PHP Recruitment Advice

[itrecruit]

First of all apologies if this is off topic - it's less PHP language
than administration. ...

I'm trying to recruit a PHP/MySQL programmer for our UK (London) based
financial training company. The job involves working on a large
database application that comprises and spans multiple functions,
including content management, report generation, accounting functions,
CRM systems as well as a host of much smaller functions. My questions
are two fold.

1. Does anyone know of a good recruitment agency or method for
obtaining decent candidates. So far most of the applicants I've seen
have rather poor PHP skills, or (more commonly) MySQL abilities that
are really not up to scratch. So, any advice from anyone who has tried
to recruit for such a position would be well received!

2. With some trepedation, any interest here in such a job? Salary is
circa. £23,000. We have very high standards and please only apply if
you would describe yourself as particularly competent. A typical
interview question I've been asking (and most people failing) is to
describe what the 'explain' mysql keyword does and how it's used. I'm
less interested in commercial experience than I am a solid knowledge of
PHP/MySQL and the ability to hit the ground running with technical
problems. On the plus side, this is a great company to work for, with a
very fast paced style - guarantee you'll never be bored! Any
applications to it*******@7city .co.uk please.

Thanks

Kevin Poulton

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

itrecr...@7city .co.uk wrote:
<snip>

1. Does anyone know of a good recruitment agency or method for
obtaining decent candidates. So far most of the applicants I've seen
have rather poor PHP skills, or (more commonly) MySQL abilities that
are really not up to scratch. So, any advice from anyone who has tried to recruit for such a position would be well received!
It's really a tough job if you're looking for the "best".
2. With some trepedation, any interest here in such a job? Salary is
circa. £23,000. We have very high standards and please only apply if
you would describe yourself as particularly competent. A typical
interview question I've been asking (and most people failing) is to
describe what the 'explain' mysql keyword does and how it's used.
If you couldn't spot a person who knows what is EXPLAIN, probably
you should oursource your job. I'm sure, world doesn't lack such bright
people.
I'm
less interested in commercial experience than I am a solid knowledge of PHP/MySQL and the ability to hit the ground running with technical
problems. On the plus side, this is a great company to work for, with a very fast paced style - guarantee you'll never be bored! Any
applications to it*******@7city .co.uk please.

I think, you mean the job is only for the local UK guys. If so, we
have lot of UK based regulars here.. phpSt.Andy, phpSt.Marcus,
phpSt.Prof.Geof f, etc. Just watch this group and shoot them a mail. Not
sure, they'll be interested though.

--
<?php echo 'Just another PHP saint'; ?>
Email: rrjanbiah-at-Y!com Blog: http://rajeshanbiah.blogspot.com/

[CJ Llewellyn]

<it*******@7cit y.co.uk> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ f14g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .

First of all apologies if this is off topic - it's less PHP language
than administration. ... I'm trying to recruit a PHP/MySQL programmer for our UK (London) based
financial training company. The job involves working on a large
database application that comprises and spans multiple functions,
including content management, report generation, accounting functions,
CRM systems as well as a host of much smaller functions. My questions
are two fold. 1. Does anyone know of a good recruitment agency or method for
obtaining decent candidates. So far most of the applicants I've seen
have rather poor PHP skills, or (more commonly) MySQL abilities that
are really not up to scratch. So, any advice from anyone who has tried
to recruit for such a position would be well received!

People don't tend leave their current jobs unless they are unhappy or
seriously underpaid. It takes about a £ 4,000 pay rise to temp most people
to jump ship. Is your salary £ 4,000 above market rates?

[Derek Fountain]

it*******@7city .co.uk wrote:

I'm trying to recruit a PHP/MySQL programmer for our UK (London) based
financial training company. The job involves working on a large
2. With some trepedation, any interest here in such a job? Salary is
circa. £23,000. We have very high standards and please only apply if
you would describe yourself as particularly competent.

£23K for a top end developer in London? That might get you a graduate
trainee outside London, if you're lucky. You need to offer a more realistic
package - start by doubling the salary. Then you might get what you're
looking for.

