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Why are experienced programmers so hostile toward beginners?

Why do some software companies still ask Aptitude questions to experienced Programmers during interviews?

  • Aptitude tests (mathematical and analytical problems) somehow gained the reputation of measuring one's problem solving skills precisely; but I feel that unfortunately it is not the case. I have a strong feeling that aptitude questions are not an indication of how brilliant a programmer is at solving problems, it is really a bad test that has been used repeatedly in the past for recruiting candidates in many fields including software industry without any good results. I recently interviewed with a company who asked me mathematical problems (distance and speed - train and tunnel, mixtures and alligations - milk and water problems etc). While I understand that it is expected that a person in software industry will be able to answer such questions, why do the companies assume he still knows mathematical formulas etc which he learned in school/college till date. It has been more that 3 years since I last attended or studied for such tests and my knowledge on the the above is rusty. The thing that made me mad is that the interviewer asked me to make the number 27 from numbers 1, 6, 7, 9 in less than 20 secs. What does such a test measure? I am sure that it has no relation to programming. Why are Aptitude questions still considered for hiring experienced developers, do you guys think it accounts for something? I would like answers from people who used or are still using the aforementioned procedure to recruit people, however general ideas from others are also welcome .

  • Answer:

    My answer is just about making "27 from numbers 1, 6, 7, 9". I guess you could view this as an instance of the sum of subset problem, which is taught in most algorithm courses. In this case, even if you add all the numbers, you don't get 27, so the answer is 0.

Aditya N. Joshi at Quora Visit the source

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I tend to agree with you. But even if these questions are in place, there is one aspect that interviewers tend to forget: STRESS! Excellent programmers, with years of experience and excellent academic background, might black out when they are asked to solve such questions in such a short time. A better solution would be either to discuss a full solution of a problem with the interviewer, or ask the candidate to solve a much more complex problem at home. There are multiple websites offering algorithmic and mathematical questions that companies can use, such as Codility. Codility: https://codility.com/

Omri Mendels

Probably a big company like Microsoft either used or believe to have used such questions, and everyone else followed suit.  Then the same big company probably then stopped using those questions for whatever reason, and not everyone followed.  Herd mentality or something like that.

Matthew Ouyang

form 27 by using 1,6,7,9 1+6+7+9+(9-6+1) = 27. spend me 1-2 min to think it out. 20 sec time only genius can do maybe? haha. The answer can do in more simple way, 27 by 1+6+7+9+9-6+1 = 27. It does not state number can not be repeat!

Sozai Danson

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