←back to thread

Ask HN: What are some of the best take-home coding tasks you've gotten?

9 points n2d4 | 6 comments | 19 Nov 24 11:40 UTC | HN request time: 0.804s | source | bottom

As an applicant, I've personally had a mixed experience with take-homes. We're designing the technical interviews right now, and I thought I'd ask for some stories on exciting take-home tasks. We're looking for something that resembles the actual job, so we'll allow any tool (including AI and debuggers).

Also curious to hear about any bad ones you've done.

1. bravetraveler ◴[20 Nov 24 08:24 UTC] No.42191806[source]▶
The ones that happened in the interview. I'm not working for free, I expect a modicum of investment from the hiring business - we're doing it live or not at all.
replies(2): >>42192084 #>>42193131 #
2. muzani ◴[20 Nov 24 09:14 UTC] No.42192084[source]▶
It's exclusionary. People who do take homes don't like doing live coding and vice versa.

If the culture is take home, please don't convert it into a live interview; you'll get neither.

replies(1): >>42192201 #
3. bravetraveler ◴[20 Nov 24 09:34 UTC] No.42192201[source]▶
It is exclusionary. Both ways. When I'm interviewing, the business is also. It's insurance, at a price. Filters should filter.

If I can't make a case live, but must go off with some pet project while imagining their behavior... I don't want that interview/work. Folks will certainly disagree, just here to remind of agency.

The best firms gave options. Am adult, will work under agreeable terms. One of those terms is "together" (time, not space), despite my own social anxiety. The same way the business hopes to select with this process, I will too.

None of this is to judge others - do what you prefer, but please do realize this 'take home' approach can be taken advantage of [again, for either side].

replies(1): >>42192821 #
4. muzani ◴[20 Nov 24 11:18 UTC] No.42192821{3}[source]▶
Yup, remote is often the opposite. I don't want to work with someone hovering over my shoulder. The hire should also be okay with nobody watching them for a while.

I get that some people want to be respected for their time, and that has to be built into the process before and after any take home tests are given - compensation, trial buddy, flight & hotel room, detailed feedback after the test.

5. n2d4 ◴[20 Nov 24 12:05 UTC] No.42193131[source]▶
For context, the take home we're looking to do would happen after we've already interviewed them. We're not thinking of anything huge — something like an hour of work.

We're also doing a paid trial period, though that would be after the interview + take home.

replies(1): >>42193393 #
6. bravetraveler ◴[20 Nov 24 12:37 UTC] No.42193393[source]▶
Apologies if I came in too hot - none of this is a judgement against anything. I just see trends in the industry at large and expect a lot of newbies to be lurking. For every however many honest businesses, I get the sense more are unscrupulous

If nothing else, take this as a scar some of those who are interested may be carrying