Problem with hiring testers Pt2
We are in a recession, the unemployment rate is increasing, so why, oh why, am I finding that it is so difficult to find a good tester to hire?
I have some theories as to why there are so few people applying for my vacancy, but no real facts.
And the CVs I have received are, quite frankly, dreadful and those that aren't dreadful, when I interview it is clear that the CV lied. An example, one CV said that the person was experienced in SQL and in the interview the person could not describe how to do a simple SELECT statement! OK, SQL experience is not vital to be a good tester, but if you say you know some SQL, then please, please, be able to describe what you use SQL for and how to do simple operations.
Do applicants really think that the person interviewing them knows less than them and that they won't be caught out? I guess they must and it makes me wonder whether applicants do get through some interviews and start work doing a poor job? Probably yes, especially as these people are in work now.
It all got me thinking about the state of the testing world (again, I sometimes get thinking this way!) I am surprised at the lack of skill in testers who have 3,4,5 years “experience” and yet there are a lot of testers in the software world. I am baffled. Does this mean that there are a number of companies who have test teams made up of poorly skilled people? Does this mean that there a number of companies who are paying people relatively high salaries to do a bad job?
Now, maybe I am lucky, the company I work for values testing as an integral part of the development of software and is keen to employ good testers and every company I have ever worked for in a testing capacity has had the same view, so maybe I just haven't worked for a company where this isn't so and there are really test teams out there who are useless? Thinking about it, I did go for a job once with a company that clearly had no clue about testing – they wanted to hire me as a Test Manager and the IT Director interviewed me (very badly, as I recall) and it was clear that I would be a bit part player in the decision making process. I turned the job down. Maybe I should have taken it just to see how I could have changed things.
I know I have been accused of being picky in the past when hiring testers, and I would agree, I am picky – because I want someone who is skilled in the craft of testing or someone who has the potential to be skilled. Surely that should not be too much to ask?
This week I have, finally, filled the vacancy. Assuming he accepts the offer. It has taken me about 6 months to find him.
