The Code Report: Cheating on Technical Interviews

Introduction

• Rise in remote work and AI models has led to increased cheating in technical interviews.
• Estimated 10% attempt to cheat for high-paying tech jobs.

Examples of Rule-Bending Individuals

• Athletes like Lance Armstrong and Mike Tyson, known for bending rules to get ahead.

Cheating in Various Industries

• Academic plagiarism, Ponzi schemes, and alleged chess cheating.

Cheating Techniques in Tech Interviews

Basic Technique: Cribbing Answers

• Using laptops with open tabs to access solutions during remote interviews.
• Classic interview questions like FizzBuzz often reused.
• Failure often due to not understanding logic behind the code or not facing expected questions.

Advanced Technique: Studying Leaked Questions

• Questions leaked online routinely updated; shared via low-key websites and Discord channels.
• GitHub hosts some common interview questions.

Collaboration and AI Assistance

• Friends providing answers discreetly or using AI like ChatGPT for immediate solutions.
• Studies showed varying pass rates for cheaters using AI, with custom questions posing challenges.

Consequences of Cheating

• Immediate rejection from positions.
• Potential blacklisting from companies.
• Reputational damage within the tech community.
• Embarrassment and long-term regret.
• Potential low performance and vulnerability to layoffs if hired.

Conclusion

• Cheating in tech interviews is ultimately a choice with significant risks.
• Importance of integrity in professional development.

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