Expert: Leigh Ishikawa - 10/25/2007

Question
I am a .NET developer having:

5 years experience in Visual Basic.NET
2 years in C# and SQL Server.

I have delivered three projects in Visual Basic.NET and one in C#. I am applying for jobs and want to know how many projects I need to mention on my resume considering the above mentioned years of experience. Recently, a company HR asked me that if I am having two years experience in C# then how it is that I delivered one project. Though I am working at home on C# since last two years developing small applications and playing with it, but I delivered only one full-fledged commercial application.

I want to know whether knowledge on any language is measured by my working knowledge or by how many projects I delivered.

Answer
Hi Rohit,

Sorry for delay, but another question tied me up.

Generally,
Companies find it ideal to find a candidate with working knowledge relative to their field.  If they can, they will hire that individual first so there's less 'learning curve' and down time for existing staff to bring the new member on-board.  Additionally, there are risks as that individual will make mistakes as s/he does not know the details of the industry.  If they can not, then they usually look for someone with a potential to learn.

With that in mind, personal, non-public projects do not count.  Because it's unquantifiable.  Someone could walk in the door and say "I've written 1 million applications during my priviate time.".  Within a 30-60 min time frame, they all can't be discussed.  And working for commercial projects means collaboration.  And collaboration skills are very important.  Also having work I can look at outside of interview time frame is nice.

So yes, it's about projects you did deliver, as well as those projects being public.  For entry level jobs (I do not think you are interested with 5 years of experience), they will consider other things as you are more in an apprentice role.

If you have free cycles, the best way to spend your time is to comb through sourceforge and other 'public' project areas that you can help, and have your code sitting in the public for everyone to review.

L