One of my favorite ideas for a job quiz was what I read in a blog somewhere: give any candidate that makes an inquiry an ssh login and have them follow the programming instructions they find in a README file. According to the blog, it was amazing how few people applying for a "unix programmer" job could figure out how to login with ssh...
On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 8:53 AM, Michael Weisman<[email protected]> wrote: > My employer (Safe Software) grills people during job interviews with > quite difficult technical questions in an attempt to weed people out. > It seems to work quite well. > > I was actually impressed with the quiz and have been thinking about > potential solutions to them in my head (in Python, sh and Objective-C > for #1) just for fun! > > Michael > > On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 8:42 AM, Landon Blake <[email protected]> wrote: >> I believe, if properly constructed and administered, the tests could be a >> great way to weed out the candidate that knows how to shoot a good line of >> bull, but who can’t really deliver the goods. >> >> >> >> Of course, depending on your business, you might only be interested in the >> employee that can shoot a good line of bull. >> >> >> >> Landon >> >> Office Phone Number: (209) 946-0268 >> >> Cell Phone Number: (209) 992-0658 >> >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ian White >> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:34 AM >> To: '[email protected]' >> Subject: Re: [Geowanking] Urban Mapping seeking Data Wrangler >> >> >> >> Fully agreed and no criticism detected! >> >> I think that pre-screening tests are probably less common in the traditional >> geosphere--enterprise/government GIS tends to move at a different pace and >> might shy on the more traditional side. For web-based geo it's mainstream. >> If/when 'traditional' GIS gets whacked by the web this might change, but >> otherwise momentum is a very hard thing to change >> >> Ian White :: Urban Mapping Inc >> 690 Fifth Street Suite 200 :: San Francisco CA 94107 >> T.415.946.8170 :: F.866.385.8266 :: urbanmapping.com/blog >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: Landon Blake <[email protected]> >> To: Ian White; [email protected] <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thu Sep 10 10:21:20 2009 >> Subject: RE: [Geowanking] Urban Mapping seeking Data Wrangler >> >> I didn’t mean to come off as critical. I was just musing. >> >> >> >> I know Ian runs a company that does work I consider cutting edge and very >> interesting. We have discussed similar types of tests for practical >> knowledge for prospective employees at my own work place. We haven’t >> implemented them, but we have talked about them. >> >> >> >> I wonder how typical this type of test is becoming in the geospatial job >> market. Me thinks it wouldn’t have been extremely common two or three years >> ago. >> >> >> >> Landon >> >> Office Phone Number: (209) 946-0268 >> >> Cell Phone Number: (209) 992-0658 >> >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ian White >> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 8:14 AM >> To: '[email protected]' >> Subject: Re: [Geowanking] Urban Mapping seeking Data Wrangler >> >> >> >> It's a function of the job market--some candidates will find such tests >> arrogant and dismiss those employers out of hand while others find them >> attractive ("oh, this company 'gets' it") . All employers want to identify >> and cultivate talent that likes a challenge. Also, nobody wants to waste >> time on a bad employee/employer match. I've heard some ad agencies make >> candidates develop an entire campaign in preparation for a job interview, >> something that clearly takes a significant of time. >> >> >> Ian White :: Urban Mapping Inc >> 690 Fifth Street Suite 200 :: San Francisco CA 94107 >> T.415.946.8170 :: F.866.385.8266 :: urbanmapping.com/blog >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: [email protected] <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thu Sep 10 09:46:35 2009 >> Subject: Re: [Geowanking] Urban Mapping seeking Data Wrangler >> >> Reminds me of a job I applied for at a cabinet shop quite a few years ago. >> They made me go to the back and measure pieces of wood. It was a good thing >> my dad taught me how to use a tape measure. (I didn’t get the job at the >> cabinet shop. It was a good thing Safeway was hiring at the same time.) >> >> >> >> I wonder if this type of practical testing is