Smart people will learn what they need to to do a job if they're interested in it.
Google has decided that the only way to tell if someone is smart is by asking academic questions.
Even though anyone with half a brain knows that there are other ways to gauge how smart a person is... such as experience.
Does anyone really think Max can't look up how to invert a binary tree if he needs to do that? He obviously knows how to read and learn. So why is that a reason to reject someone?
Google is filled with smart people.. but their interview process is pretty stupid.
> Google is filled with smart people.. but their interview process is pretty stupid.
Google is filled with people who can solve Data Structure / Algorithm questions in 50 minutes on a whiteboard. Their interview process selects for people whose past experiences led them to being able to solve Data Structure / Algorithm questions in 50 minutes on a whiteboard.
The extent to which solving Data Structure / Algorithm questions in 50 minutes has anything to do with building maintainable production software, developing talent, a good working environment, or even this mysterious concept known as "being smart" is up for debate.
> Google is filled with people who can solve Data Structure / Algorithm questions in 50 minutes on a whiteboard.
I wonder about that, actually. I mean sure, right after they're hired, I bet they're GREAT at doing whiteboard problems. But then after a few years of real work, I bet they've coded about as many algorithms from scratch as the guy from Unknown, Inc. (which is approximately two) and they probably wouldn't even pass another Google interview without a boatload of practice.
Google has decided that the only way to tell if someone is smart is by asking academic questions.
Even though anyone with half a brain knows that there are other ways to gauge how smart a person is... such as experience.
Does anyone really think Max can't look up how to invert a binary tree if he needs to do that? He obviously knows how to read and learn. So why is that a reason to reject someone?
Google is filled with smart people.. but their interview process is pretty stupid.