In order to build strong teams and successful organizations it is crucial to find the right people. This is why hiring, and the design of your hiring process is so important. Any good hiring process will consist of several different methods, capturing different parts of the candidate’s skill set and potential. One key method to include is a work-sample test, meaning a method that simulates one or several work tasks the candidate will perform on the job. For engineering roles, the best type of work sample test is often a coding tests.
What Are Coding Tests?
Coding tests are a form of work sample assessment designed to evaluate a candidate's technical skills in a realistic setting. These tests help determine how well a candidate can:
Write efficient and correct code under constraints.
Solve complex programming problems.
Apply logical thinking and debugging skills.
Work with real-world algorithms, data structures, and development environments.
The Link Between Coding Tests and Job Performance
A large meta study published by Sackett et al. looked at several decades of research over different selection tools’ ability to predict job performance. The correlation between job performance and a work sample test is 0.33, making it one of the better methods to rely on.
Best Practices for Implementing Coding Tests
To maximize the effectiveness of coding tests in hiring, consider these best practices:
Make tests role-specific – Ensure that the coding challenges reflect the actual work a candidate would do on the job.
Evaluate more than just correctness – Assess code quality, efficiency, and problem-solving approach rather than just final outputs.
Balance challenge with fairness – Avoid overly complex tasks that do not reflect real work scenarios or exclude strong candidates due to unnecessary difficulty.
Combine with other assessments – Coding tests should be used alongside structured interviews and technical discussions for a well-rounded evaluation.
With Alva’s coding tests you can easily find a suitable coding challenge for the particular role and seniority you are looking for. You can also add your own unique challenges and leverage Alva’s candidate experience and structured way of evaluating the results.