~

The company placed an ad weeks ago looking for new programmers and graphic designers. This morning, I had to interview an applicant who was both deaf and mute. There's a first time for everything indeed. He passed his exams all right, save for the one I made specifically to detect whether the applicant has solid technical grasp on graphics. Granted, no one has passed that one yet.

During the first few minutes of the interview, we had to write down our conversations and do some quick nods and lip-reading. My knowledge of single-handed and two-handed basic sign language alphabet came in handy when he didn't want to write down names and tech acronyms. He asked where I learned it and I told him it was a necessity in highschool - stealth communications during periodic exams. I eventually got tired of writing and signing so I went to get my PDA and keyboard so we could just type everything which was a lot faster.

He was impressive enough. His resume shows he won two major NCR awards for webpage development. That proves he did a lot of self-studying.

Not that I'd know but perhaps he's also rather cute as proven by the ogling ladies looking at him as he took the hands-on exam.

"Well, at least you can shout 'ang cute mo' at his back and he won't hear a thing", I told one girl.

I don't know if we'll hire him or if he's got a place here though. He’ll sure be handy for those stubborn clients who keep on requesting one of our designers be sent to their office to talk about their user interfaces.

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