Kyle Wiens, the CEO of a software development company, gives an English grammar test to prospective employees. Here's why:
If
it takes someone more than 20 years to notice how to properly use
"it's," then that's not a learning curve I'm comfortable with. So, even
in this hyper-competitive market, I will pass on a great programmer who
cannot write.
Grammar signifies more than just a person's ability
to remember high school English. I've found that people who make fewer
mistakes on a grammar test also make fewer mistakes when they are doing
something completely unrelated to writing — like stocking shelves or
labeling parts.
But why is this important for computer programmers?
You
see, at its core, code is prose. Great programmers are more than just
code monkeys; according to Stanford programming legend Donald Knuth they
are "essayists who work with traditional aesthetic and literary
forms." The point: programming should be easily understood by real human
beings — not just computers.
And just like good writing and good
grammar, when it comes to programming, the devil's in the details. In
fact, when it comes to my whole business, details are everything.
I
hire people who care about those details. Applicants who don't think
writing is important are likely to think lots of other (important)
things also aren't important.
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