pvr said:
gannet said:
we are looking for a graduate programmer - proving a lot harder than you would think :?
we have a lot of applicants, just quality is poor
Yes - same here. I employ about 5 IT contractors a year and the standard is generally shocking. And that is for people I pay £500 a day for.
Gannet, why look for a graduate programmer? If you need a good programmer you may need someone with experience but you will have to pay more. Personally I think IT related degrees are a waste of time, students are rarely ready for the real world of IT. I run my own business and work with IT people. The best developer/programmer I have had the pleasure to work with walked out of his Uni IT course as it wasn't challenging enough, he already knew a lot. THose are the best, the ones with passion for developing software and that doesn't come from just getting a degree. s**t, I've seen him walk into a meeting with a new client, come up with an idea, disappeared for a few hours and came back with a solution already coded, albeit just about fit for purpose, but it worked well enough to demonstrate the solution. Another company had told the client it was a few months work for a two people and gave a massive quote, yet here we had a quick (but slightly dirty) solution in a few hours. Couple of weeks of work (if that) and it was perfected. On the other hand I know developers who did an IT degree without even dabbling in a bit of development ever prior to starting their Computer Science degree, just fancied an IT career as it used to pay well. They never stand out
IT contractor standards can be shocking. Many people entered the industry for a quick buck but those days are gone but they still float around the contractor market. However IT workers can be highly skilled but sometimes can have their skills spread across many areas so may not be an expert in just one area so may seem poor but actually might be good all rounders. From a contractor developers point of view it's hard to keep the skillset current especially if they just focus on one technology, so instead learn many technologies and therefore don't seem expert in any particular area.
Personally I wouldn't give tests to experienced IT contractors either, partly because I know from experience some of the better ones will already have a string of clients they may return to in the future will refuse to do them. Treat them with respect, if you're unsure give them a really short notice period in the contract
Ultra low money but 70 people went for it so that's a positive, also I look at as being paid to train. Now have to learn how to make a nice cup of tea!
BOOHOO
