I failed an online coding test
Recently, one of my potential clients (I am assuming this client wont be hiring me anytime soon) asked me to take an online coding test.
Update from September 2022 : I failed again, sadly.
And, I failed. Spectacularly, in fact. I scored a super cool 13 %. The test went something like this.
- I was given a coding problem to solve.
- I wrote the algorithm to fix the problem, on a paper/pen combo.
- I wrote the code and it ran on my local computer, as per the test input given to me.
- I put that code on their online compiler, and it ran fine their too.
- But, I failed the performance optimization Unit Test.
- Boom, test over :(
Its been 7 plus years since I started picking up work as a full time freelance developer. Some points of note …
- lead programmer/project owner/software architect on more than five projects. all but one of them were commercial enterprises with end users ranging from hundreds to thousands.
- In almost all of my projects, I am not only the lead developer, but I am also the guy managing testing, requirements gathering and sometimes responsible for deployments and DevOps as well.
- I end up building the whole deployment infrastructure and build the team too.
- I also picked up a Microsoft MVP award on the way.
- and built my own small business, and achieved my childhood goal of not having to work in an office (special shout-out to my parents/mentors and Microsoft technologies like .Net and Azure).
Yet, here we are, an online coding exam, failed! I remember the very first set of job interviews of my life. I kept getting rejected at the first round. Rounds that were were filled with pre-built questionnaires and tests. Most of the time, I was not even eligible to apply for the interview process as my marks (based on tests issued by the university) were too low to qualify.
Then again, my first job was also the very first interview where I got an opportunity to speak with the owner of the business. The entire interview lasted five minutes, and I was hired.
Since then, I have noticed a pattern which has been repeated multiple times.
- Any project where I am being evaluated using pre-built automated systems, I fail like 90% of the time.
- Any project where I am being evaluated by an individual (usually a business owner or a CEO and such), I make it through 90 % of the time.
My last project, once again, I was the lead programmer/one man running the show. I was involved for 18 months. When I joined the project, it was in its very early stages. When In left the project, it was sold at a high price by a big brand. My boss says, my work played a huge role in this sale. The team size was 1 (and my boss) when I joined. When the project was sold, the team had grown to 6 to 10 people.
All my life, especially in my younger years, I would feel bad when I would constantly fail tests. In college, in university, it was a huge de-motivator. At one point (before my first successful job interview), I was convinced that I am a born loser and I will be a failure just like everyone has been saying.
And then, I landed my first job in an interview that barely lasted five minutes. That was 11 years ago. Since then, whether I was working full time in a regular office job or working as a freelancer, I haven’t been unemployed for more than 2 weeks.
So, young developers (and freelancers in general) out there. If you test badly, perhaps are bad at what you do. Or, maybe you are good at what you do, but you were simply not evaluated the right way. Don’t lose hope. By god’s grace, I did not and things have worked out just fine. It will work out just fine for you too.
I work as a full time freelance software developer and coding tutor. Hire me at UpWork or Fiverr. My personal website is here. I also have a Podcast. Thanks for reading.
