HELP - Application form questions

LionMX · 11-26-2009, 01:57 AM

To some of you who use gamedev you may have seen this post.

My Thread

I haven't really had much luck there so I'm going to ask here:

How can I answer a question that asks me to show knowledge of something if I have only just been introduced to it?

e.g.
knowledge of configuration management principles
and
knowledge of Java and ANT

I'm a confident C++/C and C# programmer but I am new to Java, I'm sure it will be as easy as the others to learn but I dont want to lie and say i'm competent with it then get caught out in an interview.

These are "desirable" questions so I wont fail the application stage for not knowing them but I want to still give a good answer. How can I show a knowledge of something?

yaustar · 11-26-2009, 02:40 AM

Ah yes, I remember seeing that thread yesterday. If you don't know anything a particular language or technology then nothing in the world is going to help you show knowledge about something you don't know.

The answer you have given in the thread is reasonable. There isn't much more you can really do.

If it was a face to face interview, then I would ask for further information and try and show knowledge around related subjects.

LionMX · 11-26-2009, 02:57 AM

Ok, well thanks for the reply. I was hoping there was a golden rule to answering questions like that but I guess honesty is the best policy.

In preperation what I'm doing is downloading the user manuals to the software, and if available the software itself. Hopefully I can show a strong ability to learn and that will win them over. Fingers crossed for me :-)

tsloper · 11-26-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LionMX

Ok, well thanks for the reply. I was hoping there was a golden rule to answering questions like that but I guess honesty is the best policy.

The golden rule is "honestly have the knowledge required for the job." If you try to bull$#!+ your way through an interview or test, you'll be found out and not hired.
Think about it a second: if you did manage to fake your way into the job, do you honestly not understand that your lack of knowledge would come out anyway? You'd be fired for misrepresenting your abilities.