Five suggestions for C# code test assignments

Determining what you’ll assess is essential as assigning the wrong tasks will make you test for the wrong skills. This results in hiring the wrong developer skillset for the job and missing out on suitable candidates. Carefully chosen coding assignments shorten the hiring process and help you hire a C# developer more efficiently.

The suggestions for C# code test assignments

To make the assessment more relevant, try to use coding tasks suggested by a seasoned C# developer. We talked with Sefa Teyek, a Tech Lead and Backend Software Engineer at Proxify, to provide relevant examples.

There are no strict rules for modifying the suggested tasks, but it is highly advisable to stick to specific categories of tasks. Adjust the assignments according to your business needs and the company’s goals if needed.

Let’s have a look.

1.Calculator application

Ask candidates to create a simple calculator application that can perform basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). The application should take input from the user and display the result.

Relevance of this task and example points

• User Interface (UI) design: Design an intuitive and user-friendly interface for the calculator application. It should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and display the input and output. Consider using buttons, labels, and textboxes to allow users to input numbers and operators.

• Input validation: Implement proper input validation to ensure the user provides valid input. Validate that the entered values are numeric and handle any potential errors or exceptions gracefully. Inform the user if invalid information is provided and prevent calculations from proceeding until valid input is received.

• Arithmetic operations: Implement the basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) in the calculator application. Ensure the calculations are accurate and can handle edge cases appropriately (e.g., division by zero). Pay attention to the order of operations and use parentheses to allow users to perform complex calculations.

• Memory functionality: Consider adding memory functionality to the calculator application. Provide options for storing and retrieving values from memory, such as a memory recall button or shortcut keys. This feature can be helpful for users who need to perform multiple calculations using the same value.

• Error handling: Implement robust error-handling mechanisms in the calculator application. Catch and handle any exceptions during calculations, such as arithmetic overflow or invalid operations. Display meaningful error messages to users and guide them on resolving the issue.

Example code for the calculator application

using System;

namespace CalculatorApp
{
    interface ICalculator
    {
        double PerformOperation(double num1, double num2, string op);
    }

    class BasicCalculator : ICalculator
    {
        public double PerformOperation(double num1, double num2, string op)
        {
            double result = 0;

            try
            {
                switch (op)
                {
                    case "+":
                        result = num1 + num2;
                        break;
                    case "-":
                        result = num1 - num2;
                        break;
                    case "*":
                        result = num1 * num2;
                        break;
                    case "/":
                        if (num2 != 0)
                            result = num1 / num2;
                        else
                            throw new DivideByZeroException();
                        break;
                    default:
                        throw new ArgumentException("Invalid operator. Please enter a valid operator (+, -, *, /).");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("An error occurred: " + ex.Message);
            }

            return result;
        }
    }

    class Calculator
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Welcome to Calculator App!");

            ICalculator calculator = new BasicCalculator();

            while (true)
            {
                Console.Write("Enter the first number: ");
                string input1 = Console.ReadLine();
                double num1;

                if (!double.TryParse(input1, out num1))
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Invalid input. Please enter a valid number.");
                    continue;
                }

                Console.Write("Enter the operator (+, -, *, /): ");
                string op = Console.ReadLine();

                Console.Write("Enter the second number: ");
                string input2 = Console.ReadLine();
                double num2;

                if (!double.TryParse(input2, out num2))
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Invalid input. Please enter a valid number.");
                    continue;
                }

                double result = calculator.PerformOperation(num1, num2, op);

                Console.WriteLine("Result: " + result);

                Console.Write("Do you want to perform another calculation? (Y/N): ");
                string again = Console.ReadLine();

                if (again.ToUpper() != "Y")
                    break;
            }

            Console.WriteLine("Thank you for using Calculator App!");
        }
    }
}

2.File processing

Task candidates with writing a program that reads data from a text file and perform certain operations on the data (such as filtering or sorting), and write the processed data to a new file. This assignment will test candidates' file handling and data manipulation skills.

Relevance of this task and example points

• File validation: Validate the existence and accessibility of the file before performing any operations. Check if the file exists, has the necessary permissions, and is of the expected format. Handle exceptions that may occur due to invalid or inaccessible files.

