This seems to be if you look for only geekys candidats. As I ended reading the article I tought: why do I want a geeky employee?
I think that would be another good article: top 10 reasons for hiring a geeky employee. Or maybe: top 10 best jobs for geekys employees.
IMHO this kind of articles are better with complementary follow-ups.
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I found myself analyzing it from top to bottom in this, something like your experimental excursion...the day that Justin addressed himself, making for Question #11.
I'm sure that you, Justin, would need time to write up said followup article.
I'm sure these things don't just write themselves.
I'm sure these things don't just write themselves.
are the ones who missed the humor of this?
BTW, I feel funny that I study or write code nearly every night, build hardware when necessary, and have worked around HW engineers for many years (who are waaayyyy gone into sci-fi), yet I barely feel compelled to watch anything sci-fi related. And I only watched the first Star Wars once, in the theater when it came out.
I tend to spend all my spare time playing guitar, gardening, skiing, and working out.
Not your typical IT geek, I guess.
BTW, I feel funny that I study or write code nearly every night, build hardware when necessary, and have worked around HW engineers for many years (who are waaayyyy gone into sci-fi), yet I barely feel compelled to watch anything sci-fi related. And I only watched the first Star Wars once, in the theater when it came out.
I tend to spend all my spare time playing guitar, gardening, skiing, and working out.
Not your typical IT geek, I guess.
Yup. Can stay up for hours writing code, hardly ever turn on the tube, am WAY out of date when it comes to gaming. I am in the asperger's geek section, ignoring most of the world, "mainstream" stuff largely does not interest me. I will, however fix your network or your computer PDQ, throw together a database in less than a day, modify your website if you like, whatever. I am not antisocial but operate in small circles. I definitely failed this test! Oh - and since I'm aspie, I did expect a serious article on TR, not a joke. I'm glad to learn that it is one!
doesn't make a geek. In high school I hang out with football players and athletes. I get so into University of Hawai'i sports because those are my friends on the field. I can tell you more about bar etiquette then Lord of the Rings and I can't go without checking the AL East box scores. BTW, for those of you who didn't know Paul Pierce just signed back with the Celts and even took a pay cut so they could resign Ray Allen. I also love Sam Adam's Summer Ale and Noble Pils. However, when I am at work I am in control. I succeed at work. Working on both Unix and Windows systems and planing deployments. That's just me.
Baseball and Basketball? Yuck. Well, baseball is OK. American and World (soccer) football rock.
I will watch a baseball game, but usually in person. I might watch a bit of thw World Series with my husband if I have a few minutes. I generally do not watch tv at all. I generally do not watch any sports unless my kids are playing. Then I'm into it.
I agree, I was/am an athlete in High school. I like to have a few drinks (maybe some shots) and hang out in places where computers are not. Also I like to take my Harley out as often as I can. If you are basing your higher on these questions then I would have to question your judgment. I have a rather successful career in IT as a security/System/Network admin. I work in Linux,Unix, and Windows, and quit successfully I might add.
I follow sports but also tech and I was scratching my head at some of the questions. While it is a fun drinking conversation on who shot first, It really has no bearings in the work environment as to your abilities. I have worked with several guys that could very easily answer everyone of those questions correctly yet they would still run to me to ask how to list files/folders in a directory in Windows and how to change directories in Linux. Just because your a nerd/Geek does not mean your technical, just indicates that you have no life/friends and most likely have no social ability. Now that is a generalization because that does not apply to all, but I would say the majority.
If a Geek has no social skills then how are they going to fit into a company that has non-Geeks working for them? Are you just going to hid the person in a corner next to the vending machines so they aren't uncomfortable when they need there caffeine fix?
When I hire I ask an assortment of questions that gets the Geek to come out as well as make sure they will good at interacting with others (ie employees and customers).
Power to the Geeks!!! (that have see the sun more then just when they are walking to and from their cars)
I follow sports but also tech and I was scratching my head at some of the questions. While it is a fun drinking conversation on who shot first, It really has no bearings in the work environment as to your abilities. I have worked with several guys that could very easily answer everyone of those questions correctly yet they would still run to me to ask how to list files/folders in a directory in Windows and how to change directories in Linux. Just because your a nerd/Geek does not mean your technical, just indicates that you have no life/friends and most likely have no social ability. Now that is a generalization because that does not apply to all, but I would say the majority.
If a Geek has no social skills then how are they going to fit into a company that has non-Geeks working for them? Are you just going to hid the person in a corner next to the vending machines so they aren't uncomfortable when they need there caffeine fix?
When I hire I ask an assortment of questions that gets the Geek to come out as well as make sure they will good at interacting with others (ie employees and customers).
Power to the Geeks!!! (that have see the sun more then just when they are walking to and from their cars)
Although I never 'actually' programmed in machine code, I did learn how to do it. I'd never read this story before and though it may not be based on reality, the tricks described in it were possible. I'm actually a little depressed that I understood (and can visualize) what he was talking about.
I would also be putting Jonathan Coulton in there.
