A client I work for is looking to fill a position.  They’re looking for someone who has certain qualifications as you might expect that just hiring anyone who has used Microsoft Office might result in a bad piece of software.  The responses that have come in have consistently been bad or worse.  For example, one person actually gave an answer to a question that was very short, but the second sentence was “Use a search engine.”  The answer should not be use a search engine unless the question is, “What are you doing if you ask Jeeves?”  And in that case, its still grammatically incorrect.

Furthermore, if you’re filling out a series of questions, please don’t make a fool out of yourself by using the search engines.  Well, you can use the search engines, but I wouldn’t recommend simply copying and pasting the answers into the response.  There is very little that impresses me more than a good, efficient worker, but copy and paste from Google, Wikipedia, or any other source and blatantly plagerising the answers and passing them off as your own is completely unethical, lazy and useless.  A company that discovers you’re a liar, even if they’ve hired you on, will can your sorry bum rather quickly.

If you want a job as a software developer you’ll want to actually know your stuff.  Actually know the languages you’re reporting you know, actually list projects you actually worked on and helped complete (I can’t believe the number of folks who fake resume work).  If you want a job as a software developer, study up by learning about the company you’re trying to get hired on at.  Find out what software you’ll be working on, if at all possible, and focus in on knowing what you’re getting yourself into.  Don’t get surprised in the interview if you thought you were working on one project and the company discusses a different product, but at least be aware of the projects.  Be knowledgable.

Be prepared to ask questions and interview the company employees as well.  Be prepared to find out what sort of time restrictions exist at the company, find out what their development process is.  Ask what tools they use.  Make sure you know what they’re using and you’re comfortable with it.

In the end you need to be a worthy candidate, put forth the effort to be that candidate.  Make sure you’ve got your ducks in a row and that you’re prepared to take the position on with passion.  Lastly, make sure you’re a person who asks why a project, task or code change is done because it will help you excede the requirements, and knock out the interviewer (figuratively, of course).  And don’t use the search engines to knock them out

This could totally apply to debit cards for those of you who, like me, are not huge fans of the credit cards.

Please Don’t Taste My Credit Card!

I have noticed that the employees who have to handle my plastic often are careful with the card to avoid looking like they’re doing bad things with it.  However, there’s always a nut somewhere