[GRLUG] Geek test/job opening

Wed Nov 24 12:57:17 EST 2010

Yeah, I kind of liked the quiz too, although I was too lazy to hack
the forms or look up some of the answers which had escaped my memory
(I'm not looking for a job).

That said, if I were considering an application, it would be nice to
have some background info on the company, what they do, etc.  I'm sure
Kyle is a good guy (based on his polite email and the recomendations
from Michael and Casey), but there's more to a company than good,
smart people.  Products?  Services?  Business plan?  Location.....?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for _select_ job opportunities being
circulated on a list like this.  But even for the midly curious such
as myself, a website goes a long way towards introducing your company.

On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 12:01 PM, Clay Ashby <kingpoiuy at gmail.com> wrote:
> I liked the quiz idea! I did some of it and found myself to be quite rusty
> with some of the aspects. I think quizzes like this should be standard for
> job applications and I also wish (as bob mentioned) more places would post
> their salary as part of the job incentive. Most companies don't post their
> wages because they want to undercut the employee if possible. These quizzes
> not only help the employer understand the employee, but they help the
> employee understand the employer as well.
> Just my thoughts! :)
>
> On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 11:50 AM, Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Assume?  The job description could
>> include something like "we are a company
>> engaged in......"
>> IT professional reads better than geek IMHO.
>> "Just do your job" actually sounds pretty good
>> in today's world.  As long as one knows what it
>> is anyway.  Creativity is a very overused word
>> today.  Everyone even mildly competent, making
>> the most mundane, expected, contributions calls
>> themselves creative.  Probably doesn't help to
>> narrow things down much.  A good recommendation
>> by someone known to be competent in the field
>> sounds useful.
>>    -- Bob
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 11:35 AM, Joseph Workman
>> <joseph.workman at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I like the "game" it shows creativity and gives some insight into the
>>> culture of a company. I am assuming this isn't the normal "realistic" ---
>>> just do your job -- kind of company but maybe a company that has a sense of
>>> humor and creativity.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 11:23 AM, Bob Kline <bob.kline at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Why the games?  i.e., why not just post
>>>> a realistic job description, including a salary
>>>> range?
>>>> Saying one is looking for a geek might
>>>> bring smiles to the computer community,
>>>> but colloquially it suggests one is looking
>>>> for a social loser who is willing to devote
>>>> his or her life to the cause. And will likely
>>>> wall themselves off from the rest of the
>>>> organization as much as possible in order
>>>> to keep away the demanding, largely
>>>> know-nothing, computer users.  It's not
>>>> an appealing pitch, but then, perhaps things
>>>> have not really changed much in the last
>>>> 30 years.
>>>> We've seen cases of ridiculous job
>>>> descriptions, seemingly looking for someone
>>>> fluent in 50 or more computer languages
>>>> and-or major packages.  If someone has a
>>>> real job, with finite duties and hours, and
>>>> pay commensurate with expectations, why
>>>> not just spell it out.  Knowing the boss is a
>>>> great guy is a plus from the job seeker's
>>>> point of view, but just another factor.
>>>>    -- Bob
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 11:09 AM, Casey DuBois <grlugcasey at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I can also vouch for Kyle and told him to post this opportunity to the
>>>>> list. For anyone looking for work this may be an excellent opportunity.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> Casey DuBois
>>>>> 616-808-6942
>>>>>
>>>>> On Nov 24, 2010, at 9:11 AM, Michael Mol <mikemol at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> > I can't say a whole lot without risking violating an NDA, and even
>>>>> > providing this character reference risks putting me in an odd
>>>>> > conflict
>>>>> > with my own employer, but I do feel a couple things need to be said.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I know these folks personally and professionally, and they are some
>>>>> > of
>>>>> > the friendliest and polite people I've ever met, and Kyle is one of
>>>>> > the enthusiastic, driven and cleverest people I've ever met. I
>>>>> > suspect
>>>>> > he is smarter and has a higher capability for learning than I have or
>>>>> > will have.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > I personally think it would be foolish for anyone on this list to
>>>>> > give
>>>>> > a blanket pass on the opportunity without at least trying for an
>>>>> > interview.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 8:27 AM, Matt Michielsen
>>>>> > <mattmichielsen at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> My favorite from their images directory was this one:
>>>>> >> http://virtualinterconnectsoftware.com/images/customform.jpg-6-21-2006
