Fried Chicken #3: The Chain-Smoking Computer hacker

Ture story. A new IT recruitment agency we were trying had been asked to send us a candidate to do some basic work on 3 Microsoft Server products. It was a very clear & specific brief.

The nameless agency bimbo/himbo had assurred us this their second candidate would know her stuff. (The first candidate had been a jazz musician, but more of that another time).

Anyway, in she rolls, a little late due to parking. We explain the problem and the technology. She listens for a while, then has to run down to her meter (parking cops...). 1 hour almost. She comes back smelling of smoke, then asks to have a look at the system. I try not to hover. 2 hours. She heads baack downstairs to check the meter, but I say it's fine to smoke inside, and so she doesn't go.

She believes she knows the answers to problem, looks around, makes some changes in directories on web. Over 3 hours. At this point is on 10th cigarette or so.

I ask her some questions about the answers and the 'chain-Smoking-computer-Hacker' admits actually she is more into hacking (the bad kind) but doesn't really know the 3 technologies I asked from the agency. She should be able to figure it out though as she can 'hack' anything.

Over 4 hours elapse, nothing works. Hacker-girl asks if she can pick her child-up, now with almost a pack of cigarettes gone. I say, perhaps better she come back tomorrow, if needed. She agrees and leaves. I ventilate the room...

Phone the agency, and ask for the third candidate. Cancel tomorrow with Hacker-girl.

The Punchline: The agency had sent a candidate who did not have any of the 3 required skills, nor had they tested the candidate. They had just taken her CV at face value. Nor had the agency understood the assignment. And yet everyone was still paid for their time. The agency had not even done a basic security check on the client who openly discussed being a hacker.

VERDICT: More Agency Fried Chicken!

Innovation Solution: Don't trust agencies to check skills in IT. Most do NOT know what the skills mean, and therefore just take the candidates word. Try for referrals from your IT department OR at the very least act quickly if you suspect he/she do not know their stuff. Always assume that some IT people are 'hackers' and keep a careful eye on them when hiring.