• File reading: Implement the logic to read data from the file. Use appropriate file reading techniques like StreamReader, FileStream, or File.ReadAllText. Handle errors or exceptions that may arise during the reading process, such as files that are not found or read errors.

• Data processing: Perform the necessary operations on the read data. This may involve parsing the data, performing calculations, filtering, sorting, or any other desired data manipulation. Ensure the data processing logic is correct and efficient to achieve the desired results.

• Error handling: Implement proper error handling mechanisms during file processing. Use try-catch blocks to catch and handle exceptions, such as file access errors, format errors, or any other unexpected issues. Provide meaningful error messages to help users understand and resolve the errors.

• File writing: Implement the logic to write the processed data back to a file if required. Use appropriate file writing techniques like StreamWriter, FileStream, or File.WriteAllText. Ensure that the data is written correctly and handle any errors during the writing process, such as ‘write errors’ or disk space issues.

Example code for file processing in this task

using System;
using System.IO;

namespace FileProcessingApp
{
    interface IFileProcessor
    {
        string[] ReadFile(string filePath);
        void WriteFile(string filePath, string[] lines);
    }

    class FileProcessor : IFileProcessor
    {
        public string[] ReadFile(string filePath)
        {
            if (!File.Exists(filePath))
            {
                throw new FileNotFoundException("File not found.", filePath);
            }

            return File.ReadAllLines(filePath);
        }

        public void WriteFile(string filePath, string[] lines)
        {
            string directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(filePath);

            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(directory) && !Directory.Exists(directory))
            {
                Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
            }

            File.WriteAllLines(filePath, lines);
        }
    }

    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            string inputFile = "input.txt";
            string outputFile = "output.txt";

            IFileProcessor fileProcessor = new FileProcessor();

            try
            {
                // Validate input file
                ValidateFile(inputFile);

                // Read data from input file
                string[] lines = fileProcessor.ReadFile(inputFile);

                // Process the data
                string[] processedLines = ProcessData(lines);

                // Validate output file
                ValidateFile(outputFile);

                // Write processed data to output file
                fileProcessor.WriteFile(outputFile, processedLines);

                Console.WriteLine("File processing completed successfully!");
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("An error occurred during file processing: " + ex.Message);
            }
        }

        static void ValidateFile(string filePath)
        {
            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(filePath))
            {
                throw new ArgumentException("File path is null or empty.");
            }

            string directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(filePath);

            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(directory) && !Directory.Exists(directory))
            {
                throw new DirectoryNotFoundException("Directory not found: " + directory);
            }
        }

        static string[] ProcessData(string[] lines)
        {
            // Perform data processing logic here
            // This is just a sample logic to demonstrate the concept

            string[] processedLines = new string[lines.Length];

            for (int i = 0; i < lines.Length; i++)
            {
                // Example: Reverse the text in each line
                char[] charArray = lines[i].ToCharArray();
                Array.Reverse(charArray);
                processedLines[i] = new string(charArray);
            }

            return processedLines;
        }
    }
}

3.Database interaction

Challenge candidates to create a console application that interacts with a database. They should be able to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on a table in the database using C# code.

Relevance of this task and example points

• Connection management: Establish and manage connections to the database efficiently. Open the connection when needed and close it as soon as it's no longer required. Use connection pooling to improve performance and reduce the overhead of opening and closing connections.

• Data validation and sanitization: Validate and sanitize user input before interacting with the database to prevent security vulnerabilities such as SQL injection attacks. Use parameterized queries or prepared statements to pass user input to the database safely.

• Error handling and logging: Implement proper error handling and logging mechanisms to capture and handle database-related errors. Catch and handle exceptions during database operations, and log relevant information for troubleshooting and auditing purposes.

• Transaction management: Use transactions to ensure the integrity and consistency of data modifications. Begin a transaction, perform the required database operations, and then commit or roll back the transaction based on the success or failure of the operations. This helps maintain data integrity and recover from failures.

• Performance optimization: Optimize database interactions for performance. Use appropriate indexing, query optimization techniques, and database-specific features to improve query performance. Minimize round trips to the database by batching operations and using bulk insert/update/delete operations when applicable.

