[thelist] RE: HTML test (tip): The other side.

[Sam-I-Am]

This is an interesting topic. As much as people tell me HTML is easy,
and any bum/student/8yr old can do it, good people who specialise and
enjoy this stuff are hard to find. I've had an even harder time hiring
competent contractors when we need them. 

For full time positions we use a simple written HTML test to filter the
bozos out and get to know a little more about the candidate. It tests
people's hand's on experience, problem solving and solution finding
(they email a response back - and so can go to whatever sources they
know of to find the answers).
There are a couple of trick questions that catch that all important
attention to detail. The best applicants take the test seriously (as
stupid as it seems to many) and demonstrate how they approach a task.
It's seriously insightful and saves everyone a heap of time. This is a
prerequisite for a first interview. 

For contractors it's harder to be as picky. we usually need them in a
hurry.. And have been burned several times by getting people who create
more work in training, hand holding and correcting than they contribute. 
If anyone has a tips there I'm all ears.

Sam