We compiled a library of realistic engineering take-home tests and ranked them
As an interviewer, I believe take home tasks are unfair and also poor return on investment.<p>Take home tasks incentivise candidates to burn as much time as possible on the task. Consequently, they are a test of who is willing to put a week of work even when the instructions say it should not take more than 3 hours to complete.<p>I prefer pair programming with the candidate on the premise that if I ask you to spend 2 hours of your time it is only fair that I also spend this time with you. And also give you a chance to learn about me, your future boss.<p>Not to mention I can learn more about you working with you for half an hour than I would ever learn by studying the code you might or might not have written yourself.