I believe everyone has faced a home test assignment at least once. It can be either a good or a bad experience. In my case, I've completed about 10 or more, but only once did I receive constructive feedback that actually helped me understand what I needed to improve. Most often, I just got a standard reply:
Unfortunately, we are moving forward with another candidate.
When you’re job hunting, this doesn’t necessarily stop you, but it doesn’t help you improve either. So, let's delve into the four reasons that make me despise home test assignments.
1. No Feedback
Feedback is crucial. Every time I complete a home task, I wonder why companies expect us to invest hours or even days when they aren't willing to spend just 10 minutes on us. I'm not asking for detailed feedback, but a few pointers on why I was rejected would be more helpful than silence. In a role where I hired developers, I ensured every candidate received feedback. We found this approach beneficial, leading to many positive responses and creating a win-win situation.
2. Unclear Requirements
It's frustrating when a company gives a home task with minimal requirements to test creativity. This often leads to misunderstandings, like choosing the wrong framework or designing a UI that doesn’t align with expectations. Such ambiguity can result in hours wasted on deciding which library to use, only to find out later that the task was deemed too complicated.
3. Strict Deadlines
Companies often underestimate the time required for tasks. They might say it takes three hours, but the requirements suggest a full day’s work. Once, when I questioned this, I was told to stick to the three-hour limit, leading to a rushed job without tests or proper documentation. Feedback then criticized the lack of quality, which is unrealistic under such constraints.
4. Setting Up the Project from Scratch
Being asked to set up something like Webpack from scratch within a tight deadline is daunting. It once took me an hour just to configure Webpack, consuming a significant portion of the allotted time. I prefer when companies provide a boilerplate or allow the use of tools like Create React App, which streamline the setup process.
Final Thoughts
What are your likes and dislikes regarding home test assignments? I’d love to hear your experiences.
By the way, if you're interested in more insights, check out my YouTube channel focused on front-end development. You might find something useful!
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