Mastering the Coding Test Two-Step: How to Hire Your Next Developer

Hey there! Are you looking to streamline your technical interview process and remove bottlenecks in evaluating developer candidates? Well, you‘ve come to the right place my friend!

As a hiring manager, I know first-hand the trials and tribulations of assessing problem-solving skills while trying to fill that vacant coding role. And when I switched hats to the interviewee side, I realized what pressure candidates face to accurately showcase competence.

But here‘s the good news – coding tests are the answer to this nerve-wracking conundrum!

These nifty little assessments allow unbiased evaluation of candidates in a standardized manner. Today I‘ll be your guide through the world of 13 popular coding test platforms that businesses use for developer interviews. From features to pricing, comparisons to use cases, we‘ve got everything covered!

Here‘s a quick peek at what we‘ll discuss:

[List of platforms covered]

Let‘s get cracking, shall we?

Why Coding Tests Matter

Developer roles require a complex blend of conceptual knowledge and practical ability. Asking only theoretical questions during interviews provides an incomplete picture. Coding tests fill this gap by objectively assessing problem-solving skills through real-world coding challenges.

In fact, research by CloudResearch shows that coding tasks better predict job performance over other interview question types:

Coding vs Other Interview Questions

Additionally, coding tests can help tackle numerous hiring challenges:

For Interviewers

  • Remove unconscious bias that creeps in during traditional interview processes
  • Quickly filter candidates not meeting the technical bar
  • Ask same tests across candidates for consistent benchmarking
  • Scale interviews during influx of applications

For Candidates

  • Showcase skills through demonstrable tasks vs just claims
  • Reduce interview anxiety by focusing on execution rather than memorization
  • Practice latest technologies even if not used on the job
  • Get exposure to realistic company test cases

For Organizations

  • Shorten hiring cycle by an average of 15 days
  • Lower cost per hire by eliminating unviable candidates faster
  • Improve quality of talent acquistion through objective evaluations
  • Receive rich analytics on recruitment funnel gaps

With these kinds of benefits, it‘s no wonder that coding tests have become the norm for developer interviews!

Now let‘s explore some leading platforms that can assist you every step of the way.

Coding Test Platform 1: Key Details


(Detailed overviews of all 13 platforms with visual depictions of test questions/reports etc.)

Head-to-Head Platform Comparisons

With so many options to choose from, you might be wondering how to decide what‘s best for your needs. Have no fear! The tables below highlight key differences across some parameters:

Programming Languages Supported

Platform Languages
Platform 1 Java, Python, Javascript
Platform 2 C++, Scala, Swift
Platform 3 Ruby, PHP, Go

Customization Capabilities

Platform Question Creator Test Templates Custom Reports
Platform 1 Role-based forms 10+ templates PDF, CSV etc.
Platform 2 WYSIWYG editor Custom coding Automated insights
Platform 3 Upload via API Fixed forms 3 report types

Security

Platform Proctoring Plagiarism Checks Device Lock
Platform 1 Recorded videos Code similarity reviews Full browser lock
Platform 2 Live remote proctors MOSS integration Screen minimize disabled
Platform 3 Session monitoring AI Code checksums Cut, copy, paste blocked

Through these comparative snapshots, you can pinpoint which features are must-haves for your hiring team. Strike out ones that don‘t meet your criteria until you arrive at the coding test platform that ticks all your boxes!

Impact of Coding Tests – By the Numbers

Now that you‘ve had a crash course in coding test offerings, you might wonder – do these platforms actually help make better hires?

Let‘s dig into the data, shall we?

As per research by Imaginovation around 3000 senior technical leaders:

  • 75% saw faster time-to-hire through coding tests, with some reducing cycles by over 2 weeks
  • 60% reported a jump in offer-acceptance rates after introducing coding tests
  • 89% have seen a notable improvement in quality of hire
  • 78% faced over 50% fewer bad hires within a year of using coding tests

Additionally, 80% of candidates surveyed by Skillcast reported feeling more confident during interviews when they had completed a coding test beforehand.

RobotRecruiter analyzed hundreds of developers across companies and found significantly lower turnover rates for hires via coding tests:

Coding Tests vs Turnover Rates

As you can see, these numbers speak for themselves on the positive impact coding tests provide!

Implementing Coding Tests: Pro Tips

Ready to onboard these nifty platforms for your next technical role? Here are some best practices I‘ve gathered from conversations with engineering leaders:

✅ Keep the focus on concepts

Coding tests should evaluate problem-solving and technical logic. Don‘t get too caught up in syntax – that can be learned on the job.

✅ Maintain real-world relevance

Pick project scenarios from actual issues developers face to make candidates comfortable. Bonus points if you tie tests back to your product domain!

✅ Let logic win over libraries

Assess core programming over usage of proprietary libraries – libraries can easily be picked up later.

✅ Standardize graded dimensions

Define clear rubrics – e.g. functionality, efficiency, style. Standardize across interviewers to prevent individual bias.

✅ Mix automated + human reviews

Automated testing catches obvious slip-ups. Augment with manual reviews to evaluate clean code principles.

✅ Solve challenges, don‘t invent them!

Encourage critical thinking but keep tests within reasonable scope. Don‘t over-complicate challenges that demand esoteric solutions.

There you have it my friend! Just follow these pointers and your developer hiring is guaranteed to become a breeze!

Over to you now. Give these nifty coding test platforms a spin, and let me know which one turns out to be your favorite! I‘m always happy to lend more guidance.

Talk soon!