Good Questions/Problems for Assessing Documentation Skills in Technical Interviews

When it comes to interviewing candidates for software development positions, one of the often-overlooked skills is documentation. In a field that thrives on clear communication, the ability to document code and processes effectively is paramount. However, finding candidates who genuinely value and understand the importance of documentation can be challenging. This post aims to explore effective interviewing techniques to assess comprehension and documentation skills in candidates.

Understanding the Importance of Documentation

Before diving into interview strategies, let’s briefly touch on why documentation matters. Clear documentation can enhance collaboration, streamline onboarding, and reduce the time spent debugging or reworking code. It serves as a guide for future developers who may interact with your codebase, ensuring that the intent behind architectural decisions and code implementations is preserved.

The Challenge

Many candidates may not take documentation seriously, leading to a reliance on copy-pasting or superficial comments that fail to convey meaningful insights. Therefore, it’s crucial to develop interview questions and problems that reveal a candidate’s true understanding and approach to documentation.

An Innovative Interview Approach

One effective technique is to present candidates with a deliberately poorly written code snippet containing numerous code smells, bugs, and inadequate naming and documentation conventions. Here’s how this approach can help you evaluate a candidate’s comprehension and documentation skills:

Step 1: Code Review Simulation

Instead of putting candidates on the spot with a high-pressure coding problem, invite them to engage in a code review. Present them with a snippet of code that is intentionally flawed and ask them to walk through it as if they were reviewing it for a team.

Step 2: Observing Thought Process

As candidates analyze the code, pay attention to several key areas:

• Time Taken to Understand: How long does the candidate take to comprehend the code? This can indicate their familiarity with the language and their analytical skills.

• Approach to Understanding: Do they read through the code line by line, or do they formulate a strategy to grasp the overall structure first? Their methodology can reveal their problem-solving skills.

• Clarity of Expression: Can they articulate their thoughts clearly? This is crucial for effective documentation, as it reflects their ability to communicate complex ideas simply.

Step 3: Focusing on Relevant Issues

Watch for the specific issues candidates choose to address:

• Documentation and Naming: Do they highlight the lack of meaningful naming conventions or insufficient comments? This is a direct indicator of their appreciation for quality documentation.

• Testability: Are they aware of how documentation impacts testability? Candidates who recognize the relationship between documentation and test-driven development (TDD) often have a more comprehensive understanding of best practices.

Step 4: Analyzing Critique

Finally, consider their overall critique of the code. A candidate who can identify critical errors while also discussing naming conventions and documentation practices is likely to be a strong fit for roles that prioritize clear communication and maintainability.

The Value of This Approach

This interview method serves multiple purposes. Not only does it allow you to gauge a candidate’s technical abilities, but it also reveals their philosophy towards documentation and code quality. Importantly, there is no single right answer, which encourages candidates to demonstrate their unique perspectives and approaches.

Candidates who excel in spotting critical issues, yet overlook documentation may find themselves suited for roles where rapid problem-solving is prioritized over comprehensive documentation. Conversely, those who recognize the significance of documentation alongside technical issues might align better with teams that value sustainable coding practices.

Conclusion

In a landscape that increasingly emphasizes collaboration and maintainability, assessing documentation skills during interviews is critical. By employing a code review simulation with intentionally flawed code, you can gain valuable insights into a candidate’s comprehension and appreciation for documentation. This thoughtful approach not only helps in identifying the right fit for your team but also fosters a culture that values clear communication and quality documentation.

As you refine your interview techniques, consider incorporating this method to help distinguish between candidates who merely code and those who understand the broader implications of their work. After all, great documentation is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a cornerstone of successful software development.