Computer weekly readers have their say
Gut feeling can end in a costly recruitment
error
I read with incredulity the article by Chris Bartlett of GCS
“Why first impressions really add up” (Computer Weekly, 20 June).
Bartlett states, “Generally, that feeling in the stomach, positive
or negative, will prove to be the most reliable tool in picking the
right people to have around us.”
Since human beings with emotions are involved, there will always
be a degree of “gut feeling” in any decision. However, by
dismissing aptitude and psychometric testing tools as being the
“easy part” and by failing to even mention pre-employment
screening, he has written an article in favour of a woefully
inadequate and old-fashioned understanding of the recruitment
process.
Perhaps he should have added, “It would help if the candidates
are wearing a school tie from an establishment you or your pals in
the golfing fraternity have heard of.”
Every candidate who goes for a job is on their best behaviour.
They will do everything they can to hide any shortcomings,
perceived or real, from the person interviewing them.
In complex technical jobs, involving a mixture of technical and
people skills, these shortcomings often do not appear until well
after a candidate has been hired. By then the interviewer’s “gut
feeling” may be an expensive mistake.
Mark Cunningham
Director, SMCPersonnel Vetting
Underestimate wireless networks at your
peril
Your article “Moving closer to pervasive wireless” (Computer
Weekly, 30 May) expressed the opinions that wireless systems would
not replace wired networks within five years and that nothing will
be as reliable as a wired network. I disagree (in part).
By 2011 we will see wireless networks as not just complementary
networks but as part of the core business strategy.
We are less than five years away from universal mobility, when
the ability to connect wirelessly from any location will become the
de facto method of connectivity. This will include Wi-Fi within
buildings, 3G/4G and potentially Wimax externally.
The impact on the fixed network will be that it will no longer
grow, but will evolve, be replaced and/or upgraded.
Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint standards exist and can
deliver low-cost leased line replacements, but delivery of
broadband communications to the mobile user is another matter.
Realistically, this will be achieved by 2007/2008 and by then 3G
networks that are currently in a trough of disillusionment should
be delivering tangible business results.
James Walker
Mobility specialist, Telindus
Why Gates would make a good sleeping
partner
Just as we complete research that shows UK businesses are
failing to support the charitable wishes of employees, Bill Gates
announces he is stepping down to focus on philanthropy (Computer
Weekly, 20 June).
According to our survey, two-thirds of employees want to do more
for charity but are constrained by the lack of visibility of their
companies’ corporate social responsibility initiatives. We would
hazard a guess that they don’t have this problem at Microsoft. How
refreshing.
There are of course companies that embrace corporate social
responsibility and every year 250 senior executives from the IT
industry sleep out for a night, in support of children’s charity
NCH.
But we could use the marketing might of Mr Gates to attract more
people to give up their beds in favour of sleeping bags to help
raise awareness of youth homelessness. So Bill, if you’re free on
22 September…
Ken Deeks
Co-founder, Byte Night
Liz Monks
Executive director of fundraising, NCH
Turn off and tune in to problem of hidden
heaters
I agree with David Kerr’s letter (Computer Weekly, 13 June)
regarding wasting power and would add the ubiquitous external DC
power supply unit (PSU) that is switched on all the time.
Some of these PSUs get appreciably warm and are therefore still
drawing some current, even when the device they are attached to is
switched off.
Surely all those PSUs that are left plugged in 24 hours every
day worldwide must make a significant contribution to global energy
consumption?
The answer is to switch off each PSU at the socket but how many
of us will get down on our hands and knees to unplug one in some
tricky position? I suspect most will take the easy way out and just
leave it where it is, gently warming the room.
Les Oswald