Interviewing .NET developers

I was recently involved in interviewing several candidates for a .NET developer job. This is the first time I've really been involved in interviewing and here are some initial thoughts:

  • If you say you know C# on your CV, I expect you to know it.
  • If you don't understand a question or get stuck on a test, ask for clarification.
  • Just because someone has a Microsoft Certification doesn't automatically make them a great developer.
  • Not being able to diagnose the cause of a simple NullReferenceException (when you have access to a debugger and the internet) is worrying.
  • Don't just tell me what I want to hear - be honest.
  • Being able to show and demonstrate a project you've worked on creates a great impression.
  • Not being able to explain the last project you worked on creates a very bad impression.
Written on November 20, 2008