How HackerRank Is Helping Companies Boost Diversity Through Code Challenges
Founded in 2012, HackerRank is transforming the way companies recruit programmers by holding various code challenges. PowerToFly connected with Ritika Trikha, a writer from HackerRank, to find out how they address diversity and inclusion within the company.
What does it mean to have a commitment to diversity? How does HackerRank develop and apply their commitment to diversity?
A commitment to diversity means making strong efforts to break down barriers for people from all walks of life. Regardless of where you come from, what university you went to, what age you are, what gender you are, everyone should have the same opportunities if you work hard and have the right skills.
We apply this commitment by leveraging our own product: Unbiased hiring through code challenges. We don’t rely on resumes (which contain personal information like graduation year, degrees, and universities) to hire our people. Instead, we focus purely on skills to hire the best people.
What efforts have you made, or been involved with, to promote diversity competence and understanding?
We hosted our first ever all-female online hackathon, called Women’s Cup, in October 2015. It was a chance for women all over the world to band together and get connected with great tech companies. We also wrote this blog post called “You Can’t Live Without Female Engineers” to help spread awareness.
What kind of leadership decisions would you make to ensure a commitment to the diversity initiative or value?
As a leader, it’s your responsibility to set a good example for your team. It’s important to recognize that there’s a problem with the lack of diversity in your team. Make a conscious effort to break barriers that prevent people from all walks from applying to your company. Changing the way you hire, by focusing on skills instead of resumes or pedigree, is one major way to help achieve this.
So far, what is the percentage of men and women who got hired through your platform?
We don’t have the percentage breakdown of this at the moment. But, after the success of our last Women’s Cup CodeSprint, which brought in over 1,500 female engineers all over the world. We’re hosting two additional Women’s Cup CodeSprints in 2016. One will be April 2016 and another in October 2016.
HackerRank holds lots of code challenges, and there is one coming up at the end of this month. How do you encourage more women to participate?
We market to female communities on social and we have media partnerships with organizations like Coder Girl, Women Who Code and Hackbright Academy. There’s a lot more we need to do, but we’re taking it one step at a time.
PowerToFly was proud to be a sponsor for last year’s Women’s Cup. Can you briefly tell me about how did last year’s Women’s Cup turn out? How many participants?
With Women’s Cup in 2015, there were 1,500+ participants. We’re expecting more this year!
PowerToFly was a proud sponsor of last year’s Women’s Cup. For more information about HackerRank’s upcoming code challenges, follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
Join PowerToFly today to search for remote jobs or to hire from our fast-growing network of all-star women in tech.