Example code for database interaction

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace DatabaseInteractionApp
{
    interface IDatabaseConnector
    {
        Task<DataTable> ExecuteQueryAsync(string query);
        Task<int> ExecuteNonQueryAsync(string query);
        Task CreateAsync(User user);
        Task<List<User>> ReadAsync();
        Task UpdateAsync(User user);
        Task DeleteAsync(Guid id);
    }

    class User {
        public Guid Id {get; set;}
        public string Name {get; set;}
        public string Email {get; set;}
    }

    class SqlDatabaseConnector : IDatabaseConnector
    {
        private readonly string connectionString;

        public SqlDatabaseConnector(string connectionString)
        {
            this.connectionString = connectionString;
        }

        public async Task<DataTable> ExecuteQueryAsync(string query)
        {
            using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
            {
                await connection.OpenAsync();

                DataTable dataTable = new DataTable();

                using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
                {
                    using (SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(command))
                    {
                        await adapter.FillAsync(dataTable);
                    }
                }

                return dataTable;
            }
        }

        public async Task<int> ExecuteNonQueryAsync(string query)
        {
            using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
            {
                await connection.OpenAsync();

                using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
                {
                    return await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
                }
            }
        }

        public async Task CreateAsync(User user)
        {
            string query = "INSERT INTO Users (Id, Name, Email) VALUES (@Id, @Name, @Email)";

            using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
            {
                await connection.OpenAsync();
                using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
                {
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Id", user.Id);
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Name", user.Name);
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Email", user.Email);

                    await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
                }
            }
        }

        public async Task<List<User>> ReadAsync()
        {
            string query = "SELECT * FROM Users";

            DataTable dataTable = await ExecuteQueryAsync(query);

            List<User> users = new List<User>();

            foreach (DataRow row in dataTable.Rows)
            {
                User user = new User()
                {
                    Id = Guid.Parse(row["Id"].ToString()),
                    Name = row["Name"].ToString(),
                    Email = row["Email"].ToString()
                };

                users.Add(user);
            }

            return users;
        }

        public async Task UpdateAsync(User user)
        {
            string query = "UPDATE Users SET Name = @Name, Email = @Email WHERE Id = @Id";

            using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
            {
                await connection.OpenAsync();
                using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
                {
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Name", user.Name);
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Email", user.Email);
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Id", user.Id);

                    await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
                }
            }
        }

        public async Task DeleteAsync(Guid id)
        {
            string query = "DELETE FROM Users WHERE Id = @Id";

            using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
            {
                await connection.OpenAsync();
                using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, connection))
                {
                    command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Id", id);

                    await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync();
                }
            }
        }
    }

    class Program
    {
        static async Task Main(string[] args)
        {
            string connectionString = "Data Source=(local);Initial Catalog=YourDatabase;Integrated Security=True";

            try
            {
                IDatabaseConnector databaseConnector = new SqlDatabaseConnector(connectionString);

                // Create a new user
                User newUser = new User()
                {
                    Id = Guid.NewGuid(),
                    Name = "John Doe",
                    Email = "[email protected]"
                };
                await databaseConnector.CreateAsync(newUser);

                // Read all users
                List<User> users = await databaseConnector.ReadAsync();
                foreach (User user in users)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("ID: {0}, Name: {1}, Email: {2}", user.Id, user.Name, user.Email);
                }

                // Update a user
                User userToUpdate = users[0];
                userToUpdate.Name = "Jane Smith";
                userToUpdate.Email = "[email protected]";
                await databaseConnector.UpdateAsync(userToUpdate);

                // Delete a user
                User userToDelete = users[1];
                await databaseConnector.DeleteAsync(userToDelete.Id);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("An error occurred during database interaction: " + ex.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

4.Weather forecast application

Create an assignment that requires candidates to build a C# console application that retrieves weather data from a weather API (e.g., OpenWeatherMap). The application should prompt the user for a location and display the weather conditions, temperature, and forecast for the next few days.

Relevance of this task and example points

• API integration: The weather worecast application relies on data from a weather API. Ensure it’s a reliable and accurate weather API (e.g., OpenWeatherMap) and adequately integrate it into your application. Familiarize yourself with the API documentation, and understand the endpoints, request parameters, and response formats.

• User input and validation: The application should prompt the user for a location or allow them to enter a city name, ZIP code, or coordinates. Implement proper input validation to ensure the user enters valid and expected values. Consider handling different input formats and providing helpful error messages if the input is invalid.

