[LRUG] Code samples: To do or not to do

[Matthew Rudy Jacobs]

2009/4/7 Vahagn Hayrapetyan <vahagnh at gmail.com>:
> 1) Is it common for programmers / developers in the UK to attach code
> samples with their CVs in order to heighten their chances of recruitment?
> 2) Should it be the norm for programmers / developers (regardless of
> geography) to attach code samples with their CVs in order to heighten their
> chances of recruitment?

Ultimately, any employer is going to want to see some code before they
employ you
(or at least talk to you about it)
I can't see how you'd avoid that.

I'm lucky in that I have a million projects on my github.
So I always point people straight there.

I remember a couple of years ago, it was really frustrating.
I hadn't had the time to contribute to OpenSource projects, github
didn't exist....
and I had to make up code to send people.
It was really annoying.

But,
I can't believe ALL the Recruiters you've spoken to have asked for code.
Most of them have no idea what good code looks like.

I'd say the process should be;

1. send a CV (link to blogs / github if you have them)
2. do a phone / informal pub meetup
3. do a proper face to face interview
4. take a look at some code, or discuss coding practice.

:s

But yeah.
Everyone should have code on the internet somewhere.
Unfortunately some people do have lives, though.
So maybe "MUST HAVE A GITHUB PROFILE" is an unfair requirement right now.