With rippers like "Code Monkey", "RE: Your Brains" and "The Future Soon", he's a must-have.
With rippers like "Code Monkey", "RE: Your Brains" and "The Future Soon", he's a must-have.
What about the Mighty MC Stephen Hawking?
PS - I heard Weird Al on KMET, on the long version of the Dr. Demento Show.
PS - I heard Weird Al on KMET, on the long version of the Dr. Demento Show.
Has good scientific knowledge, but it doesn't strike me as geeky. Or, at least, not a key geeky requirement.
KMET rocked before it went all New-Agey.
I remember the the first Weird Al song - about the School Cafeteria. Also saw WA in concert with Dr Demento at Knott's Berry Farm in the 80's. Rocking out with that accordion was hilarious!
I remember the the first Weird Al song - about the School Cafeteria. Also saw WA in concert with Dr Demento at Knott's Berry Farm in the 80's. Rocking out with that accordion was hilarious!
story. The author says Mel "wrote" code. But I'd be willing to wager that he didn't - he sat at his card punch or other input device and entered it out of his head.
How do I know?
I saw another Mel, called Colin, doing exactly that years ago (12-0-1-8-9 = 0x00 on an IBM card punch)
How do I know?
I saw another Mel, called Colin, doing exactly that years ago (12-0-1-8-9 = 0x00 on an IBM card punch)
I would not even sit past the second question. This looks like a movie critics interview. What a joke.
If you can't tell this is a joke then you need to either get out mor often, find yoruself a sense of humour or stay off these boards.
I found your sense of humor. You might want it back.
Have you never heard of a "Joke"?
Have you never heard of a "Joke"?
If you can't tell this is a joke then you either need to find yourself a sense of humour (try EBay, or if your too cheap for eBay then try Craigs List) or stay off these boards.
You sure as heck don't want to go to Craigs List, unless it is to be humored. You have all the jokes you can stand in one sitting there man.
This article was a waste of packets! The first time ever I have read a TR article and thought "wtf?"
A recruiter once told me about the 'beer and pizza' test - if candidates have equal skillsets the 'beer and pizza' test is used -basically it's where you decide on whether you would want to go out for beer and pizza (or whatever) with this person and your work group. The one you'd invite is the one who gets the job. This list makes sense to me - if that's what your office is like, not all will encourage this much fun but we can dream!
That whenever a joke posting is made, people instantly assume that it's supposed to be taken in all seriousness.
Good Lord!
I, for one, found it hilarious. I use this same basic set of questions when interviewing possible friends. I also tend to find the question "How many Power Metal bands can you name/have t-shirts for" is another good one. Acceptable responses can include any and all rare videogame related t-shirts.
Good Lord!
I, for one, found it hilarious. I use this same basic set of questions when interviewing possible friends. I also tend to find the question "How many Power Metal bands can you name/have t-shirts for" is another good one. Acceptable responses can include any and all rare videogame related t-shirts.
However I am thinking of actually using this if I ever interview again.
I may say something like; "I've never compiled a slip-stream disk - but I do know the top ten Weird Al songs!!"
That would be a riot! I have a pretty loose style at interviews, because I'm really not hard up for a job.
I may say something like; "I've never compiled a slip-stream disk - but I do know the top ten Weird Al songs!!"
That would be a riot! I have a pretty loose style at interviews, because I'm really not hard up for a job.
I actually have asked in a real interview what computer games the person likes to play and why. It let's me ask a question that gets down to the person's passion: I'm not going to hire a techy who isn't passionate about computers. And you can gain valuable insights into a person's character when they tell you they love being a pirate in EVE (an MMORPG) vs a miner or a guild member in WoW vs a solo adventurer.
The whole thing is about creativity and trying to break past the initial awkwardness that is ALWAYS present in an initial interview.
The whole thing is about creativity and trying to break past the initial awkwardness that is ALWAYS present in an initial interview.
Justin,
Maybe you should disable replies to this article? So far at least 3 replies have come from people who have taken your story dead serious and so of course they are responding in kind and making themselves look like a fool.
By doing this you will help to prevent any other fools from replying and letting everyone else know they have no sense of humor.
Maybe you should disable replies to this article? So far at least 3 replies have come from people who have taken your story dead serious and so of course they are responding in kind and making themselves look like a fool.
By doing this you will help to prevent any other fools from replying and letting everyone else know they have no sense of humor.
Have to admit, got 8 out of 10 without google and made good guesses on the 2 misses.
What is missing is a real question to tell the real Unix geeks from the the 6 month tech school want-a-be's
Q11: vi or emacs?
(I've really used that one on interviews to see if they really had ever spent any time at a command prompt. If they answered 'pico', 'ed' or 'vim' I'd give it to them, but 'notepad' or anything like that...'you're out of here!')
What is missing is a real question to tell the real Unix geeks from the the 6 month tech school want-a-be's
Q11: vi or emacs?
