[tracker1]

I think the same applies to junior developers as well. Someone who is eager to learn, and does so on their own time to try and learn new things will give you far better results than someone who only has whatever experience they gained via internships, or as classroom assignments.

The best developers I've ever met all have one thing in common. They've all written stuff outside of school and the workplace. Not that everyone keeps doing so, but they all have at least when starting out.