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Ask HN: Today, HR told me I can't test candidates

3 points by vidanay ↗ HN
I have two open positions on my team that I am trying to fill. Today, while talking to HR, we were discussing strategy and when I mentioned that I would like to ask a couple of candidates to come in to the office and take a practical programming test (sample project), I was told that I can't do that. Apparently, any test would have to be "certified" before it could be used. I have no idea exactly what "certified" means in this context.

I guess standard industry practices for everyone from two person start-ups to Google don't mean anything, and we have to make the decision based on simple questions and "gut" instinct during the interview.

Has anyone ever heard of a requirement in the United States whereby software employment tests must be certified?

4 comments

[ 5.2 ms ] story [ 17.9 ms ] thread
bigiain
<cynical thought>So the HR person's cousin has applied, huh?
tlb
If it's a test with a score and a threshold for hiring, it needs to be professionally developed: https://www.hiresuccess.com/blog/is-employment-testing-legal. Such tests are nearly useless for programmers.

What you should do is ask candidates to do a sample project that'll help you understand their strengths and weaknesses so you can dig into them in the interview. That's not a "test" as HR people use the word.

vidanay
Thank you for that link. That is not the type of "test" I am referring to. I am referring to the sample project style "test" that you mention in your second paragraph. This was explained to HR, with examples and references, but they were unconvinced.
smt88
Doesn't sound like a legal requirement. Sounds like HR doesn't want you to design your own test that might expose the company to discrimination suits. That's my guess.

A good substitute is asking someone to walk you through a code review or thinking about how to start a new project. You supply the code or specs, of course.

Programming tests suck for the applicant and don't do a good job of selecting for the traits you want in a new hire.