I agree with all of this... Especially the part about the sanity check. :)

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Feduke [mailto:webmaster@r...]
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 10:23 AM
To: professional vb
Subject: [pro_vb] RE: Moving up to web development


> But how can we discover these diamonds in the rock?

	From the people I know, the better programmers are always more
interested
in computers and learning than the ones that just want to make money (I
don't want to be cruel here so I'll also add "want to make a living").  If
you want someone that can learn fast, get someone with an honest interest in
computers.

	Don't look at just credentials.  Anyone can get a BS in Computer
Science,
but not everyone has the want nor time to commit to such a thing.  MCSD is
excellent if you want to make sure your soon-to-be overpaid developer knows
the VB IDE like the back of his hand (well perhaps the VC++ tests are
different).  Seriously though find out what the person has done for extra
curricular activities.  Open source projects, home LAN, volunteered time to
tutor people, setup a LAN at a local school, designed web sites for
nonprofit organizations -- these are all traces of a commitment to
computers.

	Also always do a sanity check (figuratively speaking of course).  I
have a
friend that's good with computers, but would not make a good employee simply
because he can't follow the development plan and goes off on his own
tangents (like adding AOL Instant Messenger capabilities to a password
protection tool).

	Of course if you want a purely junior programmer who you can mold
into
whatever image you need then a history of interest in computers may be
nonexistant.  In this case I would suggest other methods that are beyond the
scope of this e-mail (and beyond the scope of me).

- Chuck

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark.Chen [mailto:Mark.Chen@s...]
> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 11:35 AM
> To: professional vb
> Subject: [pro_vb] RE: Moving up to web development
>
>
> Interesting topic. While interviews done by a IT professional
> might work, I
> often wonder how we can identify a person, though not very
> experienced, has
> the ability to learn quickly and get on the track soon. For me, these are
> the type of people that worth more then an experienced one. We need people
> that can adjust to new tech quickly.
>
> But how can we discover these diamonds in the rock?
>
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Walborn [mailto:JWalborn@m...]
> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2001 10:21 AM
> To: professional vb
> Subject: [pro_vb] RE: Moving up to web development
>
>
> Hehe... I don't think I have actually seen a resume where someone
> claimed to
> have more years experience in a language than they are years old.
> That would
> be funny.
>
> I think a major part of the problem is that the personnel executives often
> have the final say. I get the guy with an MS degree in Computer
> Science and
> not the guy whom I could tell really knew what he was talking about. In
> short, my recommendation based on interview means nothing,
> despite the fact
> that I am best qualified to know what and who we need in the
> position. It's
> maddening.
>
>