HACKER Q&A
📣 zeroCalories

Are ambiguous interview questions unfair for non-native speakers?


I like to ask questions that are open ended and presented with ambiguous language, but the actual algorithms used to solve the problem tend to be fairly simple. This allows us to talk about the problem and see how they can handle more realistic situations.

One problem I've encountered is that in the past year, over 90% of my interviews have been for international applicants that seem to struggle with anything beyond basic English. I end up having to guide them through the whole conversation, so they get marked down for needing the hints, and usually perform worse for having less time.

I've been told by colleagues that my questions are unfair for this reason, and that I should make my questions more inclusive by making the requirements clear, but I feel like not being able to discuss an ambiguous problem in the company's language is a big red flag, regardless of the reason.

  👤 warrenm Accepted Answer ✓
I pretty much only ask "open-ended questions" when I interview someone (https://antipaucity.com/2011/10/03/doing-technical-phone-scr...) - I want to hear their thought process

And I DO NOT CARE if it is "right" or not!

I want to hear them state assumptions, expectations, etc!

Your relative grasp of English (in my case) is [almost] 100% irrelevant

I want to hear you

Ask me for clarification

Ask me to explain a word/term you do not understand

Then show me how you think!

👤 bell-cot
What level of English skill is needed to perform well in the jobs you're interviewing applicants for?

It doesn't work to hire an accounting genius, whose English isn't up to understanding the IRS instructions, forms, & code, to handle your taxes. But if you (in effect) required a polished Harvard accent for that job, you'd deserve to lose a discrimination lawsuit.

👤 codingdave
Interviews are not just about algorithms - they are about seeing how well people will work together, which includes communication. So if you are presenting these questions in the same way you would talk to them if they are hired, and the communication is not working, then it is fair to include that in your decision-making process.

However, if you are deliberately being ambiguous, communicating in a way that is designed to be trickier than a normal conversation, yes, that is completely unfair.