Cracks in the Foundation: Issues with Diversity and the Hiring Process in Computing Fields

Need for Change: How Interview Preparation and the Hiring Process in Computing Can Be Made More Equitable

“…Despite the variations, obtaining any position requires undergoing the hiring process. While facets of hiring such as submitting an application or behavioral interviews may exist in other disciplines, hiring in computing often includes extra assumptions and barriers, such as the development of digital portfolios/websites and technical interviews that require advance preparation [9][10][11]. Technical interviews are a component of the hiring process that tests job candidates' computing knowledge, skills, and problem-solving ability [10,12].…”

“…Technical interviews are a component of the hiring process that tests job candidates' computing knowledge, skills, and problem-solving ability [10,12]. Using whiteboards, text editors, or pencil and paper, these examinations of technical acumen typically require live coding, while also encouraging candidates to speak through their thought process, and to find an optimal solution (in terms of algorithmic efficiency and memory allocation) [9,10]. Prior work has shown that the convergence of these expectations, and the preparation they require, can be a major challenge for graduates looking to start their career.…”