Thread: Interviewing and feelings

The company I work for are interviewing for a senior C# developer position. Our programming team is small, 2 people (will be 3 when we find the right person), and management just said we can do the interviews ourselves and pick whoever suits us.

So I got to sit in on an interview today (first time for me being on the opposite side of the table). The candidate was the nicest guy I've ever met. He's been programming for 14+ years and seems to know his C++ really well, but he's not too up to speed on C#, though he seemed the type that could pick it up pretty fast. However, he was also very very nervous. When asked of his avaliability, he said he was on 4 weeks notice from the company he currently works for.

Now the guy was very very nice, and he seemed pretty smart. He was also ~ 40ish I think, and I imagine he has a wife, a mortgage and probably children (then again, he's a C++ programmer so maybe not :P). But his lack of skills with C# was a concern to me, especially since its only a 6 month contract and we really need someone fast, we might not have time for him to brush up.

If we interview someone else with great C# skills, maybe an MVP or something, they'll probably be better suited to the job (assuming all else is equal). Maybe they'll be a confident, crash-hot young programmer, with no cares and a zillion other job offers.

Who would you give the job to? I try to think of the companies best interests, but its hard not to let personal feelings get in the way.

I'm glad I'm not the one making the end decision.

I agree with the others, but I don't think his nervousness should factor into it. Some people are just naturally nervous for those types of things. My wife is very competent and very confident at what she does, but she gets very nervous when it comes to interviews. I obviously don't know how she's done in them, but she always says she fumbles and does poorly. But I wanted to ring some necks last summer when she was trying to find something, because she's extremely motivated, professional, and intelligent... yet a few places passed her over (although it could have been a lack of experience thing as well).

You should give the job to who's best at the job. It's not your job as an employer to worry about his wife and children etc. That said, it also depends on which role he's going to fulfill. If he's going to be programming a lot of C# specific library code, then maybe not knowing C# well is a major downside. On the other hand, if he's going to be programming a lot of the code using the base C# language, then the gaps in his C# knowledge shouldn't matter as much.

Apparently the guys never contracted before, his first time. You guys are right though, we have to hire the best person for the job.

His nervousness won't factor into the decision making, its natural and I would probably have been nervous too. It did get me wondering about his life though. But I guess it's not my place to wonder, nor to care really.

I'd hate to work for a recruitment agency. I'd hate to think someone was out on the street starving because I didn't work hard for them. Programming is so much easier.

Originally Posted by stovellp

I'd hate to work for a recruitment agency. I'd hate to think someone was out on the street starving because I didn't work hard for them. Programming is so much easier.

That's probably why there's like 8 times as many recruitment agencies in countries/states with social welfare systems. "You don't have to work, buuuuuuuuuuuuut..."

Thats true. He does have a modest knowledge of C#, knew a few things pretty easily and a lot carried over from his C++ experience (7 or so years of it) so I'm sure he could pick it up. But he's not what you'd consider a "guru" with it. For the price we're paying, a guru is what we need. Even if he was a C++ guru, 6 months as you said doesn't leave a lot of time. Theres a chance the contract will be extended possibly to full time, but I dunno.

I really shouldn't discuss such things publicly anyway.

>>The ideal case is to find somebody who's both great at C# and also has a deep understanding the underlying sciences of the language, while at the same time isn't too egotistical to think he's right all the time.

That's an oxymoron (for lack of a better word) with coders

Originally Posted by B0bDole

- Comment code after it's written

What? Are you supposed to comment code before it's written?!!?!!111?

Originally Posted by B0bDole

- and most geek students have no social skills anyways

You take that back! My pet rock loves me...