Sorry, you only have 14 years experience...

[gingerjedi]

That's exactly my point.

I suppose it just goes to show how picky clients are becoming lately.

As has been mentioned on here, I did not have skill 37 which happened to be SVN as I have used CVS in the past, which is practically identical, however an agent refused my application on this basis.
Roll on the good times again when clients (and agents) actually start using their common sense.

Not long now, lets see how choosy clients are in a couple of months time when all the shelved projects, upgrades and roll-outs come back online all at the same time.

[chef]

I've emailed them to point out their minor mistake, let's see if I get a reply.

[Scary]

As has been mentioned on here, I did not have skill 37 which happened to be SVN as I have used CVS in the past, which is practically identical, however an agent refused my application on this basis.

What you need to know about SVN: it's crap, use Git or Mercurial.

ETA: you can kiiind of read it as experienced Java developer with 15 years plus of (not just Java) development experience.

[malvolio]

Hate to be picky, but that advert asks for 15 years development experience, not 15 years JAVA.

Perhaps they're trying to filter out the 90% of applications from people who have just left uni somwehere in the world or think a year building games on their home PC qualifies them.

[BolshieBastard]

http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/IT-Jo...&WT.mc_id=A157

How on earth did the client arrive at the necessity for 15 years experience.

Seems this is a little ageism going on here I feel.

What in reality is the difference between somebody with 5 years experience in this area, and 15??

I suspect this is a role that was done by a permie who just happened to have 15 years experience blah, blah, blah.

So the client wants to replace them with someone else who has the same experience. Either that or the job doesnt exist.

[nomadd]

That's exactly my point.

I suppose it just goes to show how picky clients are becoming lately.

As has been mentioned on here, I did not have skill 37 which happened to be SVN as I have used CVS in the past, which is practically identical, however an agent refused my application on this basis.
Roll on the good times again when clients (and agents) actually start using their common sense.

...which is your own fault.

I'd mainly used CVS and Perforce in my previous roles, but the current client wanted SVN on the job spec. So, two days before interview - having already stuck it on my CV - I downloaded SVN (and the TortoiseSVN and Subclipse SVN plugins) and played around for a few hours. Got job. Simple.

Now, remind me what was stopping you doing that? After all, this is all free software. I also did the same for Maven2 and several other tools they are using. I mean, it resulted in a 6 month, well paid contract with and Investment Bank. And it cost me nothing, apart from a bit of my time...

Yes, you are right, clients are picky (stupidly so.) But just play them at their own game.

[BolshieBastard]

...which is your own fault.

I'd mainly used CVS and Perforce in my previous roles, but the current client wanted SVN on the job spec. So, two days before interview - having already stuck it on my CV - I downloaded SVN (and the TortoiseSVN and Subclipse SVN plugins) and played around for a few hours. Got job. Simple.

Now, remind me what was stopping you doing that? After all, this is all free software. I also did the same for Maven2 and several other tools they are using. I mean, it resulted in a 6 month, well paid contract with and Investment Bank. And it cost me nothing, apart from a bit of my time...

Yes, you are right, clients are picky (stupidly so.) But just play them at their own game.

Yes, I've seen you claim this before but sorry that's just ridiculous. OK it worked in your case. But suppose they do a check later on and find you didnt use the applications? Then, they wonder what else did you bulltulip about and before you know it, you're out on your arse like some other contractors mentioned on here recently.

In any event, this kind of tactic cannot be repeated for all different applications since they arent all available for download.

[SueEllen]

Yes, I've seen you claim this before but sorry that's just ridiculous. OK it worked in your case. But suppose they do a check later on and find you didnt use the applications? Then, they wonder what else did you bulltulip about and before you know it, you're out on your arse like some other contractors mentioned on here recently.

Lots of applications Normadd mentions are very similar to other applications that have been around for sometime.

In any event, this kind of tactic cannot be repeated for all different applications since they arent all available for download.

Loads of companies use software that is either open source or that is free to download a trial version for a developer use.

It's a case of checking you can get it free, what it briefly is and knowing that you can learn it quickly before sending your CV off.

[darrenb]

Curiously the contact name for that position is "Amy Fowler".

There are only a handful of people in the world with 15 years Java experience, and one of them is called Amy Fowler.

[nomadd]

Yes, I've seen you claim this before but sorry that's just ridiculous. OK it worked in your case. But suppose they do a check later on and find you didnt use the applications? Then, they wonder what else did you bulltulip about and before you know it, you're out on your arse like some other contractors mentioned on here recently.

In any event, this kind of tactic cannot be repeated for all different applications since they arent all available for download.

The product he mentioned, SVN, is completely free. And for those that aren't, buy them. That's what I've been doing for 20-odd years, and it's always more than paid for itself. All part of being a contractor, IMHO. What's 'ridiculous' is that you don't seem to understand that. And I've never been "out on my arse" in 21 years of contracting, because I learn the software properly.

Like I said, SVN is free. It takes 5 minutes to download and install. Learning the basics takes about 1-2 hours. And if you know CVS - like the OP claimed he did - you are more than 50% of the way there anyway (read up on the history of SVN to understand why.) What he could have learnt within 1-2 hours would have covered all of the questions he'd have come up against in 95% of the interviews that list SVN as a requirement. I had no problem getting through my interview, and no problem using the product on-site; and I use it every day. It really is that simple. Ditto Java 1.6, Maven2, Hibernate, Spring, CXF, JPA, CruiseControl, Mockito, etc., etc. - all the stuff used by Investment Banks (and elsewhere) that's paying decent money at the moment - it's all free and easy to learn if you are prepared to put the effort in. I learnt it, and I'm no rocket scientist.

EDIT: Ps. The SVN reference book is also superb and absolutely free in ebook format. Ditto the Maven2 reference guide. And the Hibernate reference guide. And the Spring reference guide. And... Notice a pattern here..?