Why Technical Engineering Interviews Are Broken and How to Actually Make Them Better - C++ on Sea

Описание: https://cpponsea.uk​
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Why Technical Engineering Interviews Are Broken and How to Actually Make Them Better - Kristen Shaker - C++ on Sea 2025
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Our process for assessing software engineers is fundamentally but not irrevocably broken. Currently the system fails in its most basic goal: identifying engineers who will succeed on the job. It disenfranchises both candidates and employers, screens out capable engineers, wastes time and resources, and undermines the hiring process itself.

We will first discuss the current landscape of software engineering interviews - including the most ubiquitous categories of interview problems used today. We will discuss how competitive programming - once a niche, recreational activity - has become a prerequisite for job placement for essentially all engineering roles.

From there, we will analyze the gap between what we are trying to assess with these problems and the actual skills that correlate with job performance.

We will discuss the core purpose of the interview process - minimizing risk in hiring by predicting future job performance - in order to understand why both engineers and the companies that employ them are poorly served by the current system. Then we will identify the most important indicators of high job performance and how we can best identify those skills in candidates.

Finally, we’ll present a practical framework for designing interview questions that surface these skills more effectively. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for structuring high-signal, real-world interview processes that better predict impact and performance.
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Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/...

Sponsored by Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/company/val...
Sponsored By think-cell: https://www.think-cell.com/cpponsea
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Kristen Shaker

Kristen Shaker is an accomplished software engineer known for her expertise in C++ refactoring and exceptional leadership abilities. She was previously a Staff Software Engineer on Google’s C++ Core Libraries Team, where she was responsible for making the C++ portion of Google’s code base extensible, maintainable, and understandable via state-of-the-art refactoring tools, targeted guidance, and documentation on complex C++ topics.

Kristen is also a founding member of the New York C++ Meetup group and serves as Chair of the Board of the Boost Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Computer Science from the University of Michigan, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Kristen is currently a real estate relocation specialist dedicated to helping software engineers seamlessly transition into life in New York City. With a deep understanding of the city's competitive real estate market, she combines her analytical expertise, problem-solving skills, and keen attention to detail to match her clients with the perfect home. To learn more about how she can help you, your employees or your clients move to NYC, visit www.shaker.nyc.
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C++ on Sea is the international C++ conference taking place by the sea, in the UK. Our venue is in Folkestone, Kent, near the entrance to the channel tunnel with stunning views across the English Channel.
Annual C++ On Sea Conference - https://www.cpponsea.uk
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