How not to hire a developer

This is from a job posting I found on the net...

"Knowledge of agile development methodologies (e.g. SCRUM, RUP).
A BS/MS degree in Computer Science or related technical field is required...One of our guiding principles is no meetings across the team one day a week—great for heads down work and potentially where you do your best work."

This is a place I would never work.

Let's look at the problems individually...

"Knowledge of agile development methodologies (e.g. SCRUM, RUP)."

Any shop that thinks that Scrum is an acronym and that this project management tact somehow equates to the Rationale Unified Process development methodology has no idea how to succeed.

"A BS/MS degree in Computer Science is required."

This requirement has always been one of my favorites, and my perspective on the issue is likely to offend many among you.

I have a degree, but outside of using Pascal when I worked in Delphi, most of my management and development skills were acquired in the trenches or with my head in a book—not during those years I spent working three jobs, walking around like a zombie, memorizing lecture notes, and drinking beer.

Frankly, I have seen developers without degrees who work circles around some who do. Professionalism and dedication to learning out-produces a piece of paper with your name on it any day of the year.

"One of our guiding principles is no meetings across one day a week."

Meetings equal communication. If your meetings are counter-productive, fix that problem. Don't stifle the team's ability to communicate and collaborate as needed.

"Heads down work is potentially where you do your best work."

Oh yea, this is a place that I want to work. The statement above is one of the most anti-team statement I have ever heard.

It's like that old saying...

"One of us cannot think better than all of us."

Working in a vacuum almost always guarantees that a better idea was available but not considered—and it certainly guarantees rework.

I'll bet this company has a sign on the wall that says:

"Do more with less."

 

(Before you ask, Kevin—No, I did not find this listing, while looking for a new job. I have the utmost respect for my team, and I am very proud to be working with them. Give us another mountain to move, and we stand ready.)