Flip the Script: A Codebase-First Approach to Technical Interviews

Around 10 years ago, I decided to flip the script on an interviewer during a whiteboard interview.

Instead of solving random puzzles, I declined and asked to see their actual codebase. If they wanted to understand my thinking, why not let me dive into the application and discuss what I saw?

Fast-forward to today, I have been advocating this codebase-focused approach whenever possible. Rather than giving a boring coding test, I share our code and let candidates poke around. It is incredible how quickly you see how someone thinks when they walk you through a genuine bug fix or suggest a small refactor.

Why this method works for both interviewers and candidates

1. Deeper Insights

Live code reveals architecture, technical debt, and hidden quirks. There is no more “reading between the lines” when you are literally showing them the lines. Candidates gain a realistic preview of the work ahead, and interviewers see how they handle real-world complexity.

2. Better Cultural Fit

Watching someone react to half-finished features or quirky naming conventions shows how they approach collaboration. The questions they ask, and how they ask them, reveal whether they can mesh with your existing team. At the same time, the candidate learns how open you are to critique and new ideas.

3. Faster Onboarding

By the time they officially join, candidates have already navigated your code and seen areas that could be improved. That means no dreaded “Where do I start?” phase, letting everyone jump into meaningful work right away, candidates who have been through this usually come onboard with clear expectations and ideas themselves, which means the best you can do is get out of their way.

4. Authentic Technical Conversations

Instead of scoring algorithm drills, you discuss actual design choices. Questions like “Why did you decide on this pattern?” or “Could we optimize here?” spark deeper exchanges about trade-offs and problem-solving styles. This is a more accurate way to gauge how a person thinks and collaborates.

So, if you are hiring, consider dropping the puzzle grind. Hand over a realistic slice of code and watch how candidates adapt. If you are interviewing, do not be shy about asking to see the actual code. Both sides gain a more genuine sense of fit, which sets the stage for better teamwork in the long run.

It is a simple shift, but it completely changes the dynamic of technical interviews.