• Data retrieval and processing: The C# developer should use the API to retrieve weather data for the specified location. Handle the API response appropriately, parse the received data, and extract the relevant information such as temperature, weather conditions, humidity, wind speed, and forecast for the upcoming days. Consider how you will handle errors or exceptions during the data retrieval process.

• User-friendly display: Present the weather information in a clear and user-friendly manner. Format the data appropriately, consider using units (e.g., Celsius or Fahrenheit) based on user preferences, and provide meaningful descriptions for weather conditions (e.g., sunny, cloudy, rainy). The developer can choose to display the data in a console, GUI, or web-based interface, depending on the nature of your application.

• Error handling and resilience: Handle potential errors and exceptions during API communication, data retrieval, or processing. Implement appropriate error handling mechanisms such as displaying error messages to the user, retrying failed requests, or providing fallback data when necessary. Ensure your application handles network issues, API failures, or incorrect data responses gracefully.

Example code for weather forecast app

using System;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Runtime.Caching;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class WeatherForecastApp
{
    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        // API configuration
        string apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
        string apiUrl = $"http://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?appid={apiKey}";

        // User input
        Console.Write("Enter a city name: ");
        string city = Console.ReadLine();

        // Check if weather data is already cached
        string cacheKey = $"weather_{city}";
        WeatherData cachedWeatherData = MemoryCache.Default.Get(cacheKey) as WeatherData;

        if (cachedWeatherData != null)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Retrieving weather data from cache...");
            DisplayWeatherForecast(cachedWeatherData);
        }
        else
        {
            // API request
            string requestUrl = $"{apiUrl}&q={city}";
            using (HttpClient client = new HttpClient())
            {
                HttpResponseMessage response = await client.GetAsync(requestUrl);
                if (response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
                {
                    // API response handling
                    WeatherData weatherData = await response.Content.ReadAsAsync<WeatherData>();
                    MemoryCache.Default.Add(cacheKey, weatherData, DateTimeOffset.Now.AddMinutes(30)); // Cache data for 30 minutes
                    DisplayWeatherForecast(weatherData);
                }
                else
                {
                    Console.WriteLine($"Failed to retrieve weather forecast. Status code: {response.StatusCode}");
                }
            }
        }
    }

    static void DisplayWeatherForecast(WeatherData weatherData)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"City: {weatherData.Name}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Temperature: {weatherData.Main.Temp}°C");
        Console.WriteLine($"Weather: {weatherData.Weather[0].Description}");
        Console.WriteLine($"Humidity: {weatherData.Main.Humidity}%");
        Console.WriteLine($"Wind Speed: {weatherData.Wind.Speed} m/s");
    }
}

class WeatherData
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public MainData Main { get; set; }
    public Weather[] Weather { get; set; }
    public WindData Wind { get; set; }
}

class MainData
{
    public double Temp { get; set; }
    public int Humidity { get; set; }
}

class Weather
{
    public string Description { get; set; }
}

class WindData
{
    public double Speed { get; set; }
}

5.Object-oriented programming

Test candidates' understanding of object-oriented programming principles by asking them to create a small application with multiple classes. For instance, they could be tasked with creating a simple banking system with classes for customers, accounts, and transactions.

Relevance of this task and example points

• Encapsulation: Encapsulation is the concept of bundling data (attributes/properties) and behaviors (methods/functions) together within a class. It involves hiding internal implementation details and providing controlled access to the object's state through methods. Encapsulation helps to maintain data integrity, improve code maintainability, and promote modular design.

• Inheritance: Inheritance allows you to create new classes (derived or child classes) based on existing classes (base or parent classes). Inheritance enables derived classes to inherit the attributes and behaviors of the base class, allowing for specialization and customization. It helps in creating hierarchies of classes and organizing code effectively.

• Polymorphism: Polymorphism refers to the ability of an object to take on many forms or have multiple behaviors. It allows different objects to respond differently to the same method call. Polymorphism is achieved through method overriding (redefining a method in a derived class) and method overloading (having multiple methods with the same name but different parameters). Polymorphism promotes code flexibility, extensibility, and the ability to work with objects at a higher level of abstraction.

• Abstraction: Abstraction focuses on representing the essential features of an object while hiding unnecessary details. It allows you to create abstract classes or interfaces that define common behaviors and properties shared by multiple concrete classes. Abstraction helps manage complexity, provides a clear separation between interface and implementation, and enables code modularity.

