Comment Technical Interviews (Score 1) 1100
This doesn't solve the problem of sifting through piles of resumes, and it doesn't solve the problem of interviewing a candidate for a position at an organization where there's no one else with the same skills. It can also be difficult when time is a significant factor in the interview process. Given those limitations, a technical interview is simply the best way to screen people.
At my organization, candidates must go through an interview that includes 2 to 3 hours of technical questions. We ask a large number of questions in the skill areas that we require, and we dig deeply into the skill/knowledge areas that the candidate lists on his/her resume. By drilling down on important subjects, we like to push the interviewees to the point where they can't answer questions in any more depth, thereby determining the extent of their knowledge.
I also like to bring a practical aspect to an interview if possible. For instance, in the area of networking knowledge, I will give an interviewee log files or tcpdump output of certain types of traffic and ask for an interpretation. From that I can tell what they really know about what they're seeing, and how much they're just reciting book knowledge and acronyms.
At my organization, candidates must go through an interview that includes 2 to 3 hours of technical questions. We ask a large number of questions in the skill areas that we require, and we dig deeply into the skill/knowledge areas that the candidate lists on his/her resume. By drilling down on important subjects, we like to push the interviewees to the point where they can't answer questions in any more depth, thereby determining the extent of their knowledge.
I also like to bring a practical aspect to an interview if possible. For instance, in the area of networking knowledge, I will give an interviewee log files or tcpdump output of certain types of traffic and ask for an interpretation. From that I can tell what they really know about what they're seeing, and how much they're just reciting book knowledge and acronyms.