>>>>> >> Reminds me of the geocities days.
>>>>> >> I didn't look at their test or whatever though.  I have a hard time
>>>>> >> wanting to put any time toward a company that I can't find any real history
>>>>> >> on.  I guess if I were looking for a job it might be a different story.
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 8:20 PM, Bill Littlejohn <billl at mtd-inc.com>
>>>>> >> wrote:
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> Not only that..
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> billl at phoenix:~$ whois virtualinterconnectsoftware.com
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>>   Domain Name: VIRTUALINTERCONNECTSOFTWARE.COM
>>>>> >>>   Registrar: EASYDNS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
>>>>> >>>   Whois Server: whois.easydns.com
>>>>> >>>   Referral URL: http://www.easydns.com
>>>>> >>>   Name Server: NS1.VIRTUALINTERCONNECT.COM
>>>>> >>>   Name Server: NS2.VIRTUALINTERCONNECT.COM
>>>>> >>>   Status: clientTransferProhibited
>>>>> >>>   Status: clientUpdateProhibited
>>>>> >>>   Updated Date: 16-nov-2010
>>>>> >>>   Creation Date: 16-nov-2010
>>>>> >>>   Expiration Date: 16-nov-2011
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>>>>> Last update of whois database: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:16:46 UTC <<<
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>>
>>>>> >>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 5:19 PM, David van Geest
>>>>> >>> <david.vangeest at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> >>>> Let me guess.... first task for the new employee will be to write
>>>>> >>>> the
>>>>> >>>> company's website :-).
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>> On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 2:31 PM,
>>>>> >>>>  <kyle at virtualinterconnectsoftware.com> wrote:
>>>>> >>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> We have a job opening for a programmer/system administrator
>>>>> >>>>> position, and
>>>>> >>>>> built a bit of a geek test to check for some of the skills we're
>>>>> >>>>> looking
>>>>> >>>>> for:
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> http://geektest.virtualinterconnectsoftware.com/
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> You can take the test semi-anonymously without applying for the
>>>>> >>>>> job - when
>>>>> >>>>> you get to the end, it lets you choose whether you want to apply
>>>>> >>>>> or not.
>>>>> >>>>> Minimal information is required (first name, e-mail, a bit more
>>>>> >>>>> if you want
>>>>> >>>>> to apply for the job), and you're required to post your score to
>>>>> >>>>> the high
>>>>> >>>>> score list under a three-letter handle of your choosing.  It's
>>>>> >>>>> designed as
>>>>> >>>>> a bit of a game, and some basic hacking is encouraged (see the
>>>>> >>>>> rules for
>>>>> >>>>> details).  Whether or not you want the job, go ahead and try it,
>>>>> >>>>> even just
>>>>> >>>>> to see how well you do!
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> If you're interested in the job, we're looking for a really geeky
>>>>> >>>>> person
>>>>> >>>>> to help us:
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> - write software, mainly in PHP/HTML/CSS/JavaScript
>>>>> >>>>> - administrate networks, servers, computers, systems, and other
>>>>> >>>>> electronic
>>>>> >>>>> dohickeys with blinky lights and fans
>>>>> >>>>> - secure data and prevent hacking attempts
>>>>> >>>>> - act as on-call systems administration relief at odd hours if
>>>>> >>>>> needed
>>>>> >>>>> (which isn't often)
>>>>> >>>>> - connect/fix printers and cell phones (the glamorous part of the
>>>>> >>>>> job - in
>>>>> >>>>> all seriousness, this should be fairly rare)
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> Ideally, someone who:
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> - knows how to program reasonably well
>>>>> >>>>> - has experience with Linux (you are on a Linux mailing list,
>>>>> >>>>> right?)
>>>>> >>>>> - knows a thing or two about encryption
>>>>> >>>>> - can show up for work bathed and in clean clothes
>>>>> >>>>> - keeps their cables neat and organized
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> Good luck!
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> Warm Regards,
>>>>> >>>>> Kyle Maas
>>>>> >>>>> Virtual Interconnect Software, LLC
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> --
>>>>> >>>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and
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>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> >>>>> grlug mailing list
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>>>>> >>>>> http://shinobu.grlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/grlug
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>> --
>>>>> >>>> David van Geest
>>>>> >>>> http://60cycle.net
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>> --
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>>>>> >
>>>>> > --
>>>>> > :wq
>>>>> >
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>>>
>>> --
>>> Joseph J. K. Workman
>>> Workman Technology Services
>>> 616.827.7570
>>>
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>
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-- 
David van Geest
http://60cycle.net

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