As a job applicant, you need to peruse job sites and tap into your networks to discover the perfect software engineering job. As an employer looking for talent, you want to ensure you’re selecting the candidate with the best value.
But how do you determine if an applicant is actually familiar with the skills they list on their resume? With Hackerrank, you can get a better idea of what you are dealing with in a potential candidate.
What Is Hackerrank?
Hackerrank is a software platform that helps tech companies through the hiring process. It streamlines the process of hiring software developers, IT professionals, and engineers.
It also serves as a platform for tech companies and employers to gather and discuss the latest trends, news, and other developments in the sector. Think of it as a mix of LinkedIn and Indeed.
On the flip side, software engineers looking for a job can use the platform to practice competitive programming, or any other skill an employer may want to see.
So, is Hackerrank a resource that employers and future employees should use? Let’s examine how the website works and whether it is ultimately worth your time.
How Does Hackerrank Work?
So how does a Fortune 100 company, which makes up 25 percent of Hackerrank’s clientele, go about hiring an employee using Hackerrank?
Using Hackerrank, employers administer technical tests to potential employees. If they pass the test, it means they have what it takes to work at that specific tech company. Likewise, potential employees can brush up on their technical skills in their field with Hackerrank’s practice tests and questions.
It serves as a challenging, yet fair, test of a professional’s software knowledge and expertise. It will prepare them for software engineer interviews and can open the door for opportunities at top tech companies. You can even share your test results on Twitter and Facebook.
The Hackerrank Process for Employers
Finding an employee with a solid grasp on tech is probably easier said than done. While your company is being inundated with job applications from people who know how to code, you will want to be sure that you’re hiring the very best candidate for the job.
While you may decide to interview a competent programmer who knows Python and JavaScript, you might also want to use Hackerrank to see what they can actually do rather than what they claim they can do.
The Hackerrank Process for Job Candidates
Say you are applying for a job and a hiring manager requires you to complete a test on Hackerrank. The website will give you a series of test questions specific to whichever field of tech you’re applying to. You must solve the problems and display your results so that hiring managers and companies can view them.
Although testing job candidates is indisputably a good idea, there’s some disagreement among programmers and software engineers as to the methods that should be followed. While it’s always useful to test a programmer’s knowledge, many tech jobs aren’t based on linear issues. However, this doesn’t mean that Hackerrank’s tests aren’t useful.
The Verdict: Is Hackerrank Right for You?
If you’re an up-and-coming software engineer, signing up for a Hackerrank trial may be a good idea to help you land a job. However, one downside to the resource is its steep price.
A membership costs around $249 a month. For many companies, this is no problem. However, the cheapest version of the plan only allows your company to interview one candidate in-depth. To acquire more interviews, you will have to pay more.
Aside from the price, Hackerrank is sleek and easy to use. It makes testing the problem-solving skills of potential employees in many fields simple.
Likewise, as a job candidate, you can really get some mileage out of Hackerrank’s practice problems and challenges. While there are differing opinions in the tech community on the effectiveness of algorithmic challenges, it’s still a useful way to define your skills and identify areas you need to work on.
Keep in mind that you will most likely not be learning new skills with Hackerrank, as it does not provide tutorials. If that’s fine with you, sign up for Hackerrank’s free trial to see how the process works and what you can expect from a future employer.
Hackerrank FAQs
Test cases are questions in the coding section. Think of them as mini-modules that you need to pass. If you pass one test case, you’ll move onto the next. If you don’t solve the problem correctly, a “wrong answer” notice will appear.
Yes. Once you complete relevant tests, it will allow you to move on and apply for tech jobs.
To test for a particular company, you need to get in touch with that specific company and set up a test with it.
The community dashboard on Hackerrank is fantastic. It allows you to solve practice problems and socialize with other job seekers.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
