(^24) 97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know
How to Spot a Good IT Developer
How to Spot a Good IT Developer
James Graham, PMP
Ta’ l-Ibrag, Malta
SoFTWARE PRojECT MAnAgERS know that project success rests on having
excellent developers. How do you spot stellar performers in the applicant herd?
Before new candidates interview, talk to your best developers. Have them reaf-
firm the specific knowledge needed. Is experience with a particular develop-
ment life cycle, a specific methodology, special toolsets, or definitive sector
knowledge (experience in the defense industry or the pharmaceutical sector,
for example) preferable, or mandatory?
Assess knowledge. Mix interviews, involving you and trusted representatives
from your development team, with theoretical tests. A good software engineer
will be able to fix “mock” syntax errors immediately and without any mental
stress. He or she can read other people’s code and understand its intent with-
out extensive documentation or glyph-by-glyph translation. When presented
with a programming problem, your candidate should be able to spot it and
then describe it in both “developer geek” and in language appropriate for non-
information technology stakeholders.
We all think “more is better” when hiring programming skills. But how do we
define “more”? Although a candidate may have excellent knowledge, this per-
son may not yet have developed the finesse to employ it effectively. A recent
graduate or newly trained developer may struggle to apply the theoretical
knowledge gained in an educational context when facing a demanding real-
world project. When tight deadlines squeeze the time to explore solutions,
and intense pressures from the client and other stakeholders loom, you need
experience on top of raw knowledge.
Ask the applicant/developer to write code for review by you and your team.
After analyzing the code and talking with your trusted developers, you will
sense whether this person’s approach and style will fit your team.