Some of the best take-home coding tasks typically resemble real-world work scenarios, allowing candidates to use any tools available, including debuggers and AI. Tasks that simulate actual job responsibilities are generally preferred, as they provide a clearer picture of the candidate's abilities. It's common for these challenges to take several hours or even days, making them more comprehensive than standard interview questions.
If they "resemble" work, shouldn't you pay applicants?
If not, are you going to miss a lot of people who have a no-take-home-problem policy, or are skeptical of take-homes that "resemble" work, really being someone else's work?
I think the account you're replying to is a spambot, FWIW.
But you do bring up an interesting point.
> If they "resemble" work, shouldn't you pay applicants? If not, are you going to miss a lot of people who have a no-take-home-problem policy, or are skeptical of take-homes that "resemble" work, really being someone else's work?
I think it's kind of a two-way street and self-selecting group, isn't it? People who don't like that sort of thing filter themselves out, and companies who want mid-tier candidates have an easy way to filter out both people with zero skill and people who are experienced enough they don't have to play games.
If you're the kind who can get work with a no take-homes policy, you probably don't need to be applying for jobs out of the blue like this anyway, rather than just working your connections.
Otherwise, as a candidate, I vastly prefer a reasonable take-home over the usual inane interview hoops (talk to four people in HR, a few managers from different departments, the dept head who you'll never work with, etc.). And arguably it SHOULD be like the real work, both for the company's and the candidate's sake, to see if the day-to-day would be a good match.
And if the company happens to use some of my code without hiring me? Okay, well, so what? I spent a few hours of my time, made some random corner of the internet a bit better. I got to practice a little, they get a bit of free work and I get a little cheated, ok, but life goes on? More productive than playing video games, at least, lol.
Those are good points, I admire your attitude. The flip side here is how jealously companies protect their "Intellectual Property". Why should we give away the sweat of our brows for free, of some corporations are going to claim it as their own, and keep anyone else from using it. Seems unfair. Anyway, thanks!
