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Interviewed two...Have to choose one...

Drakkon

Drakkon

Diamond Member
Job: PHP Programmer / Web Designer
Has to be able to create form based pages, interact with database. No interaction with customers, no graphics design, possible DB intereaction and Flash programming. Would be willing to teach certain skills so long as willing to learn.

Both these guys interviewed for this job:

Guy #1
Resumes lists PHP/MySQL/Flash as abilities
worked for a couple restauruants designing pages
graduated from tech school with degree in multimedia dev
In interview was on the ball and had great answers to the typicals (why do u want the job, etc) but didnt have that much experience with php and only did SQL that was autogenerated. and couldn't answer a couple questions as it related to db interaction. Only did script php progamming, not much more. Had some okay web layouts and graphics, but nothing too impressive. When asked how he likes to learn said he was more of the self learner type, not much for tutorials though.


Guy #2
Resumes lists PHP/ASP/DB
no jobs apart from working at a supermarket and freelance work
grad from tech school (top of class) with degree in software development
Guy seemed like he was super nervous or very distracted during the interview, didnt really answer questions fully and a lot of repeating questions back to us or was very quiet. Seemed to have a working knowledge of php/db interaction. Page examples he gave us were obvious programmer pages (no graphics) but had some nice javascript/css work to them. No flash abilities whatsoever. When asked how he likes to work said likes being given direction then left alone, when learning he likes to have someone there to help him but usually uses the web as his tutor.

any thoughts? These were the only 2 that showed up to interview out of 5 that made the first cut so I'm not sure if i could do any better if we re-opened the position. Not sure where i wanna go with this one....the guy thats easier to get along with or the guy that might know better what hes doing.
 
Guy 1. Most jobs are 80% common sense/personality and 20% knowledge. You can teach knowledge, but you can't teach personality.
 
first guy -- you're going to have work with this person, and PHP database interaction is pretty easy to learn, especially if you have some programming experience.

Flash on the other hand is very hard to learn - and the first guy already knows it.


but mainly, nobody wants to work with a dud.
 
i would say go with the guy who knows what he is doing, you wouldnt want to waste your time hiring some moron and not getting your project done.
 
The first guy can talk back and forth with you (deparment?) better, and is probably the better pick.

It's easier to teach the first guy PHP/MySQL than it is to teach the other guy to be open and talk more.

If possible, both would work well.




(Ignoring the whole 'isnt it your job to do this, not ours?' thing)
 
I feel bad for the socially inept guy, but if you think that guy #1 will become compotent without too much hand holding, then he's probably the better option.
 
edit: re-read the post.

I'd go with guy two, unless you really feel like training guy one.

poor social skills can be easily overlooked if he has the capabilities of doing the job well.
 
Since you list no interaction with customers, this position doesn't require much social skills does it? From your description it appears the second guy just has problems communicating with people, it's not like you can't get along with him. So if that's the case, it's basically a choice to put effort into training the first guy in technical matters, or put effort into helped the second guy become a better communicator. Your choice will probably depend on what your capabilities are and what you feel like doing. Good luck!
 
Pick me!

I don't know php or flash, I'm lazy, I call in sick a lot, and I expect a lot of vacation time, but I think the ladies who work there might appreciate some of my talents.

😀
 
I'd say guy two. I can sort of empathize with him -- I know what I am talking about (PHP/database interactions, non-auto-generated SQL), have a programmer-type webpage, but do not interview very well. For example, when someone asks me why I want the job, I look away (on the ceiling) while I think and come up with a concise and accurate explanation. I hear interviewers much prefer bullshit said while charmingly smiling and looking directly at the interviewer. When guy #2 asked for clarification on some questions and repeated them back to you, that's part of the same deal -- he's trying to give the best answer possible, which means fully understanding your question.

This job does not require customer interaction, but does require getting things done and technological knowhow. I say Guy #2 all the way.
 
Originally posted by: thelanx
Since you list no interaction with customers, this position doesn't require much social skills does it? From your description it appears the second guy just has problems communicating with people, it's not like you can't get along with him. So if that's the case, it's basically a choice to put effort into training the first guy in technical matters, or put effort into helped the second guy become a better communicator. Your choice will probably depend on what your capabilities are and what you feel like doing. Good luck!
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter if the job "requires" social skills. You want to hire an employee that has social skills. An employee that is interesting and can add to the office. Not the guy who can't speak very well and doesn't add anything
 
The first guy might make a good impression and be neic to be around, but if he can't code it, you're paying him to be nice

The other person on the hand knows his stuff. He isn't going to be present anything to people in high positions, so why worry about his communication skills as long as he gets the job done?
 
shoot....i was leaning towards guy #2 but now kinda thinking guy #1 might be good too...

definately want someone easy to get along with, but not someone i have to hover over too much.
Need someone who can program, but i know leanring php/sql isn't that bad as said when already have some experience in it.
darn this was tuffer than i thought


I'd hold out for the HOT Blondie that doesn't know SH!T but REALLY REALLY wants the job.
Click to expand...
LoL we went to a strip club and there was a hot blond girl there who was willing to dress up like a comp programmer to get the job....dont ask me how you "dress up" like one...the owner of the company wouldnt go for it though 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Rallispec
first guy -- you're going to have work with this person, and PHP database interaction is pretty easy to learn, especially if you have some programming experience.

Flash on the other hand is very hard to learn - and the first guy already knows it.


but mainly, nobody wants to work with a dud.
Click to expand...

Flash is easy as hell to learn.. wtf..
Probably if you want to go deep in the action scripts, then it's a bit hard. But for the general cartoons and flash weblayouts you see, you could easily learn those in a few hours.
 
Guy #1. This stuff isn't rocket science, he can learn, and once he does he'll be better to have around than guy #2.
 
I say guy #2. The thing you have to consider is that (apart from being better skilled) he is most likely not inept, simply shy and nervous, happens when you have no had much interview experience. Plus, I'd go for the guy who knows his stuff, rather than the guy who (obviously) memorized good answers to standard questions.

 
Guy #2, lack of interviewing skills does not mean the person has a bad personality or would be hard to work with. Just means the person has not been to enough interviews to be comfortable with the process.
 
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