more common now that the job >> market is in the employer’s favor. It makes me glad I still have a job. :] >> >> >> >> Landon >> >> Office Phone Number: (209) 946-0268 >> >> Cell Phone Number: (209) 992-0658 >> >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ian White >> Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:27 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: [Geowanking] Urban Mapping seeking Data Wrangler >> >> >> >> Apologies for the crass commercial intent behind this note, but the only >> place worth fishing is where the fish are… >> >> >> >> Despite challenging economic times, we’re on the hunt for somebody new. If >> this sounds like you, please consider yourself a candidate! Urban Mapping is >> looking for a recent CS/EECS/CogSci/SymSys graduate with 1-2 years >> professional experience, solid academic background and experience working >> with large-scale datasets, databases, geodata and maps. You understand good >> software design, can build robust tools and know how get things done with >> magic on the UNIX command line or scripts. You are confident in your skills >> and potential, know when to RTFM, and aren’t afraid to ask questions. >> >> >> >> Urban Mapping is an established startup (read: we have paying customers) in >> San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. Our innovative work with geospatial data >> and technology is always presenting new challenges. Currently, we need help >> to create and manage a massive datastore of geo- and related data. You will >> work in engineering as the de facto Data Wrangler but enjoy the >> entrepreneurial challenge and will find many areas to shine and learn. >> >> >> >> >> >> Essential knowledge: >> >> - Linux, shell scripting >> >> - Intermediate to advanced SQL >> >> - Very confident in one of: Python, Ruby, C, Perl, Java >> >> - Exposure to GIS and geospatial tools >> >> - Attention to detail >> >> >> >> The ideal candidate will: >> >> - Have FOSSG experience: PostgreSQL/PostGIS, GeoDjango, OSM >> >> - Know rendering and tiling tools (TileCache, Mapnik) >> >> - Understand cartography, projections, etc. >> >> - Server-side web development experience >> >> - Python/Django guru >> >> - WhereCamper! >> >> >> >> If this sounds of interest, please visit our blog to learn a bit more about >> us: urbanmapping.com/blog. This is a full time position with salary, health >> insurance, other benefits (Fri lunch on the company, occasional >> outings/retreats) and equity compensation. To apply, send your solutions the >> following two problems, resume and a cover letter to >> [email protected]. Credit given for effort, and incomplete >> submissions will be ignored. >> >> >> >> Problem #1 – Show code to extract a list of unique IPs/apikey pairs from a >> log with following format: >> >> >> >> napi.urbanmapping.com 208.13.194.18 - - [09/Sep/2009:10:43:11 -0700] "GET >> /neighborhoods/rest/getNeighborhoodsByLatLng?lat=43.6366595&lng=-79.4250212&format=xml&apikey=8k3pent5qzztwn >> HTTP/1.0" 200 1105 "-" "Drupal (+http://drupal.org/)" "Basic" >> getNeighborhoodsByLatLng 1 >> >> >> >> tapi.urbanmapping.com 83.40.19.38 - - [09/Sep/2009:10:44:44 -0700] "GET >> /find/stations/near_point.json?lat=40.756945&lng=-73.978243&searchrange=1000&transit_system_id=&apikey=a2de289b1a93a8541f998 >> HTTP/1.0" 200 2434 "-" >> "Pingdom.com_bot_version_1.4_(http://www.pingdom.com/)" "Proximity" >> prox_stations_near_point 1 >> >> … >> >> >> >> Problem #2 – You have a dataset of geographic boundaries (Census Blocks) >> which aggregate demographic statistics. You want to estimate the same >> statistics for an arbitrary polygonal region. Describe a process for >> calculating these stats and discuss any problems with your solution. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Warning: >> Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against defects >> including translation and transmission errors. If the reader is not the >> intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, >> distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you >> have received this information in error, please notify the sender >> immediately. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Geowanking mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > [email protected] > http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org > _______________________________________________ Geowanking mailing list [email protected] http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org
