Re: /400 skills test

[boothm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

If honesty itself is the question then there are other ways to look at 
that.  But if someone shows me code and says  they wrote it and can 
explain it adequately then I am OK with that.  I'm not really sure who 
wrote the first program anyway; I always start with an existing program. 
I'd bet I haven't used F6 six times in the last year.

Also, the selection of code chosen to display is a signal in itself.  This 
shows what the person considers his/her best portrait.  That in itself is 
a strong message that an interviewer should understand.  As an aside, 
doesn't just the fact that I suggest a portfolio of code tell you 
something about me?  (Please, no comments!)

___________________
Booth Martin
booth@martinvt.com
http://www.MartinVT.com
_______________________




"OleBlighty" <oleblighty@home.com>
Sent by: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
05/18/2000 01:21 AM
Please respond to MIDRANGE-L

 
        To:     <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
        cc: 
        Subject:        Re: /400 skills test


----- Original Message -----
From: <boothm@earth.Goddard.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 5:59 PM
Subject: RE: /400 skills test


> No one else has even mentioned looking at actual code as a means of
> evaluating a programmer.  Why not?
>
> It interests me that no one has yet mentioned a portfolio of code as a
> means of evaluating a programmer.  I have a selection of code that I 
feel
> represents my abilities and that I feel should be of more interest than 
a
> written test.
>
> _______________________
> Booth Martin

Booth,

How does the interviewer know that you wrote the code in the portfolio?
Just 'cause you can explain how the code works, and maybe cite a different
approach that could have been used, does not mean that you actually 
designed
the solution.  IMHO the most important factor for an interviewer to
establish is that the candidate understands (or will be able to 
understand)
the business world in which he/she will work  Learning the code is the 
easy
bit.  Successfully applying that to business practice is what shows
experience.  I do not believe a code portfolio would be able to show that.

Regards,

OleBlighty.


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