Re: MFC Interview Tests

From:

"Jonathan Wood" <jwood@softcircuits.com>

Newsgroups:

microsoft.public.vc.mfc

Date:

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:26:00 -0600

Message-ID:

<#iKVm9KqJHA.3364@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>

I've been programming with MFC for many years. I'm currently creating all
the HOW-DO-I videos related to MFC on the MSDN Website.

But I'm not young any more and my limited memory must share information
about several different languages. As a result, I'm almost constantly
checking online references along with Intellisense to produce the bulk of my
code. For that reason, I would probably have difficulty with some of your
questions without the mentioned resources.

--
Jonathan Wood
SoftCircuits Programming
http://www.softcircuits.com
http://www.softcircuits.com/blog/

"Tony Montana" <drpazz@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:B1A5F0CB-AAA7-4AEA-82A8-5AEFB926C6E6@microsoft.com...

I imagine this would be the right place to test my tests. I appreciate any
feedback on the following.

I'm interviewing for an MFC position and I use the following to test
candidates. Unfortunately, just about all candidates cannot pass the test,
so I wonder if the tests are appropriate or I'm just not getting the right
candidates. The position is for an MFC programmer who can take
requirements and create applications mostly that connect to SQL and or do
some file manipulations.

1. I ask to correct and complete the following:
void swap(int* a, int b)
{
}

2. Next, complete and explain why this function is useless as is.
void Parse(const CString& strText, CStringArray straLines)
{
   // strText contains comma-delimited text
}

3. Fill in the blanks
void ....
{
   C_______ db;
   db.Open(...);
   C_______ tmp(&db);
   tmp.Open(__________::forwardOnly, C_________::executeDirect);
   C______ value;
   tmp.GetFieldValue( ________________, value);
}

4. I hand a document with requirements to write an SDI Text Editor. This
editor is basically what you get when you complete the new application
wizard and select CEditView as the base class.

Shockingly, candidates seem to do ok with "swap" - anything else, they're
stumped. I help them along the way, explaining the tests in details as
they need. I do wonder, however, the validity of the test.

I appreciate any feedback, or perhaps, a test that you think would serve
better during an interview. Thanks!