It certainly did make all the difference for me, and I didn't mind the pay cut either. I think it all depends on what motivates people.
Stevie On 18 June 2012 14:51, Jon Davies <jon.dav...@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote: > Food for thought - surely the lure of working for Wikipedia with free > fruit tea and coffee will make ALL the difference? > > On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 2:49 PM, Thomas Morton < > morton.tho...@googlemail.com> wrote: > >> Looking at the job description I have some concerns that it has been >> written without the input of someone experienced in hiring individuals for >> technical or pseudo-technical roles - especially in the current economic >> climate. >> >> You seem to be looking for someone extremely versatile, experienced >> and independent... on a *very* entry level salary packet. >> >> I was under the impression, from previous discussions, that the developer >> position was to be contractor-style - or at least remote working in the >> region ~10 hours a week. >> >> As a developer, from the description page, I see the following roles: >> >> * Developer >> * Sysadmin >> * Project manager >> * Advocate >> >> Four very distinct roles. >> >> To pick on one specific issue; expecting this person to work on Mediwiki >> core, or an extension, is going to be problematic. That's a whole position >> on its own and you are going to find that ongoing "other work" will make >> project work of that sort untenable. >> >> (speaking as someone who is in much this position at the moment; my >> project work is on hold pretty much all the time whilst clearing up >> management issues). >> >> I worry that there is not a lot of work described in this job; or at >> least the responsibilities are bitty and ill-defined. You're risking having >> someone who will sit for long portions of the day drumming their fingers on >> the desk. (speaking as someone who was hired to do this once, and quit >> after 3 months due to boredom). It would be good to define (internally, on >> the WMUK wiki) the roles this developer will have to fulfill and, from a >> technical perspective, what we'd like to achieve in, say, the next year. >> >> The salary is most concerning though; you're looking for experience and >> versatility - two major technical skills (sysadmin and developer) plus >> management experience/skill - at a basic entry level rate. I think you will >> struggle to find competent applicants. >> >> I'd fit, fairly well, this job description (and I think am pretty good at >> it) - and any London based job under £35K would struggle to tempt me. Under >> £30K is not even worth considering. (n.b. I'm not saying this because I'd >> plan to apply if you raised the salary :)). You;fe >> >> What I recommend is hiring a more general community liaison (we need this >> anyway IMO), with experience in technical projects. They can do most of the >> PM style work. Then contract out specific projects (yes, including MW >> extension writing) as and when needed. Keep a contractor on retainer for >> sysadmin and internal dev work (~10 hours a week etc.). >> >> Particularly as you have numerous skilled dev/sysadmin contractors within >> the community who will likely offer discounted rates. Building on the WMF >> model; with a competent project manager most of the dev/sysadmin work could >> be community driven. I've already offered to pitch in, but there is no >> public project to achieve this that I know of. >> >> If we have a budget of £30K to go into development this is not enough to >> hire a full time developer/sysadmin/manager. It's enough to contract the >> work and to begin to build a volunteer centric development department. >> >> Mike wrote an excellent starter to this here: >> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/2012_Developer_budget The current job >> description seems to be the opposite of many of those (good) proposals >> (although I know Mike also wrote the job description). If we take the list >> of upcoming requirements from that page there are even bigger images; it >> talks about a robust backup strategy - which is quite a specific set of >> experience. Even worse is the security review stuff - no dev/sysadmin you >> hire for £25K will be capable of a robust security review. >> >> As always; just my 2p :) >> >> Tom >> >> (sorry to be over-critical, but I am in a rush today so this is first >> draft sent :)) >> >> On 18 June 2012 13:41, Jon Davies <jon.dav...@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote: >> >>> We will shortly be advertising for our developer post. We will be >>> spreading the word far and wide, especially within the community, but all >>> suggestions gratefully received. >>> So far (outside leads: >>> Mozilla >>> Tech hub >>> Civi-CRM >>> Google academy >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> Jon >>> >>> >>> -- >>> *Jon Davies - Chief Executive Wikimedia UK*. Mobile (0044) 7803 505 169 >>> tweet @jonatreesdavies >>> >>> Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and >>> Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513 >>> Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, >>> London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. >>> Telephone (0044) 207 065 0990. >>> Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate >>> Wikipedia, amongst other projects). It is an independent non-profit >>> organization with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for >>> its contents. >>> >>> Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Wikimedia UK mailing list >>> wikimediau...@wikimedia.org >>> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l >>> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia UK mailing list >> wikimediau...@wikimedia.org >> http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l >> WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org >> >> > > > -- > *Jon Davies - Chief Executive Wikimedia UK*. Mobile (0044) 7803 505 169 > tweet @jonatreesdavies > > Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and > Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513 > Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, > London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. > Telephone (0044) 207 065 0990. > Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate > Wikipedia, amongst other projects). It is an independent non-profit > organization with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for > its contents. > > Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia UK mailing list > wikimediau...@wikimedia.org > http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l > WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org > > -- Stevie Benton Communications Organiser Wikimedia UK +44 (0) 20 7065 0993 / +44 (0) 7803 505 173 Wikimedia UK is the operating name of Wiki UK Limited, a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects). Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.
_______________________________________________ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
