RE: FN-FORUM: Programmers (was:- iframes)

date posted 14th May 2007 20:09


Peter Agambar wrote:
> How do you know who is a better programmer? DO qualifications count =
over
> time spent, or balance between the two. What about professional body
> membership like the BCS, does that offer any valid guarantees? Or is =
it
> still a case of recommendations?

Martin wrote:
> I would say look at their portfolio/cv etc and then get their =
references,=20
> references is always the best then a portfolio of work to accompany =
that.


In the case of putting together a dev team, a wise project manager of =
mine
used to short-list project candidates based on CV, references, previous =
work
and face-to-face impressions, then hand them over to me for a chat about =
the
technical aspects of the project.=20

I'd sit down with them in front of a PC and go through the architecture =
of a
system closely related to the technology we needed them to work with. As =
we
went through, I'd ask them about related work they'd done in the past, =
how
they'd approached particular problems, etc.

I feel most written tech tests are far too subjective (who is to say one
approach is always better than another? Is memorising components of the =
W3C
DOM really necessary, when a reference chart would suffice?), partic in =
the
hands of someone that doesn't understand the subject and thinks there is =
a
single cut-glass answer to every tech question.

If you can get a hands-on techie that knows the domain to chat with the
candidate for half an hour, they'll soon sort the contract blaggers from
those that know their stuff. Just make sure it's in your techie's =
interests
to find someone suitable - it's no good if they're going to be in
competition with the new recruit!

Of course, this approach isn't normally practical for a typical client
seeking a freelance developer. Where we sub-contract work to =
freelancers,
though, I don't hesitate to quiz them on their proposed technical =
approach -
it's my responsibility to ensure their skills are up to scratch, check =
their
work and remedy any deficiencies.

Cheers, Ben

--
Ben Johnson, Neogic Web Solutions
// design . development . managed hosting

w | http://www.neogic.com
t | +44 (0)1242 808 262
e | [EMAIL REMOVED]