Guide · Open source
How to use hiring-without-whiteboards to research employers
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
hiring-without-whiteboards is a community-maintained list of companies and teams that say they use realistic interview methods, such as pairing on a real problem or a take-home exercise, instead of whiteboard puzzles or CS trivia. This guide shows you how to read the list, how to get a local copy, and how to check entries before you rely on them. It is a plain list of text entries, not a program to install.
Hiring Without Whiteboardspoteto/hiring-without-whiteboards · ★ 53.1k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the repository. Go to github.com/poteto/hiring-without-whiteboards in your browser and read the README.
- 2Clone it if you want a local copy. Run git clone https://github.com/poteto/hiring-without-whiteboards in a terminal.
- 3Pick your interview format. Search the page for terms like take-home, pair, or work sample.
- 4Filter by location. Use the section headings and location column to find companies in the places you can work.
- 5Read the stage descriptions. Note how many rounds each company describes and whether they include a practical exercise.
- 6Verify before applying. Confirm the current process with the company, since entries are community-submitted.
- 7Report outdated entries. If your experience differs from an entry, open a pull request to remove or correct it.
What the hiring-without-whiteboards list contains
The project is a README file organized alphabetically into sections such as 0 - 9 and A - C. Each entry gives a company name, a link, one or more locations, and a short description of the interview steps.
The list is built around a simple idea. The README says that discussing a real-world problem, with or without a whiteboard, is a good sign, and solving CS trivia, technical puzzles, riddles or brainteasers is not.
- Company name with a link to its careers or home page
- Location, such as a city, country or Remote
- Short description of the interview steps, such as a take-home project or a pair-programming session
Read the list online or clone the repository
The simplest way to use the list is to open the repository on GitHub and read the README in your browser. The project's install method is listed as read-online, and no prerequisites are listed.
If you want a local copy, the README gives this command to clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/poteto/hiring-without-whiteboardsFind employers that match the interview format you want
Scan the description column of each entry for the format you prefer. Entries that mention take-home projects, pair programming, live coding of a daily task, or a discussion of a real problem match the kind of process the list is looking for.
Some entries also name the stages of the process, such as a phone screen followed by a technical discussion. Read these as the company's own description, not as a guarantee of how your interview will go.
- Search the page for terms such as take-home, pair, or work sample
- Filter by location to find roles near you or remote roles
- Check the stage descriptions to see how many rounds to expect
Check entries before you apply
The README says entries are community-submitted and may be out of date. It asks people who have been through an interview with a listed company, and found that their experience differs from the description, to open a pull request to remove it.
Before you spend time on an application, confirm the process with the company or a recent candidate. The list is a starting point for research, not a verified record.
- Treat each description as a claim from a submitter, not a fact about the current process
- Ask the recruiter directly about the number and format of interview rounds
- Note that the list points to recommendations and other reads, which you can use to judge interview practices
Contribute an addition or a correction
The README asks contributors to open a pull request to add a company, and to open one to remove a company whose interview process no longer matches its description. The repository has a link for opening a new pull request against the master branch.
The README also links to a recommendations document that describes ways to conduct better interviews, which is useful if you hire rather than apply.
- To add a company, open a pull request through the link in the README
- To remove or correct an entry, open a pull request that explains what changed
What people use it for
- A job seeker who wants to avoid trivia-style technical interviews compares take-home and pairing processes across several employers.
- A developer filters the list for companies that use work-sample interviews in their city or for remote roles.
- A student builds a shortlist of employers before applying and checks each description against the company's own careers page.
- A hiring manager reads the entries and the linked discussion pieces to find alternative interview formats to try.
Frequently asked questions
Is hiring-without-whiteboards a software tool I can install?
No. The project is a plain list of companies and teams in a README file. Its listed install method is read-online, so you open it on GitHub or clone the repository to get a local copy.
What are the requirements for hiring-without-whiteboards?
The project lists no prerequisites. To read it, you only need a web browser. To clone it, you need git, which the README's clone command relies on.
Is hiring-without-whiteboards free to use?
The project is listed under the MIT licence. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms before reusing the content.
How do I clone hiring-without-whiteboards?
Run git clone https://github.com/poteto/hiring-without-whiteboards in a terminal. This is the clone command given in the README.
Are the company entries accurate?
The README says entries are community-submitted and may be outdated. It asks people to open a pull request to remove a company if their interview experience does not match the description, so confirm the current process directly with the company.
Are there alternatives to hiring-without-whiteboards?
The project's data lists no comparable projects. The README links to other reads, including a recommendations document on conducting better interviews, and to several articles about alternatives to whiteboard interviews.
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Our verdict
Job seekers, developers, students and hiring managers who want examples of work-sample, take-home or pairing interviews will find this list useful as a starting point. Anyone who needs verified, current information about a company's hiring process should look elsewhere and confirm details directly with the employer.
Install options & downloads