The Frontend Interview Paradox
Looking beyond impressive UIs to fundamental problem solving skills
After evaluating numerous frontend candidates recently, I’ve observed an interesting pattern. While many deliver visually impressive take home projects, a concerning gap exists between presentation and fundamental programming proficiency.
Style Without Substance?
What initially appears as technical competence often reveals concerning patterns upon closer examination:
Common Red Flags
- Excessive code duplication instead of reusable components
- Implementation of unnecessary, overly complex logic
- Limited understanding of their own implementation
- Heavy dependency on AI tools for even minor modifications
These issues, while concerning, aren’t the most troubling discovery from my interviews.
The Fundamental Gap
I posed a straightforward algorithmic question to nearly every candidate:
// Find the largest number in this array:
[6, 27, 53, 80, 9, 45]
Surprisingly, approximately 90% of candidates struggled with this basic problem. This raises an important question about our hiring criteria in today’s AI-assisted development environment.
Why Core Skills Still Matter
- Problem-solving abilities translate across all technical challenges
- Understanding fundamentals leads to better architectural decisions
- Critical thinking helps evaluate AI-generated solutions
- Robust debugging requires logical reasoning
- Long-term adaptability depends on core programming knowledge
What Do You Think?
Should we prioritize candidates who demonstrate strong fundamental problem-solving skills, even if their portfolio projects aren’t as visually impressive?
Can you solve the array problem without AI assistance? Share your approach in the comments.
