How do you make sure you hire the right programmer?

**OwlHoot** · 2 December 2009, 13:34

Is that RealityHack on the right, looking keen to get started?

**minestrone** · 2 December 2009, 13:39

"Programming isn't typically a job done under pressure"

It is in most places I work.

**DimPrawn** · 2 December 2009, 13:41

http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/hiring

All of the above makes perfect sense when hiring a contractor.

Hire a contractor after the 30 min call on the phone. Make sure their contract has no notice period, they can be fired at will on the spot.

The team will soon know if the person hired is competent and efficient and "smart" and produces results.

If not, fire and rehire.

That's the only way to end up with a good team.

**swamp** · 2 December 2009, 13:43

It’s hard to be a good programmer without some previous experience and these days anyone can get some experience by starting or contributing to a free software project. So I just request a code sample and a demo and see whether it looks good.

Well that's me out. You can't show them clients' code because it's not your property, and in fact the current codebase I'm on is classified so it definitely can't be demoed.

The real problem is that I don't work on any free software projects. I can't be arsed. I work on computers so I don't have to do this tulip when I get home.

**TimberWolf** · 2 December 2009, 13:44

Originally posted by OwlHoot View Post

Is that RealityHack on the right, looking keen to get started?

They've already hired norrahe if you look carefully.

**HairyArsedBloke** · 2 December 2009, 13:45

Sminki Pinki

**alreadypacked** · 2 December 2009, 13:54

Originally posted by swamp View Post

Well that's me out. You can't show them clients' code because it's not your property, and in fact the current codebase I'm on is classified so it definitely can't be demoed.

But you would get to use the line.
"I could show you an example of my code, but then I would have to kill you"

**rootsnall** · 2 December 2009, 14:03

Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post

Hire a contractor after the 30 min call on the phone. Make sure their contract has no notice period, they can be fired at will on the spot.

The team will soon know if the person hired is competent and efficient and "smart" and produces results.

If not, fire and rehire.

That's the only way to end up with a good team.

A good manager I've done stints for used this method, he would even skip the 30 min interview and just go off the CV. I've seen him fire people after a few days. Most managers don't have the bottle for this method.

**Halcyon** · 2 December 2009, 14:07

easy peasy

Programming is not "generally done under pressure", but it IS stressful, and can lead to mildly excessive drinking (although this is to some extent self levelling as you can't write good code with a bad head).

Good programmers can also be quite introverted, which can, again, lead to drinking in social situations.

The stress of programming can however be relieved with a suitable pet, and as most programmers work long hours, stroking a cat afer a fourteen hour day is probably more appropriate than long walks in the rain with a rottweiler

Programmers like Science fiction.

Programmers need to be quite logical and are therefore good at maths

People who are good at maths are frequently quite musically talented.

So how to hire a programmer? Sod the interview, hire the one that has a cat, smells of booze, plays the guitar, and watches star trek

Simple

How do you make sure you hire the right programmer?