Comments on: How to apply for a web development job http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/ Thoughts on web development and technologies by Peter Gasston Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:50:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Peter http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6518 Peter Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:25:13 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6518 <q>I don’t know what you think on this but I’m of the opinion that as long as someone can actually demonstrate that they understand things like semantics, CSS layouts, accessibility, cross browser compatibility, then they’re probably worthy of an interview?</q> Exactly. For the role we're offering, we don't need (or want) a superstar developer, we just need someone who understands the principles of modern client-side development. I don’t know what you think on this but I’m of the opinion that as long as someone can actually demonstrate that they understand things like semantics, CSS layouts, accessibility, cross browser compatibility, then they’re probably worthy of an interview?

Exactly. For the role we’re offering, we don’t need (or want) a superstar developer, we just need someone who understands the principles of modern client-side development.

]]> By: Dave Woods http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6516 Dave Woods Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:44:16 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6516 Yeah that's a good idea and is something I've done for my last few freelance jobs so I always have a few samples that I can show to demonstrate that I can do what I say I can do on my CV. I don't know what you think on this but I'm of the opinion that as long as someone can actually demonstrate that they understand things like semantics, CSS layouts, accessibility, cross browser compatibility, then they're probably worthy of an interview? I get quite a few people/companies dropping me emails through my website offering their services for outsourcing work and seeing as it's something I may do in future, I simply ask them to send me one website that demonstrates their ability. Not surprisingly, I haven't actually received a single website that was valid, semantic and didn't use tables so I completely understand your frustrations :) Yeah that’s a good idea and is something I’ve done for my last few freelance jobs so I always have a few samples that I can show to demonstrate that I can do what I say I can do on my CV.

I don’t know what you think on this but I’m of the opinion that as long as someone can actually demonstrate that they understand things like semantics, CSS layouts, accessibility, cross browser compatibility, then they’re probably worthy of an interview?

I get quite a few people/companies dropping me emails through my website offering their services for outsourcing work and seeing as it’s something I may do in future, I simply ask them to send me one website that demonstrates their ability.

Not surprisingly, I haven’t actually received a single website that was valid, semantic and didn’t use tables so I completely understand your frustrations :)

]]> By: Peter http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6515 Peter Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:12:19 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6515 Hi Dave. The way I tend to get around this problem is to create a 'snapshot' of the code I've written; save a page as flat HTML & CSS, then host it on my own website. This is not possible in every case, but I've used it a couple of times to save work I was proud of but which was liable to change. Hi Dave. The way I tend to get around this problem is to create a ‘snapshot’ of the code I’ve written; save a page as flat HTML & CSS, then host it on my own website. This is not possible in every case, but I’ve used it a couple of times to save work I was proud of but which was liable to change.

]]> By: Dave Woods http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6512 Dave Woods Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:46:10 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/2008/01/14/how-to-apply-for-a-web-development-job/#comment-6512 Hi Peter, completely agree with all your points although I personally don't always include URL's to sites that I've worked on for external clients and who's site I don't currently have control of. The reason? If the client has control of the website then there's no guarantee that on any given day, the code that a potential employee will view will be the code that I created. I specialize in HTML and CSS and always deliver valid, semantic code using web standards but if a potential employee can go to a link, all they'll do is view the source code and see that there's hundreds of errors due to dodgy ASP.net implementation despite the code I delivered them being completely valid. Because of this, I tend to provide links to the 4 or 5 website that I have control of and then provide details of my skills and information about another 10 or so sites/intranets I've worked on which I can then explain further at interview. Maybe I'm being a little paranoid with this approach but I'm a little conscious about providing links to website which may not truly reflect my work. Agree with all your other points though and have experienced these kinds of problems even with agencies who when I was first starting out sent me for a PHP interview!! Hi Peter, completely agree with all your points although I personally don’t always include URL’s to sites that I’ve worked on for external clients and who’s site I don’t currently have control of.

The reason? If the client has control of the website then there’s no guarantee that on any given day, the code that a potential employee will view will be the code that I created.

I specialize in HTML and CSS and always deliver valid, semantic code using web standards but if a potential employee can go to a link, all they’ll do is view the source code and see that there’s hundreds of errors due to dodgy ASP.net implementation despite the code I delivered them being completely valid.

Because of this, I tend to provide links to the 4 or 5 website that I have control of and then provide details of my skills and information about another 10 or so sites/intranets I’ve worked on which I can then explain further at interview.

Maybe I’m being a little paranoid with this approach but I’m a little conscious about providing links to website which may not truly reflect my work.

Agree with all your other points though and have experienced these kinds of problems even with agencies who when I was first starting out sent me for a PHP interview!!

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