From: Rick DeNatale <rick.denatale@...>
Date: 2007-06-05T05:32:19+09:00
Subject: Re: [QUIZ] FizzBuzz (#126)

On 6/4/07, Morton Goldberg <m_goldberg@ameritech.net> wrote:
> On Jun 4, 2007, at 3:24 AM, Robert Dober wrote:
>
> > Honestly the idea is awesome, but he should have taken care to get the
> > syntax right. I think it is not a good solution in the exact context
> > but a good distribution for us to have fun.
>
> If I were on the hiring side in the scenario put forth in the quiz
> description, I would look more favorably on a job candidate who came
> up with Phillips' solution than one who came up with a more
> pedestrian one such my own.

Perhaps a particular potential employer might see it that way. I
suspect that most wouldn't, although the good ones would take it as in
indication not of programming but of interpersonal skills.

The elephant in the room in the situation posited by this quiz is that
after a candidate provides some solution, it becomes more of a
psychological compatibility test than a programming skill test.

Some employers/clients might be looking for an employee/consultant who
can program and communicate clearly, probably a good choice in most
situations.

Others might have a liking for overly clever programmers.  This might
be a good choice for them, more likely not. Personally I'd rather work
for/with the first kind of employer/client than the latter.  I tend to
view a interview, from either side of the table, as a dialog searching
for compatibility rather a one-sided interrogation.

Fred Phillips gives a nice whimsical 'solution', it's clever and funny
with the quirky take things literally with an unexpected twist sense
of humor which characterized the late great Gracie Allen, a style
which I personally love and emulate.

Now if I were the potential hirer, thought this whole fizzbuzz test
were a good idean, which is not likely by the way, and I got such a
reply, I'd probably respond by saying "okay, wise guy, now show me how
you'd really do it."

Some of us can program well and communicate clearly, others can write
tricky code, some of us can be humorous. Each of us can all probably
do all three to varying extents.  The trick is choosing the right
combination for the occasion, whether we are interviewing or on the
job.


-- 
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby
http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/