Notes on technical hiring
Stories and strategies from teams building the next decade of engineering recruitment.
How Evident Built a Lean AI-Native Engineering Screen
Evident kept engineering hiring lean with a domain-relevant, AI-enabled assessment, screening about 20 applicants and hiring a high-performing engineer.
How Shucker VC Hired a GTM Partner with Aptora
Aptora turned Shucker VC’s GTM Partner role into a realistic sprint within a couple of days, giving the team evidence of how candidates analyzed, executed, and communicated.
How Agrigator Hired Its Founding ML Engineers with Aptora
Agrigator replaced its live technical round with Aptora, assessed 15 ML engineering candidates, and hired two engineers who were still performing strongly six months later.
Best Technical Assessment Platforms in 2026
An honest comparison of the top technical assessment platforms (HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, Codility, TestGorilla, and Aptora) and how they stack up in a world where AI has changed engineering.
HackerRank Alternatives for Modern Engineering Teams
Outgrown HackerRank? Here are the best alternatives for teams that want to evaluate real engineering skills, not algorithm memorization.
The Problem with LeetCode-Style Interviews
LeetCode interviews test memorization, not engineering ability. Here's why they're broken and what actually works for evaluating software engineers in 2026.
What Is an AI-Native Technical Assessment?
AI-native assessments evaluate how engineers collaborate with AI, not just whether they can solve algorithm puzzles. Here's what the term means and why it matters.
Why Traditional Technical Assessments Fail in the AI Era (And What to Do Instead)
LeetCode, take-homes, and live coding weren't designed for a world where engineers work alongside AI. Here's how to evaluate candidates in the AI era.
How Idilio TV Cut Interviews by 80% and Hired Their First Engineer in Just One Month
Learn how an a16z speedrun-backed entertainment startup used Aptora to hire their founding engineer in record time.