Refactoring Backend Engineering Hiring at Slack

For anyone who’s ever been involved in the hiring process, it’s no easy feat — particularly in a growing company. To get hiring practices right, it takes iteration based on feedback — both on the internal processes within your company as well as on the external process a candidate experiences. Continuously improving hiring is important for a host of…

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Chase Rutherford-Jenkins
•12 min read•advanced•
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ChefGitJenkinsJuliaPythonReactTypeScript

Overview

The article discusses the refactoring of the backend engineering hiring process at Slack, focusing on the evolution of their take-home coding exercises and onsite interviews. It highlights the need for efficiency in hiring while maintaining quality, ultimately leading to a new code review exercise that reduced time-to-hire significantly.

What You'll Learn

1

How to create effective coding exercises that balance quality and time investment for candidates

2

Why using GitHub for coding assessments can streamline the hiring process

3

How to implement a code review exercise that evaluates practical skills

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Understanding of coding assessment methodologies
  • Familiarity with GitHub and its API(optional)

Key Questions Answered

What changes were made to Slack's backend engineering hiring process?
Slack revamped its hiring process by replacing a time-consuming take-home exercise with a more efficient code review exercise. This new approach allowed candidates to demonstrate their skills in a realistic context while reducing the time required for both candidates and interviewers.
How did Slack measure the effectiveness of the new hiring exercises?
Slack measured the effectiveness of the new exercises by comparing the time-to-hire metrics before and after the changes. They observed a decrease in the average time-to-hire from 200 days to below 83 days, indicating improved efficiency in their hiring process.
What were the main attributes Slack looked for in candidates?
Slack sought candidates who demonstrated craftsmanship, security awareness, performance considerations, maintainability, documentation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with empathy. These attributes were essential for ensuring candidates fit well within the team.

Key Statistics & Figures

Average time-to-hire
decreased from 200 days to below 83 days
This significant reduction highlights the effectiveness of the new hiring processes implemented at Slack.

Technologies & Tools

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Platform
Github
Used for administering coding exercises and facilitating code reviews.
Programming Language
Typescript
Used in the development of the Slack Engineering Recruiting Tools application.
Frontend Framework
React
Used to build the user interface for the Slack Engineering Recruiting Tools application.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Implement a structured coding assessment that minimizes candidate time investment while maximizing signal quality.
By refining the coding exercise to a code review format, Slack was able to attract more candidates who might have been deterred by lengthy assessments.
2
Utilize GitHub for administering coding exercises to leverage its built-in collaboration tools.
This approach not only simplifies the grading process but also allows candidates to engage with a platform they are likely familiar with, enhancing their experience.
3
Continuously gather feedback from candidates and interviewers to improve the hiring process.
Slack's iterative approach to refining their hiring practices demonstrates the importance of adapting based on real-world experiences and feedback.

Common Pitfalls

1
Overly complex take-home exercises can deter potential candidates from applying.
Slack found that their original take-home exercise was too burdensome, leading to a need for a more efficient assessment that candidates could complete in a reasonable time frame.

Related Concepts

Hiring Best Practices
Coding Assessment Methodologies
Candidate Experience In Technical Interviews