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Interviewing Experienced IT People?
thricenightly writes "After more than 20 years in IT I've learned that the most valuable people in a team are frequently the old timers. Young pups straight out of college might (think they) know all the latest buzzwords and techniques, but in the real world, where getting working products delivered on time and on budget is of paramount importance, people who have been doing the job for a decade or two tend to be the people I'd rather be working alongside. I've recently been elevated to a position where I get to interview and choose those who get hired in my department. Although I'm very much focused on choosing the right person for the role regardless of age, experience or whatever, it's probably fair to say the more mature applicants will get a more sympathetic hearing from me than they might from most other interviewers for IT roles. The question is, what do I ask older applicants to get them to demonstrate the value of their experience? My current gambit is something like 'IT is seen as a young man's game. My next applicant after you is 23 years old. What do you know that he doesn't?' This gets responses ranging from the vague to the truly enlightened. All next week I'm interviewing for a number of senior software designer and developer roles. What should I be asking of the more experienced applicants, and what responses should I be looking out for?"
Employers are not allowed to use age as a determinate when it comes to who they should hire. I hope you enjoy being sued.
Meh, I WAS going to join in....but 11142 doesn't hold to 3 digit numbers.
Although I do have 111, which is low, and then a 42 after it, which is always good.
Don't ask the old guys "about where they want to be in 5 years"
They don't give a toss as long as they are coding/testing etc. Take it from me, once you get to a certain age, you don't give a shit about the greasy pole. They know their limitations and thus can work within them and get on with the job. And yes, I have called an old boss of mine a dipstick. He didn't give me the sack. He just labelled me as an awkward bastard as what I told him about the project was true and it saved his ass.
I'm 55 and happlily desiging complex systems. I don't want to be a manager or team leader. I'm a Designer/coder/Architect/General Dogsbody who will tell you whats what with a proposal/project. Once my new boss understands that, we generally get along fine. Which is why I am a contractor and not a permie. I'm no threat to their job.
"Oh, and GET OFF MY LAWN!"
Fixed that for you!
Last night I played a blank tape at full volume. The mime next door went nuts.