Comment by swatcoder

> It's pretty hard to extract a signal from that.

It's hard to extract a signal about prospective work quality from anything but a trusted referal or a probationary hire. It's not like there's a great alternative just being ignored.

Some orgs feel more comfortable assuming that whiteboard performance represents general aptitude rather than drill practice, some are more comfortable assuming that small assignments represent work simulation rather than plagiarism or misrepresentation. Both approaches are swamped by noise, but when you're sieving innumerable applicants and are accountable to an image of fairness and standardization, you have to use something.