(I've really used that one on interviews to see if they really had ever spent any time at a command prompt. If they answered 'pico', 'ed' or 'vim' I'd give it to them, but 'notepad' or anything like that...'you're out of here!')
emacs is better, but vi was great for small scripts. Going by memory...(Gone to the darkside of auditing 
is a no real answer question you know.
vi(m) = overly complex for edting a conf file to get xorg back online
emacs = overly complex for editing conf file to get xorg back online.
and since Washington State pulled Pine, anyone answering Pine is definitely not a noob, but may not be current on the software
alpine being the current tool they put out.
better, showing knowledge of current tools and systems would be if they answered nano.
nano being a gnu clone of pine.
vi(m) = overly complex for edting a conf file to get xorg back online
emacs = overly complex for editing conf file to get xorg back online.
and since Washington State pulled Pine, anyone answering Pine is definitely not a noob, but may not be current on the software
alpine being the current tool they put out.
better, showing knowledge of current tools and systems would be if they answered nano.
nano being a gnu clone of pine.
ed, ved, vi, emacs, et. all originated in code modification. I prefer nano for config file or pure text editing as it is loosely based upon the CP/M Wordstar structure.
maybe you should read this:
http://www.nano-editor.org/dist/v2.2/faq.html#1.4
the HISTORY of Nano from the nano website before you start saying cp/m wordstar
http://www.nano-editor.org/dist/v2.2/faq.html#1.4
the HISTORY of Nano from the nano website before you start saying cp/m wordstar
Q12: have you ever PEEKED OR POKED?
(interview Questions for old-timers...)
Q13: What was "DR-Dos?"
Q14: What was "Ashton-Tate?"
The last two questions usually show how long the Interviewee has been in game...
(interview Questions for old-timers...)
Q13: What was "DR-Dos?"
Q14: What was "Ashton-Tate?"
The last two questions usually show how long the Interviewee has been in game...
It's HOW you answer.
1. Light - don't know? Make something up, laugh, and go talk about something else...
2. Serious - don't know? Furrow brow, discuss how you would answer that.
3. Angry - don't know - get angry, get up, walk out.
4. Surprized and amazed - like the look on Art Garfunkel's face after he viewed the slide show in "The Graduate".
1. Light - don't know? Make something up, laugh, and go talk about something else...
2. Serious - don't know? Furrow brow, discuss how you would answer that.
3. Angry - don't know - get angry, get up, walk out.
4. Surprized and amazed - like the look on Art Garfunkel's face after he viewed the slide show in "The Graduate".
these are the questions for getting a NERDY GEEK not all Geeks are Nerds, and not all Nerds are Geeks.
Nerds though tend not to have a life, where are a Nerdless Geek still has some social skills.
Interestingly I'm a Geek girl that has never played WoW or Dungeons and Dragons, and unlike the nerd variety I smell good.
My questions to get a real geek would be "what instrument do you play?" because 90% of the best geeks i have met play something.
and "what is your main online tag?"
Nerds though tend not to have a life, where are a Nerdless Geek still has some social skills.
Interestingly I'm a Geek girl that has never played WoW or Dungeons and Dragons, and unlike the nerd variety I smell good.
My questions to get a real geek would be "what instrument do you play?" because 90% of the best geeks i have met play something.
and "what is your main online tag?"
Love the list but I wouldn't pass. I have just been waiting and waiting for someone to ask me the meaning of life!
I really don't get the people that bothered to "waist" [sic] our time complaining about this post. Not only do they not get the humor, they could bother to just move on.
They have clearly seperated themselves from those that I would hire.
A lot of what I see on TR is something I already know, or can get a quick nugget or refresh from, but Justin's geeky columns have often caused me to have to catch up on something fun. Keep it up!
Now, being from the time of cards and assembly, I miss a mention of bozos or Nick Danger.
They have clearly seperated themselves from those that I would hire.
A lot of what I see on TR is something I already know, or can get a quick nugget or refresh from, but Justin's geeky columns have often caused me to have to catch up on something fun. Keep it up!
Now, being from the time of cards and assembly, I miss a mention of bozos or Nick Danger.
I've just wasted way too much time going through the posts to make sure I didn't miss a single one where the author took the post seriously.
It's like a train wreck; just can't look away!
Fun article and hilarious responses (both serious and humorous).
Thanks!
It's like a train wreck; just can't look away!
Fun article and hilarious responses (both serious and humorous).
Thanks!
I've often thought about asking candidates how they play minesweeper. It can tell a lot about thought process and problem solving. Also, asking if they know the object of the game. Alas, I guess too many people now have never played it.
I think that you are borderline insane if you think that Metallica is something that a geek can't love...
Besides a geek that loves metal shows some masculinity which is otherwise absent in most geeks, we don't take a pounding, we ******* pwn others...
Besides a geek that loves metal shows some masculinity which is otherwise absent in most geeks, we don't take a pounding, we ******* pwn others...
Is "Mos" from "I.T. Crowd vs. FPS Doug from "Pure Pwnage", respectively.
I'd place you closer to Doug's end of the spectrum.
I'd place you closer to Doug's end of the spectrum.
Doug is a nice person, just an extreme ADD and perhaps asbergers syndrome as his interests are extremely limited :P
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