Show HN: I send out a weekly CS topic overview and code interview question

Re:Show HN: I send out a weekly CS topic overview and code i... by robomartin on Thursday December 13, 2012 @10:25PM (#4919438)

This is interesting. I'd like to know more. Are you targeting young inexperienced programmers? Are they just out of school? What kind of filtering do you have prior to bringing them in?

I have never hired a recent grad for programming.

I used to own an electronics manufacturing company near UC Riverside (California) some time back. We had pick-and-place machines and the usual assortment of equipment you'd have for the assembly and testing of circuit boards. We made microprocessor-driven industrial motor controls.

During that time I thought it'd be great to hire engineering students. As someone who was a capable electronics hobbyist before I even touched college I assumed that these kids would be hell-bent to work in electronics as I was when I was in college. Not so. I probably went through 15 or 20 of them before I found a couple that were worth the effort.

When it came to programming I never hired anyone with anything less than five years of demonstrable experience.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Show HN: I send out a weekly CS topic overview and code i... by nevster on Thursday December 13, 2012 @10:50PM (#4919513)

We were looking for experienced Senior Java Developers. I'm talking about people who have 10 or more years of experience on their CV, working for well known companies - large banks etc. We give the CVs a fairly good going over before deciding to get someone in. They've also responded to a short questionnaire about their experience with agile methodologies. (And of course, the job agencies have supposedly already done some sort of filtering.)

Interview nerves are one thing but even if you're nervous you should still be able to do the equivalent of multiplying 5 * 10.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Show HN: I send out a weekly CS topic overview and code i... by robomartin on Friday December 14, 2012 @12:05AM (#4919692)

I am speechless. Don't know what to say.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Show HN: I send out a weekly CS topic overview and code i... by nevster on Friday December 14, 2012 @12:43AM (#4919772)

Just for some clarification, when I say fail, I really mean fail to do it well.

Most of them at least manage to get it working but don't necessarily cover all the problems that can arise and can get it to 100%, with some prompting.

It's a real joy when someone comes in who obviously loves programming. Like night and day.

[ Parent | on HN ]