Comment by wyager
19 hours ago
> A good test is one that evaluates candidates on the tasks that they will do at the workplace
Systematizing this is not feasible. The next best thing (in terms of predictive power for future job success) is direct IQ tests, which are illegal in the US. Next best thing after that are IQ proxies like coding puzzle ability.
> If a candidate's performance improves with practice, then so what?
It means the test isn't measuring anything useful. The extremely broad spectrum skills that benefit a software/eng role aren't something you can "practice".
> The only thing we should care about is that the interview performance reflects well on how the candidate will do within the company.
Agreed, which any Goodhartable test will never do.
Direct IQ tests are not illegal in the US. Several very large companies deliver them to candidates; the most prominent company that administers general cognitive exams for employment purposes has a logo crawl on its front page with names your parents would recognize. If this persistent meme about them being forbidden was real, employment lawyers would be making bank off them. The real reason most companies don't do general IQ testing for candidates is that it's not an effective screen for aptitude.