[Web4lib] test ideas for web job candidates

[Lori Ayre]

Susan,

I recommend asking them something as vague as you've just asked "how
would you automate the bookmobile schedule" and see if they launch
into ideas about building it first or begin asking questions.  If they
begin asking questions, proceed.  If they begin coding, say bye-bye.

If you are hiring a programmer, you need to make sure they know how to
communicate and tease out the requirements before they start building.
 The more planning done beforehand, the less time they will spend on
the project and the less frustrating the experience will be fore
everyone involved.

For those that make it past that first hurdle, ask them for samples of
their work and have a programmer look at the code.  Is it good solid
programming techniques?  Is it well documented?  Could a different
programmer pick up where they left off or is it such a mess that no
one could figure out how the program logic.  Have them tell you what
programming tools they used.  Did they use all PHP or all Perl or is
there a nice combination of programming tools demonstrating their
versatility in more than one language.

Also, ask to see a program that you can use.  Try entering some bad
input and see how well it handles errors.  Does it break or is there a
nice error message?  How is the interface?  Is it clean and easy to
follow or jumbled and confusing.  Would you want to use it?

Good luck!

Lori

=========================
Lori Bowen Ayre (loriayre at gmail.com)
The Galecia Group (http://galecia.com)
Mentat (http://galecia.com/weblog)
LibraryFiltering (http://libraryfiltering.org)

On 10/13/06, SUSAN HANSEN <SUSAN at rochester.lib.mn.us> wrote:
> Looking for any ideas on how to test job applicants for a web position so we can compare their technical/programming skills. I was thinking of a scenario like having them present a plan (not actually do the work)  on how they would 'automate' our bookmobile schedule and what tools/software they would use. Is that too difficult?  Any other suggestions you've used or had used on you? Thanks!
>
> Susan Hansen, MA, CIRS,
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