[sammydavis]

You are arguing that we should just hire anyone regardless of tech skills if they can carry on a conversation? It takes years to do learn how to do actual complicated programming. I think we need to screen for both tech skills and soft/people skills. I always strive to do both in my interviews.

[baron816]

I'm not saying that, and I doubt there is a very high number of fraudulent applicants to companies. If that becomes an issue, then there are less terrible ways of dealing with it. Wha I am saying is that we should let people's experiences speak for themselves. If someone's been a developer for three years (and didn't get fired for incompetence), then they probably know how to code.

[falsedan]

> I doubt there is a very high number of fraudulent applicants to companies

The payoff is a $100,000 salary that you can collect for a month or two, of course there are fraudulent applications.

> If someone's been a developer for three years (and didn't get fired for incompetence), then they probably know how to code

I've worked with very capable Ph.Ds with wonderful problem-solving & analytical skills who would write the worst code, and were the worst at accepting feedback because of their extremely visible and objective achievements allowed them to believe they didn't need to improve their coding skills (which had already gotten them so far)