The Case for Blind Technical Assessments

Blind assessments — where evaluators don't see the candidate's name, gender, educational background, or other identifying information — have been shown to significantly reduce bias in hiring. Companies like Stripe and GitLab use blinded code reviews and project evaluations to focus on the work itself rather than the person behind it.

How to implement blind assessments

Remove names and identifying information from code submissions and project evaluations. Standardize the evaluation criteria so every submission is scored against the same rubric. Use structured scoring sheets that focus on specific, measurable criteria rather than overall impressions.

Understanding the limitations

Blind assessments aren't perfect — bias can still creep in through writing style, technical choices, or other indirect signals. But they're a significant improvement over traditional resume-based screening and can help surface talented candidates who would otherwise be overlooked.