When hiring for a developer position, there is usually a target seniority to keep in mind.
If you are using a coding assessment platform, you’ll need to ensure the test matches the seniority you are hiring for. Sure, most technical testing sites put a snazzy tag on their tests with a seniority level – junior, intermediate, or senior. Of course, it is not difficult to choose the “correct” seniority level, but mistakes can be made, and there is often more to each developer than meets the seniority-boxed eye. Believe it or not, the better way to approach seniority in testing is to have each test accommodate all seniorities. Why is this so? Allow us to explain.
The Reality of Developer Work
The everyday work developers do, just as with all professions, contains elements of all difficulty levels. Testing should reflect this reality. Let’s put this into context: Say a senior developer aces the difficult parts of a test but misses the easy things; this is an immediate red flag. As an employer, the last thing you want to be doing is constantly worrying about your employee’s inattentiveness and having to micromanage their tasking to only work on tasks of a specific difficulty or nature. In contrast, with a junior, why give them a junior-level coding test when, with a balanced test, you can see if they will overachieve and surprise you? Codeaid can help you do just that! I will tell you if a candidate scores in line with their seniority or if they under or overachieve.
Verify, Verify, Verify: Uncovering the True Potential
If the results don’t align with the expected seniority, it’s time to take a closer look. Longer coding tests with balanced difficulty profiles are particularly well-suited to do this. For example, if a senior is sloppy, give them a chance to show that their lack of attention to detail is not part of their character. Conversely, perhaps you have a very motivated junior candidate that scored well, but you think they can do even better if given some feedback and time to test that theory.
Codeaid’s Feedback & Fix feature is excellent for such situations as it allows you to give automatically-generated, limited feedback to a candidate. With this, you can see if a concerning or promising aspect of a candidate’s initial performance continues.
The Calibration Balancing Act
As we mentioned above, longer coding tests support this comprehensive approach to seniority in testing. If a test is only 1-2 hours in length, it’s difficult to have meaningful elements of all difficulty levels. However, creating such a test requires careful calibration. Prior to publishing a Codeaid test challenge, we calibrate and fine-tune it using developers of known seniority. Once a coding test is public, the seniority scores are monitored to ensure proper separation and spread and can be adjusted by changing unit test weightings and by adding new content.
However, calibration is not only about scores. It is also about testing time. Juniors shouldn’t take 10x longer than seniors, but rather a 3x difference would be more reasonable. Keep in mind that it can take time for the calibration to settle into equilibrium. Calibration may look good at first glance, but as more test samples come in, problems can emerge, so long-term monitoring is essential.
The Takeaway: Don’t Box Candidates In
The bottom line is that a properly designed coding assessment should have richness, duration, and calibration accuracy that allows candidates to surprise both on the positive and negative sides. Don’t put candidates in a box before you even hire them, get a truer view of all their capabilities within various levels with Codeaid.
Related Blogs
August 29, 2023by Codeaid Team
Addressing the Shortage of Software Engineers: Effective Strategies & Tips
In the rapidly evolving tech world, software engineers are some of the most sought-after professionals. Yet, the demand for skilled experts outstrips the supply, leading to a global shortage of qualified software engineers.
Constructing AI-Proof Coding Tests: All You Need to Know
AI is reshaping landscapes across all industries, and the tech sector is no exception. In fact, about 92% of US-based developers already use AI-based tools for code writing and debugging.
Developing software applications is not just about writing code. It is also about architecting the system to be understandable, extendable, reliable, and scalable.
Decoding Subjectivity in Coding Test Grading: How to Ensure Fair Assessments
In 2022, poor-quality software in the US cost about $2.41 trillion.
So, it’s no wonder that an increasing number of tech recruiters are searching for more effective ways to find the best talent.
While many software developers are proactive in learning new technologies on their own time, relying solely on this approach can leave gaps in their knowledge and skills. In a more direct nutshell, they might not be learning what you need them to learn.
Cracking the Code: Making Coding Skills Tests a Win-Win
Let’s face it, no one is thrilled about taking a coding test, especially top-notch candidates who have their pick of the litter when it comes to job opportunities.
Globally, there is a significant developer shortage and that, coupled with remote work being the norm these days, incentivizes companies to go beyond the usual group of candidates and testing techniques.
Why should you test coding skills? Let’s face it: it’s easy for developers to make themselves sound like Developer of The Year when you don’t have any evidence that proves otherwise.
In our commitment to protect your privacy and deliver an exceptional browsing experience, we use cookies on our website. Cookies help us analyze site traffic, personalize content, and enhance overall site functionality. By continuing to use our site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Discount Popup
Get 20% OFF – Valid for Entire Subscription, No Expiry Date!
Don’t miss out! Receive a 20% discount code that can be used for the purchase of any plan.
Terms & Conditions
The discount is limited to one coupon per account.
A coupon can be used as long as the account remains active.
Coupons cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions.
Coupons cannot be transferred to any third parties.
Coupons are valid for a limited time and Codeaid reserves the right to modify or cancel coupons any time.
Failure to comply with the above terms may result in the invalidation of the coupon and refusal of the discount and any disputes related to these terms and conditions are subject to the Codeaid’s Terms of Service.