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Actually that's quite possible. Maybe it shouldn't be and they shouldn't be called engineers, but there are lots of self-called "Engineers" that actually barely know how to code, yet they are able to talk a lot on how to write maintainable code, unit tests etc... but somebody else probably needs to write the code for them if they are doing anything more complex than a "Hello world" application.
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TheOnlyRealTodd wrote: You're a hiring manager
If you're one of these then you'd probably wouldnt have a clue as to what the difference is between the two so you'd hire the cheapest! 
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Hire the girl, they can be a pleasure to work with and we need some gender balance in our industry. If one is not a girl then throw em back until you get one.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Well, you could always ask who of the two is willing to undergo a gender transformation 
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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Hiring manager: The one who asks for smaller paycheck.
Me: I would give A some time and read up about one of the algorithms that you might be using. If he can pick it up in say 30 minutes (at least bare basics) I would know if he is a quick learner. And by pick up I do not mean cram it up; I mean if he can at least tell me why are we doing what we are doing for at least first two steps.
For B, I would ask him to write a complex algorithm. I guess he will be done with it fairly quickly. Then I can ask him to refactor it and make it cleaner.
Post these two tasks, I might have a better understanding of whom to hire.
"It is easy to decipher extraterrestrial signals after deciphering Javascript and VB6 themselves.", ISanti[ ^]
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Depends on the work they have to do.
Personally, I've never needed to write a (complex) algorithm in my professional life (as they're all already implemented in .NET), so candidate A would be my pick.
Other algorithms, like file compression or whatever, written by people who can code AND know their algorithms, can be downloaded from GitHub 
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I'd hire A. From my experience, algorithms can be taught, high-levl mentality can't. While A surely will simply use std::vector, B will run a custom variant of everything except malloc (and maybe even that) resulting in an unmaintainable mess of code. A, on the other hand, will produce clear, reviewable and debugable code. While B's solution may squeeze a couple of milliseconds runtime out of the same platform, A's solution will squeeze out man-years or productivity of actually getting things done.
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That largely depends on how complex the algorithms will be.
If we are talking about relatively complex stuff (R/B trees, etc.) then hire the data/algo guy.
Otherwise, hire the SOLID code one.
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Something's wrong with your interview process. It seems unlikely that a candidate could have mastered object oriented design without understanding encapsulation of algorithms. It seems like someone willing to learn should have picked up object oriented design. You clearly didn't ask the right questions at interviews.
Don't hire either of these unqualified candidates.
In addition, fire the interviewers.
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What's the job? What's the schedule?
Candidate B needs ramping up.
Candidate A may hit the ground running.
Got any "specs"?
Insufficient information.
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As a manager or architect, I would personally hire A, since again, algorithms can be taught, and clean code will provide the right structure to allow the most appropriate algorithm to be used in the most appropriate place.
That being said, the industry seems obsessed with hiring B. In many cases, and I have personal experience here, you can't make it through the final interview if you aren't B.
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You are filling a void. You mention nothing of the team, or the size of the team.
Which of the two candidates is likely to GIVE and TAKE from the team in positive ways.
How amenable to tutoring are the two candidates?
Code Reviews will help keep the clean code function, which is easier to teach algorithms.
Which candidate is most likely to appreciate the growth they need to do the most?
Which one has the longest work cycles and the best references?
I could hire either, depending on the impact I am willing to absorb, and the effect on the team. If one is a self-righteous SOB, then he will fit right in (LOL, just kidding), we would pass.
Bring them both in. Toss them in a conference room with a butter knife and ONE envelope...
Inside the envelope: "You are too aggressive for our team, choose the other person!" LOL
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So, of those of the faith (of which I am a part of) which celebrates a Person on the holidays of Christmas and Easter, and they give money (e.g., tithe) to their faith, in regards to the Easter aspect, are these funds considered Blood money? 
(it's parody, ppl...)
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You really nailed that one.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Just trying to get a rise out of him.
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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It'll take a few days to find if it worked.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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I have faith
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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Hopefully it doesn't lead to a thorny situation.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Time to bury this thread.
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I'll help you carry that burden.
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Your ascension to such action is commendable.
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The thought crossed my mind, so I sacrificed some time to convey such.
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Mandatory xkcd: Communion[^]
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.
--Winston Churchill
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