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.