I had an interesting interview today with an applicant for a position with Altera. She was 25, college educated and well mannered.
I asked the question “Tell me how you use technology.”
She gave a long pause and responded with a puzzled “Technology? Gosh I’m not sure.”
In my mind it was game over – interview done.
Then I asked one more question.
“Do you have an iPod?” I asked
“Yes”
“Do you download music?”
Yes
“Do you have a facebook account?”
“Yes”
“Do you text message?”
“Yes”
“Do you have Tivo?”
“Yes”
“Do you have a Flickr account?”
“Yes”
“Do you have a wireless laptop?”
“Yes”
“Where do you use it?”
“Amantte”
“Skype?”
“Yes to my brother in England all the time”
“Google maps?”
“All the time”
“Online banking?”
“Most of my accounts”
“So,” I asked, “you’re not sure how you use technology?”
“I guess I just consider that stuff a way of life and don’t think of it as technology.”
“Right,” I said “kind of like how we don’t think of electricity to be made up of electrons.”
Are you ready for this kind of client?
Thank you for the exceptional job you have done for us in creating a truly unique and inviting website for The Peaks Project. We believe the work not only represents our project well but showcases what the mission of our company is all about.”
Jay is a Marketing Technologist living in Steamboat Springs, CO. His experience includes work with iXL & Agency.com, and he's been a part of 12 start-up businesses.
