I agree with you. I think people are overreacting.
With that said, I don't find the question any better than how it's currently done.
I think companies would be a lot better if they administered the a Myers-Briggs personality test (or something along those lines). Having people choose and prioritize options that have no clear right or wrong answer speak better to their value system.
For example, a question could ask:
What do you value when it comes to coding (priorize)?
a) Quickness of delivery
b) Stability, solid code
c) Building for the future
d) Efficiency (code execution)
There is no right or wrong answer. Some may say, "well it depends on the situation!" But picking a priority order will speak to the default way in which people think.
If you're going to do personality tests to hire people, do it right.[1] And unless you're hiring me to keep state secrets, carry weapons, or join a moon colony, it's probably not necessary to do that.
I'm certainly not going to fill out some amateur-hour multiple-choice quiz so that some HR flack or hiring manager with no training or experience in psychological screening can get an insight into my "value system". If you want to know my value system, talk to me like a human being.
With that said, I don't find the question any better than how it's currently done.
I think companies would be a lot better if they administered the a Myers-Briggs personality test (or something along those lines). Having people choose and prioritize options that have no clear right or wrong answer speak better to their value system.
For example, a question could ask:
What do you value when it comes to coding (priorize)?
a) Quickness of delivery b) Stability, solid code c) Building for the future d) Efficiency (code execution)
There is no right or wrong answer. Some may say, "well it depends on the situation!" But picking a priority order will speak to the default way in which people think.