O/T : Looking for an entry level LAMP developer for contract work.

[Stephen Partington]

The amount of Truth in this is daunting.

On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 10:40 PM, der.hans <PLUGd at lufthans.com> wrote:

> Am 22. Jul, 2015 schwätzte Nathan England so:
>
> moin moin,
>
>  The company I currently work for has 3 developer position openings and in
>> 4 months we've had only two candidates apply. That seems to me a real need
>> for developers. Either that or the job description is too complicated for
>> them to get past.
>>
>
> ( None of this is pointing at any specific person or company, it just
> seems like the best place in the thread to mention it. )
>
> There's an open secret about tech unemployment, it's been really low for
> years, even when general unemployment was really high.
>
> Due to this apparently being a secret, we get job descriptions that list
> every technology someone can cut and paste from Internet search results.
>
> But, since tech unemployment is actually low, it's hard to find candidates.
>
> In tech we're also usually looking for specialists. Do welding companies
> ask for someone expert in one particular welder? Are there dozens of
> brands of welders to choose from such that skills ( from the viewpoint of
> HR ) don't transfer to another brand of welder? Sorry, you only know java
> welders...
>
> So, we have a lack of candidates because people have jobs and don't
> need to look around and also because job descriptions are searching for
> unrealistic lists of skills while simultaneously focusing on narrow
> fields.
>
> Then, when candidates do appear, many get overlooked due to the narrow
> field view or lack of buzzwork bingo on their resumes. The habitually
> unemployed or new to the field seem are really up against heavy odds, even
> in the low unemployment state we've been in for years.
>
> Even an expert will have a learning curve to learn how your environment
> does it. The example I like to give is that if you hire Larry Wall to join
> your Perl team ( or Guido von Rossum for Python or Rasmus Lerdorf for
> PHP... ), he will need time to learn how your team works. Granted, if he
> then makes suggestions your team should probably listen intently :).
>
> For entry and junior level positions, look for candidates that are good at
> technology and learning, then give them room to grow into the specific
> position. You need that anyway because your environment *is* different.
>
> For senior positions, find those who know the field, then see if you think
> they can become the expert you need. The most likely reason we're looking
> is to do something new :).
>
> Also, please cross-train so when someone does leave the rest of the team
> isn't left with huge gaps in knowledge and experience!
>
> ciao,
>
> der.hans
>
>  Nathan
>>
>> On 2015-07-22 10:45, Keith Smith wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I posted for an entry level LAMP developer a week or so ago figuring I
>>> would find a number of people wanting to break into LAMP development.
>>> What I received was a lackluster response.  I was offering $22/hr 1099
>>> with the potential to bill 40 hours a week.  I figured by the time
>>> that person pays for health insurance figured at $250/mo, pays he self
>>> employment tax, and takes some vacation time and holiday time off,
>>> this compensation would be about $18 an hour W2 or $36,000 a year.
>>>
>>> Here is the contract description:
>>>
>>> I am looking for an entry level LAMP developer.  Would like someone
>>> with entry level PHP skills and entry level Linux skills.  Stuff like
>>> the ability to add a user, add a sudo user, and configure vhosts on
>>> apache.  I will give directions with examples and they will be working
>>> on a development VPS so if they blow it we just spin up another.  As
>>> for PHP skills if this person knows how to write a MySql connection
>>> string and is able to insert, update, delete and list.... this person
>>> could be what I am looking for.  This is a maintenance job.   This
>>> person would need to know some HTML and CSS.  jQuery would be a plus.
>>>
>>> This contract could last as long as 2 or 3 years.  At that point we
>>> would need to either up the compensation or understand when this
>>> person takes off for other opportunities.
>>>
>>> Is the compensation fair?  Any ideas why I received such a lukewarm
>>> response?
>>>
>>>
>>> Your feedback is much appreciated.
>>>
>>> Keith
>>>
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> --
> #  http://www.LuftHans.com/        http://www.PhxLinux.org/
> #  Don't step in front of speeding cars, don't eat explosives
> #  and don't use m$ LookOut :). - der.hans
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-- 
A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from
rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

Stephen
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