I’m a software engineer who sometimes interviews other software engineers. I’m not given a script to go off of, I get to ask them whatever I want. Usually we just talk about technology and coding from a high level. I’m not a big fan of whiteboard tests.

I’ve noticed, however, that a lot of people applying to software engineering jobs feel very alien to me. I started coding when I was 12 and spent most of my teenage years on technology forums. A lot of people applying to these positions are very much ladder-climbing type people who got into the career for the money. Working with these people is an absolute drag.

We also interview for “culture fit”. I would like to add in a single question to my interviews to assess that: what is your favorite science fiction book. You don’t even have to have read it recently, you just have to have read one and formed an opinion on it. My thoughts

Pros:

  • Weeds out a lot of people since half of Americans don’t read books at all.
  • Theoretically filters out people who love this kind of tech subculture from people who are just in it for the money

Cons:

  • It’s unfair to people who enjoy fantasy novels, or any other form of fiction
  • Being motivated by money probably shouldn’t be a disqualifying factor (I certainly wouldn’t do this job for free), I’m just tired of working with yuppies and lashing out at poor unsuspecting Jr Devs

I’m half-hearted on this. I see why it could be considered unfair but I’m really tired of the kinds of people I work with.

  • LibbEnglish
    5·
    3 hours ago

    Other Cons:

    • Keep in mind a lot of people don’t read much, if at all which is sad. Meanwhile, you still need to hire people.
    • We’re all motivated by money. Like you said you don’t work for free. Neither would I. A job is a job and for most people it means sacrificing very precious hours of their time (time they will never get back, no matter how well they get paid) in exchange for that money. It’s nothing but a contract which can be summarized as this: you give me money, I give you my expertise/willingness to sweat on my part of that contract. End of the contract. We’re not family, we’re not (yet) friends (and we never be), as an employer you have no say in what I do outside of work (no matter how it’s becoming the norm to think the opposite), and what I like to read is none your business as my employer. Obviously, we may both be willing to talk about it but that’s a personal choice. I just re-read P.K. Dick’s Ubik, have you read it?