Sukshma

Entries categorized as ‘interviews’

Jeff Barr “You didn’t tell me…”

July 16, 2006 · 2 Comments

Jeff wonders what it takes to be a practicing Software Developer (”You didn’t tell me“).

Traditionally, an inclination for Computer Science – the basics, math, data structures, algorithms, database, operating systems, other subjects.

To quote Jeff,

I am rapidly coming to realize that those basic skills aren’t enough anymore for people who want to spend their working lives building things out of bits.

He (and others who commented) feels a good software developer is a little bit of a lawyer, usability engineer, an artist, a marketer, a writer, a communicator, an architect, a database administrator, a hardware technician, a system operator, and finally a business-man (I am tempted to add “hacker” to include a hacking or innovative mentality and “quality engineer” to ensure quality, but that list is getting too long).

I will pause for a moment to let it sink in.

Jeff writes,

In the past, project teams were large, and it was possible to create a team with a bunch of developers and other people with the requisite skills. These days, thanks to better programming tools and high-level platforms and services, very small teams can have an incredible impact, but only if that small team includes enough people with all of these skills. Instead of specializing, it is better to be a jack of all trades.

Ouch, I spent 6 years of my life studying computer science :-) ! What is made extinct is the idea of large teams of developers with support groups that carry these other skills (refer to “The Mythical Man Month” – Fred Brooks, to see where the idea of support and specialization within teams is documented).

I read the above and I thought “That is so true, he is dead right”. I would base my hiring strategy on this rationale. There is really no such thing as just a practicing computer scientist any more (thats not my profile for sure, seriously). Paul Graham also has a note on how computer science and software engineering are misnomers. – he calls them all “hackers” and “painters” interchangeably. But he stops short of telling us that the good hackers don’t specialize.

If you specialize in one language, or platform, could it be that your thoughts and efforts are constrained? So many other software development organizations out there continue to persist on the large development team theory (especially here in Pune).

I will add “Leadership” skills to the list. When your team’s stuck in the mud, it is very important for someone to step up and lead. A good friend of mine really believes this to be a necessity especially within small teams of people.

There are a few other questions we do need to think about. What do you think jack’s (of all trades) resume will look like :-) ? Also, I still believe you have to be an expert in one skill at least. Finally, Teams that are too small teams are also a drag (2 or fewer). 3 or 4 works better in my opinion.

Categories: interviews · programming · technology

Be your personal best.

July 2, 2006 · 2 Comments

To a dear friend,

I hope things are going well with your undergraduate studies in the city. As I watched the rains come down disrupting life I was most perturbed by the disruption and chaos in your life.

It must be an exciting time for you and your friends in the Senior year. For the first time you can catch the whiff of a real job and money. With the arrival of the monsoons the corporations in and around the city will descend on campuses with presentations, interviews and offer letters. Hiring is big business when all the investors care about is head counts and growth.

For your own college, this time of the year is a critical one. Placements with the top-notch companies guarantee that the campus will continue to attract the best students. Colleges safeguard their reputations (of 100% placements) by religiously following one single rule – if you have a written offer from a corporate that visited campus, you can no longer continue to apply for other campus interviews.

Things had worked out very simply for me. Of the twelve companies that visited my campus in 1999, I was very sure of the one I wanted. I researched the company through my seniors, attended their preplacement talk and only then did I turn in my application. Then began the gruelling process of tough tests and personal interviews. The morning after, I still did not have an offer letter. On that very day, a major services company were also hiring on campus. Unsure of where I was placed, I decided that they would be the next best thing. Mid way through the test I was told that my preferred company had made an offer for me and so I would have to give up on my application with the major corporate.

I gladly left the test area – I had made it with the best company on my list. My later experience with the company was greatly sweetened by the detail of my research into the organization, the high quality of the interviews and of course, by the fact that I truly believed that it was the best company to have visited my campus.

My own experience aside, in the depths your mind I am sure you prefer at least one of the following, to either enter the rat race or to stay out of it. If you were to stay out of the rat race, you could continue to be a student and decide to not create any value in the strict economical sense. If that is true for you, I believe you would not be too worried about getting hired on campus.

Unfortunately, you and your friends like you appear to be afraid. Watching the others send in their job applications with the big brand names seems to have weakened your resolve. It appears as if the entire class has submitted an application for every company planning to visit the campus!

I am sure that corporates are aware of this herd effect and covet the first interview slot on your campus. I also suspect that that slot carries a premium. Coincidentally, the same services company that could not have me, have booked the first slot on your campus. On day one of campus placements they had the best look at the top students. As the top ten students were being interviewed, you awaited your turn patiently. I was surprised to hear that the college then announced to those waiting that your preferred company would visit the campus in a weeks time. It no longer made any sense to sit through the current interviews. Subsequently, some of your friends deliberately failed the interview (some cleared inadvertently and were made offers).

What really baked my noodle though is what would the top ten students have done had they heard the same announcement, would they have preempted their own interviews? It only gets better. Within the first three days about 70% of your class had already been recruited and were eliminated. So what is your preferred company to do – they go ahead and cancel their campus visit. Your decision to wait for your choice of employer has now left you stranded. Who gets to decide what your future will look like? Why is it that the current answer appeals the least to me?

I encourage you to renew your faith in yourself. If you have decided you wish to stay out of the rat race, stand by your decision. If you later decide to change your mind, you can definitely apply around your campus placement office. Our current economy and job market only increases the probability that you will be placed with an employer of your choice. Do not be discouraged by the facade of tough interviews, long waits and other mental hurdles. Realise that you are unique. Search the right place for yourself, a place where you won’t have to change.

Be your personal best.

Categories: India · academic · interviews

Give us your best pitch

June 21, 2006 · 19 Comments

“We know that it can be really scary to quit your job at an average company doing average work just because you know that if you stay, you’ll end up just like them.

Which is why it’s such a great opportunity!” - Seth Godin, (originally seen on workhappy.net).

If you believe that you’re the hottest technical stuff around and possess the perquisite startup DNA we want to hear from you.

If you are in Pune, do stop by. We are located just off Senapati Bapat road. Or just send us an email at connect at bookeazy dot com. The two new positions are described on BookEazy’s hiring page.

BookEazy Technologies Private Limited is a young high-energy technology startup based in Pune, India. We’re a team of ambitious people with a vision to create intuitive, zero-effort consumer-facing technology that blends with the psyche of the Indian consumer.

Categories: BookEazy · India · Pune · interviews · startup

We go live tonight!

April 20, 2006 · 9 Comments

Our business page BookEazy.com is now live! Bouquets and brickbats are all welcome.

If your a talented programmer or unix guru and are interested in working at a Startup, BookEazy is very interested in hearing from you.

Categories: BookEazy · Unix · interviews · programming · startup

IT Careers: The right manager for the job

March 8, 2006 · 1 Comment

This blog post really started out as a burst in the middle of a transition leaving behind a promising Engineering career. Thanks to good feedback, I think I can work a little harder on it and make it a better post on how engineers can manage their own careers better. Why manage their own careers versus having someone else manage it for them? I believe that it is imperative for engineers to push themselves hard in the contemporary IT company, hence the emphasis – the right manager for your career is yourself. Again, your feedback will serve to complete this article.
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Categories: interviews · management

Questions to ask when joining a new employer

March 11, 2005 · Leave a Comment

Infospace chairman Naveen Jain is famous for his dot con job. I thought the Seattle times article was an important eye-opener for me.

Depends on how you look at the outcome: bad side – you can get rich quick and step on hundreds of other people. good side – life is a great leveler!

Categories: interviews · startup