[alexanderh]

I don't respect any HR Team/Company that demands tests, assessments or homework as part of the interview/onboarding process. If you don't have a competent enough team, that can identify I know what you need me to know just by talking to me, I don't respect your company philosophy, I will assume your team is incompetent or not fully formed, and I will choose not to work for you. Its a cheap cop-out for HR to not have to do their job and not have to involve working members of the team in the hiring process. If you need to "Test" me to hire me, I find it disrespectful. It means you already don't trust me, so I will never trust you.

Also there's lots of incredible talent out there, who are horrible test takers or do poorly under the context of the stress of performing for an interview... these people actually tend to be more talented than the people that are good test takers and good under that kind of pressure. You're shooting yourself in the foot by not considering them.

Hiring "the best candidate for the job" is a nebulous term that HR has misinterpreted to mean "most technically skilled during an unrealistic interview test". The best candidate is really the person who interfaces with a team the best on an interpersonal level, and they will grow in to their position over time, and fill in any gaps in technical experience they don't have if they are truly passionate about their field. Either a lead person has leadership traits or they don't. Some technical homework assignment and presentation will prove nothing.