Why do interviews ask about recursion etc when it’s not really used on the job that much?

Update: 2022-10-04

Description

We had an anonymous question logged in Discord asking why technical interviews keep asking about data structures and algorithms that are rarely used on the job. In my own 26-year career, I've only needed to implement recursion twice, and I made one "trie" (aka "prefix tree") one time in a production setting. Yet we're asked to demonstrate these skills over and over in interviews. Simple -- our interview process is flawed, and companies need to do better about asking us to demonstrate the actual, tangible skills we'll use on a daily basis.

--

This episode came from a live-stream event. Drop by any time and ask questions, or message me privately to ask questions anonymously. https://techinterview.guide/streaming

Check out all of my free content at https://techinterview.guide and the full archive of videos on YouTube, https://youtube.com/iandouglas . If you'd like to subscribe to an audio-only podcast, check out https://techinterview.guide/podcast for more information.

Subscribe to the free Daily Email series -- 6-weeks of hiring perspectives in the tech industry from a manager's point of view, https://tig.fyi/newsletters

If you'd like a free resume review, you can submit it here: https://techinterview.guide/resumereview. Private resume reviews are available.

We have a growing Discord community where you can ask questions, https://tig.fyi/discord

Connect with me on LinkedIn, https://linkedin.com/in/iandouglas736 and use this link to see how my network can benefit your job search: https://tig.fyi/ intros

#interviewprep #careers #techishiring #100devs

Comments

In Channel

Do I tell recruiters that I’m waiting to hear back from other companies?

2022-11-0907:09

I graduated from a bootcamp a year ago and can’t find a job. What am I doing wrong?

2022-11-0717:06

I cancelled an interview and the recruiter sent me a rude response. Should I do anything?

2022-11-0505:59

How can we put a demo link on our resume for things like APIs, desktop/mobile/terminal apps, etc.?

2022-11-0305:28

Should I pursue a full-time dev job, or build a company around a full-stack app I wrote?

2022-11-0114:05

I don’t understand how to solve leetcode problems. Can I just fake it by memorizing answers?

2022-10-3007:15

How do I talk to my employer about getting a Master’s degree while working full-time?

2022-10-2808:22

What are my thoughts about roles like Data Analysis in the tech industry?

2022-10-2604:27

What do I think about companies who give personality tests as part of their interview process?

2022-10-2405:44

How have tech companies adjusted their interview questions over time?

2022-10-2203:30

Another company asked for a take-home assignment. I’m tired of doing these, what can I do?

2022-10-2008:01

Job interviews and assignments are time-consuming. Should we get paid for our time as candidates?

2022-10-1808:33

In an interview, is it better to be a culture fit, or to have strong technical skill?

2022-10-1607:40

What kinds of projects should be on a tech industry resume?

2022-10-1410:57

FLIP THE SCRIPT -- Try negotiating BEFORE you interview, instead of waiting for a job offer!

2022-10-1207:25

Should a resume only be one page long in today’s tech industry?

2022-10-1006:52

Are there any software-related roles at FAANG companies with easier interview processes?