“Tests” are Not UsefulMaking the Most of Your Network

Another Take on Puzzles in Interviews

April 8th, 2005

I thank Keith Ray who forwarded this gem to me from the XP mailing list:

“Puzzles are fantastic. They’re an instant way of figuring out whether you want to work for the organisation or not.” — Adrian Howard

When I teach interviewing, people tell me they like puzzles because they think they’re watching how people will work at work, and as one developer said, “I don’t have to think of other questions this way.”Puzzles are not a good predictor of ability at work. Those behavior-description questions are.

It’s more time-consuming, but take a little time and think of great questions to ask. You won’t lose people like Adrian before you even get started.

Entry Filed under: interview question


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