Re: Similarities of Perl and Python?

Thanks to everyone that contributed, the interview went well.
The applicant was a bit lacking in interpersonal-skills but not severely so. He wasn't able to deal with probing into his C experience and the artifacts he had produced but he had a clear passion for building systems and talked clearly about his Python scripting and the architecture of a Raspberry Pi.

He was significantly better than other applicants we have got through he Kickstart Scheme.

We offered him the position today and he turned it down :(
So I am back to a pile of CV's from people who struggle to write an articulate sentence...

Comment on Re: Similarities of Perl and Python?

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Re^2: Similarities of Perl and Python? by marto (Cardinal) on Sep 02, 2021 at 07:34 UTC
Did you ask why they turned down the job offer?	[reply]
Re^3: Similarities of Perl and Python? by Bod (Parson) on Sep 05, 2021 at 22:08 UTC
Did you ask why they turned down the job offer? They said that they had received an offer more suited to what they were looking for. From some of the comments during the interview, I think they were looking for a bigger company.	[reply]
Re^2: Similarities of Perl and Python? by Anonymous Monk on Sep 02, 2021 at 13:44 UTC
Sorry to hear this. I have a soft spot for the mysteriously excluded and self-excluded. You mention he lacked interpersonal skills. I would keenly learn more about this aspect, if you have the time and will for this off-topic. Tomasz	[reply]
Re^3: Similarities of Perl and Python? by Bod (Parson) on Sep 05, 2021 at 22:23 UTC
Always happy to help both on and off topic To put it into context we are talking about a 21 year old who has recently finished a physics degree and is awaiting results. So I wasn't expecting much in the way of "life-skills". But, their ability to hold a conversation was limited. I had to drive the conversation. You could say this was because it was an interview but it was deliberately very informal and we met in a coffee shop. I live in a world where I mix with CEO's, entrepreneurs and small business owners - all of whom have a "presence" when you communicate with them. I guess my perception is somewhat biased, especially when I think back to how shy and quiet I was when I was 21 years old. So perhaps saying his interpersonal skills were lacking is a bit unfair. They clearly were not that bad as I offered him the job! The bit that surprised me was that when I asked him about his C experience, he couldn't tell me much. Not even which libraries had been used. Instead, the conversation kept going back to Python. However, when I mentioned about the Raspberry Pi he had mentioned on his CV, there was a passion. It was this that stood out along with his honesty about his lack of knowledge with databases. When I explained the technology and platform we use, naturally I covered the RDBMS and he freely admitted to having zero database experience but being keen to learn. That I liked. We are unlikely to find anyone else with anything like the level of skill and technical knowledge under the Kickstart Scheme so it is a pity that he didn't want to work for us. But employment is a two way relationship and one that has to work for both parties. We are looking to take on two kickstarters, one technical and one in a marketing role, so we shall keep looking.	[reply]
Re^4: Similarities of Perl and Python? by Anonymous Monk on Sep 06, 2021 at 14:18 UTC
Thanks, Bod. In the back of my head I have the problem of employing autistic people. I'm not saying it applies here. It was covered in The Economist a few years back. I remember Germany had agencies specialised in this area. Would this be a game killer for you? Tomasz	[reply]