--
The email address used to post is a spam pit. Contact me at
http://www.derekfountain.org : <a
href="http://www.derekfounta in.org/">Derek Fountain</a>

[Michael Vilain]

In article
<41************ ***********@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au >,
Derek Fountain <no****@example .com> wrote:

it*******@7city .co.uk wrote:

I'm trying to recruit a PHP/MySQL programmer for our UK (London) based
financial training company. The job involves working on a large
2. With some trepedation, any interest here in such a job? Salary is
circa. £23,000. We have very high standards and please only apply if
you would describe yourself as particularly competent.

£23K for a top end developer in London? That might get you a graduate
trainee outside London, if you're lucky. You need to offer a more realistic
package - start by doubling the salary. Then you might get what you're
looking for.

Sheesh. There are still people out there who don't have a clue about
what good people are worth, apparently, despite their supposedly "high
standards".

--
DeeDee, don't press that button! DeeDee! NO! Dee...

[some1]

In article <vi************ **************@ news.giganews.c om>,
vi****@spamcop. net says...

In article
<41************ ***********@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au >,
Derek Fountain <no****@example .com> wrote:

it*******@7city .co.uk wrote:

I'm trying to recruit a PHP/MySQL programmer for our UK (London) based
financial training company. The job involves working on a large
2. With some trepedation, any interest here in such a job? Salary is
circa. £23,000. We have very high standards and please only apply if
you would describe yourself as particularly competent.

£23K for a top end developer in London? That might get you a graduate
trainee outside London, if you're lucky. You need to offer a more realistic
package - start by doubling the salary. Then you might get what you're
looking for.

Sheesh. There are still people out there who don't have a clue about
what good people are worth, apparently, despite their supposedly "high
standards".

Most recruitment agency "consultant s" actually have very little idea
about the real worth of skilled people - this is simply another example
of that.

[itrecruit]

Fair comment. I should have made it clearer that we're not looking for
someone who is highly experienced (hence a 2 instead of a 4 at the
front of the salary), but I do believe it's possible to have a basic
grasp of PHP/MySQL without years of experience - my example of the
'explain' keyword was intended to illustrate the point that some who
have been applying have a level of knowledge which I personally would
describe as illiteracy in these subjects. Knowing what a left join is
isn't guru stuff, it's fundemental.

Anyway, thanks for your feedback - you are probably right and we'll
have to reappraise the role/salary.

Kevin

[R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah]

Derek Fountain wrote:

it*******@7city .co.uk wrote: <snip> £23K for a top end developer in London? That might get you a graduate trainee outside London, if you're lucky. You need to offer a more realistic package - start by doubling the salary. Then you might get what you're looking for.

I think, 23K means per annum salary?? Anyway, just curious, what is
the "fair" salary for a top end developer and a fresher in London?

--
<?php echo 'Just another PHP saint'; ?>
Email: rrjanbiah-at-Y!com Blog: http://rajeshanbiah.blogspot.com/

[Steve]

I've been working with PHP/MySql for a little over 3 years now, and I
have yet to find the occasion to use the 'EXPLAIN' keyword. Then
again, I always knew how my tables were constructed since I created
them.
Pulling a rarely-used bit of the SQL out of your hat and then expecting
some poor young noob to parrot it out is, IMHO, a waste of your and the
prospective programmer's time.
What you should be focusing on is the 'what would you do if...' or
'how would you...' questions.
I would be more pleased to find someone who can quickly research and
then implement a solution than someone who is very knowledgeable about
one tiny aspect of the language, and unwilling or unable to deviate
from that knowledge when a problem arises.

[CJ Llewellyn]

"R. Rajesh Jeba Anbiah" <ng**********@r ediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ z14g2000cwz.goo glegroups.com.. .
Derek Fountain wrote:

it*******@7city .co.uk wrote: <snip> £23K for a top end developer in London? That might get you a graduate trainee outside London, if you're lucky. You need to offer a more realistic package - start by doubling the salary. Then you might get what you're looking for.

I think, 23K means per annum salary?? Anyway, just curious, what is
the "fair" salary for a top end developer and a fresher in London?

Fresher anything from £ 15k to £ 25k.

Top End I doubt if any jobs exist as php/web development doesn't pay that
well £ 25 - £ 35k, but you are more likely to earn more with Perl/Java/C++
skill sets.