• Composition: Composition is a design principle that allows objects to be composed of other objects. It involves creating complex objects by combining simpler objects, thus forming a "has-a" relationship. Composition promotes code reusability, flexibility, and modularity by allowing objects to collaborate and fulfill their responsibilities using other objects. It is often preferred over inheritance when there is a need for more flexible relationships between classes.

Example code for OOP

using System;

// Encapsulation: Bank Account class with private fields and public properties
public class BankAccount
{
    private string accountNumber;
    private decimal balance;

    public string AccountNumber
    {
        get { return accountNumber; }
        set { accountNumber = value; }
    }

    public decimal Balance
    {
        get { return balance; }
        set { balance = value; }
    }

    public BankAccount(string accountNumber)
    {
        this.accountNumber = accountNumber;
        this.balance = 0;
    }

    public void Deposit(decimal amount)
    {
        balance += amount;
        Console.WriteLine($"Deposited {amount:C}. New balance: {balance:C}");
    }

    public virtual void Withdraw(decimal amount)
    {
        if (balance >= amount)
        {
            balance -= amount;
            Console.WriteLine($"Withdrawn {amount:C}. New balance: {balance:C}");
        }
        else
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Insufficient funds!");
        }
    }
}

// Inheritance: Savings Account class derived from Bank Account
public class SavingsAccount : BankAccount
{
    public decimal InterestRate { get; set; }

    public SavingsAccount(string accountNumber, decimal interestRate)
        : base(accountNumber)
    {
        this.InterestRate = interestRate;
    }

    // Polymorphism: Override Withdraw method to deduct a penalty for savings account
    public override void Withdraw(decimal amount)
    {
        const decimal penalty = 10;

        base.Withdraw(amount);

        if (balance < 100)
        {
            balance -= penalty;
            Console.WriteLine($"Penalty of {penalty:C} applied. New balance: {balance:C}");
        }
    }
}

// Abstraction: Abstract class with a method declaration
public abstract class Loan
{
    public abstract void CalculateInterest();
}

// Composition: LoanCalculator class composed of a Loan object
public class LoanCalculator
{
    private Loan loan;

    public LoanCalculator(Loan loan)
    {
        this.loan = loan;
    }

    public void CalculateInterest()
    {
        loan.CalculateInterest();
    }
}

// Implementation of Loan abstract class
public class HomeLoan : Loan
{
    public override void CalculateInterest()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Calculating interest for home loan...");
        // Perform home loan interest calculation logic
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Encapsulation: Create a BankAccount object and access properties
        BankAccount account = new BankAccount("1234567890");
        account.Deposit(1000);
        Console.WriteLine($"Account Number: {account.AccountNumber}, Balance: {account.Balance:C}");

        // Inheritance & Polymorphism: Create a SavingsAccount object and invoke overridden Withdraw method
        SavingsAccount savingsAccount = new SavingsAccount("0987654321", 0.02m);
        savingsAccount.Deposit(500);
        savingsAccount.Withdraw(300);
        Console.WriteLine($"Account Number: {savingsAccount.AccountNumber}, Balance: {savingsAccount.Balance:C}");

        // Abstraction & Composition: Create a LoanCalculator object with HomeLoan and invoke CalculateInterest method
        LoanCalculator loanCalculator = new LoanCalculator(new HomeLoan());
        loanCalculator.CalculateInterest();
    }
}

Of course, the above examples are preferred for the most relevant results, but this doesn’t mean they are the only tasks that test candidates’ skills. Sefa continues by providing a few more examples of what else is good to review,

“Try testing the domain knowledge the candidate has, as well as the algorithmic problem-solving skills. Not only that, but it’s also important to check if they’re good at debugging, code reviewing, and performance optimization. It is also good to test how familiar they are with development tools and processes generally (AppInsight), and last but not least, how good their communication skills are.”

This confirms how a good C# developer is not someone who just executes what is delegated to them, but they also showcase a critical understanding of multiple things and think in all sorts of directions. So, along with the coding examples, try to add the soft skills as points for the overall performance of candidates.

