Reply to: When; does your CV start to speak / do you stop getting asked the basics??

[thunderlizard]

It's not a question of time served. You only stop having to explain yourself when your reputation in your chosen field starts to go ahead of you. Networking, speaking at conferences, writing a paper or two all help. Easier if you're nichey.

[Scary]

If everyone got this one right I suppose they wouldn't ask it. Could be that some people manage to muddle through for a decade without grasping the basics (I've met morons with a decade's experience). Or perhaps just being able to give a clear explanation of the fundamentals bodes well for your ability in meetings with clients etc. Perhaps some candidates turn into stammering idiots even when they know the answer and just can't explain it clearly.

[moorfield]

Doing a telephone interview tomorrow. I will be seriously irritated if it becomes an exercise in how much I have memorized from a text book and can recite back to the interviewer - or mostly can't in my case.

Fortunately not that bad, although I did have to deal with the "What is polymorphism?" question and some stoopid "on the spot" question about clock faces.

[northernladuk]

Fair enough, I on the other hand rather enjoyed the next 6 months of coming to work in boardies, jandles and singlets listening to my boss curse my name every time I capped his a$$ in our morning & afternoon rounds of Call of Duty. Don't get me wrong this fella was definitely a pro at his work too and the only people I ever felt he had guinue anger at were the pimps ringing him up fishing all the time ... now THEY wore some words

Bastard! I never get the good gigs

[Mich the Tester]

Actually its perfectly possible. Microsoft release beta's prior to full release and it was available (in a usable version) from mid 2007. In the same way VS 2010 has been in beta form since late 2008 say 18 months experience is possible (not plausible but possible).

Very informative. Thankyou. Can I repay your generosity by lending you a 'G' to replace the one you lost at the beginning of your name?

[nfoote]

I would have taken my silver cufflinks, pin stripe suit and briefcase and left with an unimpressed air about me

Fair enough, I on the other hand rather enjoyed the next 6 months of coming to work in boardies, jandles and singlets listening to my boss curse my name every time I capped his a$$ in our morning & afternoon rounds of Call of Duty. Don't get me wrong this fella was definitely a pro at his work too and the only people I ever felt he had guinue anger at were the pimps ringing him up fishing all the time ... now THEY wore some words

[eek]

VERY interesting

FTFY you saddo

[northernladuk]

Actually its perfectly possible. Microsoft release beta's prior to full release and it was available (in a usable version) from mid 2007. In the same way VS 2010 has been in beta form since late 2008 say 18 months experience is possible (not plausible but possible).

But that isn't remotely funny or interesting

[eek]

When the numpty agents, semi-literate purchasing people and HR mouthbreathers learn to read the bloody thing. In other words, when pigs fly.

I was asked on monday if I had 3 years experience with MS Visual Studio 2008. Not being a timelord, I had to answer no. Happily I got another gig instead.

Actually its perfectly possible. Microsoft release beta's prior to full release and it was available (in a usable version) from mid 2007. In the same way VS 2010 has been in beta form since late 2008 say 18 months experience is possible (not plausible but possible).

[northernladuk]

I was asked on monday if I had 3 years experience with MS Visual Studio 2008. Not being a timelord, I had to answer no. Happily I got another gig instead.

ROFL!!! Thats beautiful. I would have asked him to repeat that for the tape and sent it to his colleagues. lol..

Did you smack the agent who neglected to tell you about the brown jumper boys dress code? I've been specifically told to wear jeans and a polo to a few interviews in the past. I've also adjusted my attitude and posture mid interview once when I'd counted no less than 10 F-words followed by a C-bomb for good measure from the interviewer. Team fit; perfect. Hired; that afternoon.

To be honest they failed my interview as well. I wasn't that desperate I had to change so much as i wouldn't have liked the culture either. I also certainly wouldn't (I can put up with it don't get me wrong) bother hanging round an interview with the C-bomb (like it!) floating around. I know people who are very good at their job who swear alot but I know a load who are slap dash and useless even bordering on bullying and again not desperate enough to put up with that level of unprofessionalism. I would have taken my silver cufflinks, pin stripe suit and briefcase and left with an unimpressed air about me

[nfoote]

I went suited n booted and both guys had beards and brown jumpers (I kid you not). I knew the minute they walked in I had failed. Feedback was I failed 'team fit'. Go figure lol.

Did you smack the agent who neglected to tell you about the brown jumper boys dress code? I've been specifically told to wear jeans and a polo to a few interviews in the past. I've also adjusted my attitude and posture mid interview once when I'd counted no less than 10 F-words followed by a C-bomb for good measure from the interviewer. Team fit; perfect. Hired; that afternoon.

[Mich the Tester]

My question for those more senior than myself, when does your CV start speaking for itself??

When the numpty agents, semi-literate purchasing people and HR mouthbreathers learn to read the bloody thing. In other words, when pigs fly.

I was asked on monday if I had 3 years experience with MS Visual Studio 2008. Not being a timelord, I had to answer no. Happily I got another gig instead.

[malvolio]

I've got a 30+year career, 15 of which is on the CV (i.e. the freelance bit). On the CV I've built entire IT functions, managed IT departments, delivered £280m migrations, resuced at least three failing programmes of work and provided measurable consultancy services to around 10 different clients. I still get asked "How many years Project Management have you done?"...

Work on the basis that agents can't read or think and you might just about keep your temper..

[northernladuk]

Most interviews I do are more about whether there is a fit in personalities than about my knowledge of testing methodology, which they assume (correctly) as a given.

Very true and most particularly when dipping between public and private clients. Last public sector client I went for an interview with was for a role that I had been doing word or word in the last 9 monther. I went suited n booted and both guys had beards and brown jumpers (I kid you not). I knew the minute they walked in I had failed. Feedback was I failed 'team fit'. Go figure lol.

[northernladuk]

You can safely assume anything I did 10 years ago falls into one of two categories; A) Integrated into everyday life, like speaking English or breathing, or B) Unimportant for the direction my life took since then, therefore forgotten. C) Sitting on street corner with bottle of White Lightning and harrassing old ladies

Fixed that for you