1. Applicant: Anwar Shariff
Date: 05/15/2013
Reference Contact Information
Name: Ken Traft
Company where they worked with the applicant: Wells Fargo
Title: Wholesale Testing Coordinator
Phone: 612-396-0352
Email address: ktraft@aol.com
Applicant Information
*Please answer in full sentences
Applicant’s previous position/job title:
• What association have you had with the applicant?
(Company, relationship, how long, when)
I was the Testing Coordinator for the Mainframe Electronic Window application and Anwar was one of
the Testing Analysts under my responsibilities for 9 months during the December 2011 – September
2012 period.
• Describe responsibilities of the applicant, overall and day-to-day duties.
Anwar was responsible for coordinating the efforts with the Developers, Quality Assurance Team, and
Production Install Coordinator to bring together the completion of the Testing of the Electronic Window
application components and populate and help ensure the integrity of the UAT testing environment
through the testing process. He was responsible to make sure all the work was completed and finalized
before the changes could be turned over for production installation.
• How would you describe his/her overall performance (technical skills and soft skills)? How would
this person score technically on a scale of 1 –10?
Anwar technical skills were top notch and he was not only able to handle the work assigned, but was
also asked by management to provide additional reporting and data manipulation using SQL beyond
what was expected in his job responsibility. As one of the 13, he had to be proficient with the DB2
structure and maintenance batch processes that regulated and refreshed the environment. He was
always willing to take on extra work and was able to manage and coordinate multiple testing projects
which were underway at the time. If he struggled with any of the technical aspects of the job it was
transparent as the work was completed and done well. I am hesitant to give anyone a 10, but from my
perspective in coordinating the work effort he certainly was an 8 or 9. He was well like by his co-workers
and the other staff.
• In your
• opinion, what is his/her greatest strength?
(Technical and non-technical)
Anwar ability to utilize and maintain the database integrity and SQL reporting were excellent. He was one
of the “go to” persons when some special reporting was needed. He was able to coordinate the work flow
of multiple projects and ensure they were brought in on time.
.

2. Describe interaction with peers, managers and subordinates.
Anwar was well like by his co-workers and the other staff. As was stated above, his skills were utilized for
special needs and was trusted by management.
• Did you observe them to work better on a team or independently?
When left to perform individual work, Anwar was able to accomplish things quickly and efficiently. Due
to his duties to coordinate the testing process with the Electronic Window test environment he had to
work with multiple other team’s members to complete the work accurately and on-time. Coordinating
and working with others is a strong skill Anwar needed and used in his job responsibilities.
• How would you rate his/her verbal and written communications skills?
Anwar was able to provide information and directions in a clear manner. As the coordinator of the
various project, Anwar had to make sure that he was able to convey the necessary information to the
programmers related to the data and ensure that the QA testers were on the same set of requirements
and expectations. He also had to make sure that the QA testers understood the data with which they
needed to use.
• Describe the applicants work habits.
(Meets deadlines, attendance, punctuality)
I put a lot of confidence in Anwar as he was quite good at ensuring that the time expectations for the
testing efforts came in on time. He was effective in making sure that things were covered and was
always available as required for work and meetings. He not only made sure that he got his work done,
but he also provided help and assistance to his teammates whenever needed. Wells Fargo was not
inclined to pay overtime, but would provide compensation hours for work done. Anwar had not problem
staying to fix things and would be available to cover things from home.
• Would you hire this person?
I would definitely welcome the opportunity to have Anwar as part of my team, He has proven himself
again and again in the time I’d worked with him and I know that I can count on him to add success to
any team with which we’d be associated.
• Do you see any drawbacks in recommending this applicant?
I have no drawbacks in recommending him.. I know that he will prove me true.
• Describe one area of growth you would recommend.
Anwar is good at what he does and sometimes others do not stack. He is quick to jump in and help, but
at times it seems he was more rescuing than helping. He was limited in his expectation to get the work
done. . I’d like to see Anwar learn more ways to Help and Teach.