FULL REPORT | JANUARY 2021
Internship and Career Plans for Computer Science Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Resumes and Interview Resources
WHAT ONLINE RESOURCES DID STUDENTS USE TO PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWS AND HOW DOES THIS CORRELATE WITH THEIR RESULTS?
Respondents were asked to report the online and in-person resources that they used for interview preparation. Some of the common resources used include Leetcode, Hackerrank, Cracking the Coding Interview, YouTube, and mock interviews, with Leetcode the most popular by far.
ONLINE RESOURCES: A DEEPER DIVE
To examine the possibility of statistically significant relationships between the choice of resources and outcomes within our sample, we conducted a series of t-tests between resources used to prepare for interviews and the chance of receiving online assessments and interviews. The following table shows p-values for t-tests conducted on each of resources:
Leetcode | Hackerrank | Cracking the Coding Interview | YouTube | Mock Interviews | |
Online Assessment | 0.7762 | 0.0366[1] | 0.04231 | 0.1985 | 0.6260 |
First Interview | 0.3150 | 0.4143 | 0.7420 | 0.2765 | 0.5307 |
Final Interview | 0.4340 | 0.8633 | 0.8132 | 0.3975 | 0.5727 |
(in both the above graph and this analysis, AlgoExpert was removed because only 1 person reported using it.)
[1] ≤0.05 significance level
This analysis possibly suggests a statistically significant relationship between receiving an online assessment and the use of both Hackerrank (p = 0.037) and Cracking the Coding Interview (p = 0.042). There was no evidence that these resources influenced the number of first-round or final round interviews received.
Among the limitations, potential confounding variables include that students may consult Hackerrank for certain questions after receiving an online assessment.
WHAT DID STUDENTS PUT INTO THEIR RESUMES, AND HOW DID THIS CORRELATE WITH THEIR RESULTS?
Respondents also listed components they include in their resume. They included various components such as LinkedIn profile, personal GitHub, school GitLab, personal website, personal projects, and school/class projects. LinkedIn was the most common component, with 89% of applicants including it in their applications, followed by personal projects and Github.
On the other hand, the most discernable difference related to resume components was the inclusion of a personal website. Of the 20% (n = 22) of respondents that signified including a personal website, 95% reported receiving offers, compared to 67% of all respondents.
RESUME COMPONENTS: A DEEPER DIVE
Next, we wished to examine the possibility of statistically significant relationships between resume components and receiving offers. Multiple t-tests were conducted to compare the number of companies that offered assessments and interviews with the components in applicants’ resumes. The following table shows p-values for each t-test conducted at a 0.05 significance level:
| Personal GitHub | Personal website | Personal projects | School / class projects | ||
Online Assessment | 0.9844 |
| 0.1432 | 0.1528 | 0.2574 | 0.6544 |
First Interview | 0.9455 |
| 0.2740 | 0.0386[1] | 0.2247 | 0.4860 |
Final Interview | 0.6692 |
| 0.7779 | 0.0153 * | 0.4030 | 0.5800 |
(school Gitlab was removed because only 1 person reported including it)
[1] ≤0.05 significance level
No evidence suggests a statistically significant relationship between including a component in the resume and the number of companies from which online assessments are received. However, the data possibly suggests a statistically significant relationship between including a personal website and an increase in the number of companies that offer first and final interviews (p = 0.038 and p = 0.0153, respectively).
Among the limitations, potential confounding variables include the likelihood that students who develop a personal website have more advanced or relevant skills across the board, which make their applications stronger.