Practices to use and to avoid when assessing C# developers

“Evaluate skills and abilities - apart from coding, also focus on behavioral interviews. Don’t forget the problem-solving skills a candidate must have to provide various solutions. Focus on real-life scenarios, and you make the assessment very relevant.”

Let’s look at the do’s and don’ts for organizing the assessment process.

Use equal standards toward every candidate

It would be unfair to evaluate candidates differently when they all have the same coding tasks for the interview. Make sure to use the same rules for every candidate and assign them the same tests and tasks for the job role they could potentially fill. The tasks should be standardized and relevant for the C# developer position.

Make the tasks relevant

Every task should be relevant for the C# position. Why would you, let’s say, assign a task that is entirely relevant to another programming language and not to C#? Why would you test for other languages if you need to hire a C# developer? You get the point.

Go for solutions to real-world challenges

As part of the assessment, the coding tasks must be meaningful and relevant to a specific real-world issue in the tech industry. The result of the coding task should serve as a solution to something many people face as a challenge.

Be as straightforward as possible

You could use relatively easy tasks for the assessment, but if you describe them vaguely or unclear, candidates would be puzzled and might even miss some important points you are trying to make. Be as concise and transparent as possible when it comes to task descriptions.

Skip the unnecessary complexity

Candidates that solve coding tasks for an interview are usually given a relatively short or moderate amount of time to do it, so keep the complexity in mind along with the time you allocate.

Sefa doesn’t skimp on noteworthy advice and final remarks on best assessment practices,

“Make everything clear before assigning anything – all tasks must always be role-specific. Set clearly defined criteria for objectively evaluating the final results – include deliverables that a C# developer candidate has to provide. A realistic timeframe is crucial, and if candidates would benefit from some materials and resources, share it with them beforehand.”

But, as beneficial as it is to have good tips, we also have to mention a few of the negatives so that you can avoid those and instead strive for an excellent C# developer interview:

Don’t be unrealistic with the time you allocate

As mentioned, candidates that don’t have enough time to solve the coding tasks might flank the overall assignment or botch it heavily. It is not that candidates lack knowledge, but the general anxiety and rushing to finish it within a timeframe could severely affect their task performance.

Don’t forget about organizing every stage of the assessment

You cannot interview the developers if you have no idea what you need to test or what you hire them for. Make sure to plan and structure the interview to get the best results. Some plan is better than no plan or ballparking everything.

Don’t skip the feedback

You need to provide feedback, to sum up the whole interviewing process. Whether a [C#] developer candidate got the job or not, you must get back to them on their coding performance. And while you’re at it, make the feedback matter, and provide it on time too. Don’t just vaguely dismiss or accept something with a few words for the sake of completing it. Provide a well-phrased insight to candidates on how they performed.

Don’t randomize the process

Everyone dislikes disorganized interviews, which is especially evident with developers. With developers, their coding results speak for their expertise, and there is little reliance on a conversation when interviewing them. So, have an organized approach, a well-planned interview, and be transparent in everything you communicate with them.

“No need to make straightforward tasks more complex than they are, which will also cloud the candidate’s judgment and performance. At the same time, don’t oversimplify a task because you won’t be sure if a candidate can work on more complex code in the future. Explain everything aforehand clearly, concisely, and be mindful whether the task relates to some specialized knowledge because this closely connects to how candidates will demonstrate their knowledge and be fairly considered.”

Why should you assign coding tasks to potential dev team members?

Practical coding assignments test candidates' knowledge; there is no other way around it, and theory doesn’t even come close to assessing someone’s programming skills.

Amidst developer shortages, the last thing you need to do is freestyle the hiring process of developers. This shortage will likely worsen by 2028, calling for improved approaches in developer selection. So, coding tasks help you to get the needed skills of a competent C# developer faster and better in the vast pool of job seekers.

Imagine saving time and money when you need to test and hire a C# developer. That’s possible when you use suitable assessment tasks. And not only this, but coding assignments also tell you how well a candidate handles pressure or time limitations and how well they understand what’s delegated to them in general.

Conclusion

If you use the suggested C# coding tasks above, there is an excellent chance that you’ll assess candidates as best as possible. Of course, you can add or adjust the assignments as you find them relevant to your specific needs, but overall these tasks cover all the must-check aspects in potential C# developers. Remember, make it clear, concise, and fair, and let candidates do the rest.