Re: Offtopic: Interviewing and Hiring a Web Developer

> This may be a little more technical that what you need,
but there are
some good recommendations here:
>
> http://joelonsoftware.com/articles/GuerrillaInterv
iewing3.html 
>
> One thing I like to do is to try and find out how a
potential hire
thinks with a question like "How would you 
> go about determining the number of traffic lights in
the city?" A
question like this - without a right answer, 
> really - allows you to get an idea of how they go
about
problem-solving. Some may try to figure out the number 
> of streets that intersect; some may estimate the volume
of traffic and
base the answer on that; some may try 
> and get more information out of you - Do you want *all*
traffic
lights, or can I exclude the flashing yellow 
> ones?
> Of course, these days I often add on "...and
you're not allowed to use
Google," but that's just me.
> __________________________
> Mike Kmiec
> Lead Developer : Innovation Centre
> National Library of New Zealand
> Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa
> mike.kmiecnatlib.govt.nz 
> +64 4 474 3137

While I could think out ways to estimate it (I'd be one of
the ones
asking for more information), my first instinct 
would be to say "I'd start by calling City Hall."
I think that's why I
apply for librarian jobs. Why do an estimate
that could be wildly off when you can ask around and get a
number that
would actually be closer to accurate?  
I'm bad with theoreticals if there's an actual fact-answer
that exists
that can answer the question. 
But I do understand it as an exercise, and I very much agree
with your
suggestion of open-ended problem-solving 
interview questions. 

I disagreed with multiple points of this article, but the
perspective
was very interesting. 
Thanks for the link. 

Elena
__
Elena O'Malley, Assistant Director for Technology and Access
Services
Emerson College Library, Boston, MA 02116
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