Imagine a website like http://jobs.37signals.com/ where instead of applying by sending an email, you were given a programming quiz to transform a randomly generated data set to a result set given some parameters (testing algorithm comprehension, implementation and such up front). You upload your result set and code used to generate the result along with your resume for consideration. Based on how fast you generated the result and how good your code is, this process could streamline your application process and show off your talents. For those rockstar programmers that are looking to upgrade jobs, this could set you apart from your competition and be a fun exercise to keep you fresh. For those programmers that are working towards rockstar-ness, you need not apply to jobs to take the quizzes and improve your programming skills with practice.
If the quizes you pass happen to be the type that a company wants to post a job for, the site will let you know that you should send in your results for consideration since the job might interest you.
This system would be completely language-independent since as long as the generated result set is correct then the code is assumed to work and someone at the company will review your code in more depth anyhow.
Assuming the obvious cheating methods are stifled with sophisticated code comparison techniques and google searches, thus making the system difficult to game and relatively fair, is this a site you guys would use?
If not, why not? Thanks for your feedback!