Screenshots of the “Code on the Road” challenges have been popping up on Twitter. Uber confirmed in a report from Business Insider that it was using this technique to recruit new engineers.
Many of the Uber riders who have received invitations to try the hacking challenges have previous experience in software engineering, but Uber is quick to mention that it isn’t using personal information to find potential good hires. Instead, it’s simply sending invites to those users in cities with high concentrations of tech jobs, hoping to fine the diamonds in the rough. So far, the list of cities Uber is targeting includes Seattle, Austin, Boston, Denver, and Portland — each of which have a large number of jobs in tech.
“If you’re in a place where a lot of people work in tech, you may see our ‘Code on the Road’ challenge within the rider app,” said a spokesperson to Business Insider in the report. “The option to play gives interested riders the opportunity to show us their skills in a fun and different way — whether they code on the side or are pursuing a career as a developer.”
There are three coding challenges in the game, and participants are given 60 seconds to complete each challenge. If you get a high enough score, you’ll be prompted to contact Uber through the app, after which you’ll get an email with a link to complete a job application.
Uber isn’t just looking for engineers to join the company, but is also looking for hackers to improve its product. The company recently said that it would give a hefty $10,000 to any hacker who finds a security or privacy-related bug, starting on May 1.
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