# Rethinking Technical Interviews for Virtual Hiring and AI-Assisted Candidates

DevFeed: [Rethinking Technical Interviews for Virtual Hiring and AI-Assisted Candidates](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/you-can-t-outrun-ai-in-tech-interviews-so-we-designed-around-it-26537.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://annajmcdougall.medium.com/you-cant-outrun-ai-in-tech-interviews-so-we-designed-around-it-018ae0ac4ddd?source=rss-51f15275ef3a------2>)

Author: Anna J McDougall

Published: 2025-04-17T19:08:54Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Anna J McDougall](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/anna-j-mcdougall.md>)

Topics: [Tech Careers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tech-careers.md>), [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [LeetCode](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/leetcode.md>), [Algorithms](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/algorithms.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [algorithms](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/algorithms.md>), [artificial-intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/artificial-intelligence.md>), [careers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/careers.md>), [chatgpt](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/chatgpt.md>), [engineering-management](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering-management.md>), [interview](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/interview.md>), [interviewing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/interviewing.md>), [software-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/software-development.md>), [technical-interview](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/technical-interview.md>), [technology](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/technology.md>)

## AI overview

This opinion article argues that virtual hiring and AI tools have exposed weaknesses in traditional technical interviews. It discusses limitations and equity concerns associated with algorithm assessments and take-home projects, and introduces the McDougall Method at HelloBetter as a proposed response.

## Source excerpt

Building the McDougall Method at HelloBetter: A Fairer, More Modern Approach to Technical Interviews As someone obsessed with tech careers, business growth, and engineering management, I am constantly coming up against the boogey-man of technical interviews. In many ways, tech companies are stuck in the thinking of 20-30 years ago: white boards, algorithms, logic puzzles, and tasks that rotated around an in-person interview space. We're in a new era, where 99% of engineering interviews are done virtually and the candidate's workspace is uncontrollable by the interviewing team. We need to adapt to this, not by simply porting previous methods across to an online platform, but by fundamentally rethinking the skills we expect 21st century software engineers to have. Naturally, opinions about what is wrong with technical interviews are prevalent both from employers and (potential) employees. For example, leetcode-style assessments have long been derided as being a bad test of abilities. "Instead," opponents argue, "you should use take-home tests or projects that the candidate can explain back to you". Ah, but you see, not everyone can afford to let their evenings and weekends disappear into these take-home tests or side projects. Due to this inconveniently linear construct called "time", more experienced engineers start having or caring for families, adopting pets, or (lord forbid) doing sports and hobbies. It's also no big secret that the majority of housework and care duties still tend to be shouldered by women. To put your best foot forward as a candidate, you will create the best possible solution, no matter how many hiring managers tell you to "only spend 2-3 hours on a solution". Therefore, take-home or "own project" technical interviews tend to put older candidates and women candidates at a disadvantage. One other problem popping up nowadays is the prevalence of AI tools for engineers to pass technical interviews, ranging from manually entering prompts into ChatGP