>>>>>This would allow us to guesstimate the general competency level.
>>>>
>>>>Well, let me be a "stickler-prick" (that's Army talk *s*) here...
>>>>
>>>>How do you distinguish between 5 years of experience, and 6 months of experience repeated 10 times...
>>>
>>>I agree, Whil, number of years experience is a near worthless guage of competency. I've met a few like the one you descibe as well.
>>>
>>>John- tsk tsk. Want to know somebody's competence level, ask them as technical question.
>>
>>What's the unladened air-speed velocity of a sparrow?
>
>Age of sparrow? Sparrow's recent diet? Exact species of sparrow? Wind speed and orientation? Altitude? Air temperature? Please Ed, you've left this question wide open for interpretation. :-)

I was looking for the traditional Pythonesque response. I'll have to write a much more detailed scenario before asking next time...just ask JohnK what you're in for now!