 at 22:00
2
Ask your recruiters. Don't ask us.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jul 17 '15 at 2:21
1
Ask three recruiters, get four answers. Voting to close as primarily opinion based!
– Jane S♦
Jul 17 '15 at 2:28
Anecdotally: I got a job after completing a hackerrank test. Didn't like it. Leaving next week. And yeah, the site itself was the biggest problem - if I hadn't pre-prepared, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to do the test in time. Despite all this, I'm not sure this could be made non-subjective, and/or anything but a hacker rank bashing post, so voting to close.
– yochannah
Jul 17 '15 at 7:32
@yochannah: Why didn't you like it? Is your reason for leaving in any way related to or predictable by their use of hackerrank?
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:27
 |Â
show 2 more comments
4
Well, their editor is locking up in Chrome, which is enough to make me write them off as irrelevant... (Cute concept. I presume they're hoping to sell lists of pre-screened applicants. But I can immediately see about 6 ways to game their system...)
– keshlam
Jul 16 '15 at 22:00
2
Ask your recruiters. Don't ask us.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jul 17 '15 at 2:21
1
Ask three recruiters, get four answers. Voting to close as primarily opinion based!
– Jane S♦
Jul 17 '15 at 2:28
Anecdotally: I got a job after completing a hackerrank test. Didn't like it. Leaving next week. And yeah, the site itself was the biggest problem - if I hadn't pre-prepared, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to do the test in time. Despite all this, I'm not sure this could be made non-subjective, and/or anything but a hacker rank bashing post, so voting to close.
– yochannah
Jul 17 '15 at 7:32
@yochannah: Why didn't you like it? Is your reason for leaving in any way related to or predictable by their use of hackerrank?
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:27
4
4
Well, their editor is locking up in Chrome, which is enough to make me write them off as irrelevant... (Cute concept. I presume they're hoping to sell lists of pre-screened applicants. But I can immediately see about 6 ways to game their system...)
– keshlam
Jul 16 '15 at 22:00
Well, their editor is locking up in Chrome, which is enough to make me write them off as irrelevant... (Cute concept. I presume they're hoping to sell lists of pre-screened applicants. But I can immediately see about 6 ways to game their system...)
– keshlam
Jul 16 '15 at 22:00
2
2
Ask your recruiters. Don't ask us.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jul 17 '15 at 2:21
Ask your recruiters. Don't ask us.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jul 17 '15 at 2:21
1
1
Ask three recruiters, get four answers. Voting to close as primarily opinion based!
– Jane S♦
Jul 17 '15 at 2:28
Ask three recruiters, get four answers. Voting to close as primarily opinion based!
– Jane S♦
Jul 17 '15 at 2:28
Anecdotally: I got a job after completing a hackerrank test. Didn't like it. Leaving next week. And yeah, the site itself was the biggest problem - if I hadn't pre-prepared, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to do the test in time. Despite all this, I'm not sure this could be made non-subjective, and/or anything but a hacker rank bashing post, so voting to close.
– yochannah
Jul 17 '15 at 7:32
Anecdotally: I got a job after completing a hackerrank test. Didn't like it. Leaving next week. And yeah, the site itself was the biggest problem - if I hadn't pre-prepared, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to do the test in time. Despite all this, I'm not sure this could be made non-subjective, and/or anything but a hacker rank bashing post, so voting to close.
– yochannah
Jul 17 '15 at 7:32
@yochannah: Why didn't you like it? Is your reason for leaving in any way related to or predictable by their use of hackerrank?
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:27
@yochannah: Why didn't you like it? Is your reason for leaving in any way related to or predictable by their use of hackerrank?
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:27
 |Â
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
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up vote
2
down vote
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
Regardless of what we think, the question you need to answer is: do recruiters that offer jobs you want use it? If so, that's the hoop you have to jump through to get the job. Just another part of the application process you may or may not like. Like the dress code for the on site interview.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
suggest improvements |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
Regardless of what we think, the question you need to answer is: do recruiters that offer jobs you want use it? If so, that's the hoop you have to jump through to get the job. Just another part of the application process you may or may not like. Like the dress code for the on site interview.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
2
down vote
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
Regardless of what we think, the question you need to answer is: do recruiters that offer jobs you want use it? If so, that's the hoop you have to jump through to get the job. Just another part of the application process you may or may not like. Like the dress code for the on site interview.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
Regardless of what we think, the question you need to answer is: do recruiters that offer jobs you want use it? If so, that's the hoop you have to jump through to get the job. Just another part of the application process you may or may not like. Like the dress code for the on site interview.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
So my question is, is hackerrank actually useful as a job recruiting tool?
Regardless of what we think, the question you need to answer is: do recruiters that offer jobs you want use it? If so, that's the hoop you have to jump through to get the job. Just another part of the application process you may or may not like. Like the dress code for the on site interview.
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
answered Jul 17 '15 at 5:49
nvoigt
42.6k18105147
42.6k18105147
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
suggest improvements |Â
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
Indeed. It's two sides to the same coin. That's why I've asked about both sides of the issue in my question. This feels to me like a simple re-statement of the question, rather than an answer.
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:26
suggest improvements |Â
4
Well, their editor is locking up in Chrome, which is enough to make me write them off as irrelevant... (Cute concept. I presume they're hoping to sell lists of pre-screened applicants. But I can immediately see about 6 ways to game their system...)
– keshlam
Jul 16 '15 at 22:00
2
Ask your recruiters. Don't ask us.
– Vietnhi Phuvan
Jul 17 '15 at 2:21
1
Ask three recruiters, get four answers. Voting to close as primarily opinion based!
– Jane S♦
Jul 17 '15 at 2:28
Anecdotally: I got a job after completing a hackerrank test. Didn't like it. Leaving next week. And yeah, the site itself was the biggest problem - if I hadn't pre-prepared, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how to do the test in time. Despite all this, I'm not sure this could be made non-subjective, and/or anything but a hacker rank bashing post, so voting to close.
– yochannah
Jul 17 '15 at 7:32
@yochannah: Why didn't you like it? Is your reason for leaving in any way related to or predictable by their use of hackerrank?
– Flimzy
Jul 17 '15 at 13:27