Some typical technical interview practices can be harmful and get in the way of hiring great people. April Wensel offers advice to help fix the technical interview process.

She recommends:

• hire for mindset and attitude
• look for empathy and mentorship skills
• allow candidates to show their strengths instead of hunting for weaknesses
• have the candidate leave feeling good about themselves and your company, regardless of the hiring decision

Some topics discussed:

• interview questions to bring out stories of skills and successes
• stereotype threat
• diversity
• interview hazing
• white boards
• coding challenges
• unconscious bias
• emotional intelligence
• myth of talent shortage
• pair programming and collaboration during interviews
• mirrortocracy
• cultural add vs cultural fit
• empathy
• mentoring

This episode is important for anyone going into a technical interview, as a candidate, as a hiring manager, or as a member of an interview team.

Special Guest: April Wensel.

Links:

• Compassionate Coding
• Leave Your “Gut” Out of Hiring Decisions
• If You Can Use a Fork, You’re “Technical” — April Wensel
• Project Include