Welcome back to I'm a Software Engineer ~ What Next? The podcast for devs figuring out their next move. Hosted by James Wilson and Matt Sinclair, we talk honestly about what it takes to build a meaningful career in tech.
In this week's episode, we dig into the most debated topic on dev Twitter and LinkedIn: Should software engineers have to do coding interviews?
James recently shared a post on LinkedIn about the reality of coding rounds in interviews — and, well, let's just say it triggered some responses. In this episode, we get into what's changed, why this topic hits so hard, and what better might look like.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why live coding isn't the job — and what hiring managers should be testing instead
- What Matt means when he says: "Some engineers are still living in 2019"
- Why engineers can't afford to be picky anymore (and why that sucks)
- How to evaluate engineers without a whiteboard test
- The tradeoffs between tasks, take-homes, pairing, and probations
- The importance of initiative, communication, and knowing what you're "known for"
Whether you're applying for your next engineering role or hiring your next dev, this one's got real talk, practical advice, and a few rants.
🎧 23 minutes. Zero fluff. Tune in now.
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