when being tested at an interview...

[rh71]

On one hand you can say "what do you have to lose" and just go for it, but on the other hand, I feel like it's quite embarrassing if you are being tested and fail miserably. In the IT field, there's so many specialties and a lot of postings are very broad so you don't know exactly what you're going into. I'm sure employers get a lot of people who obviously don't qualify after being tested but is it just par for the course for them or do they feel like people waste their time? I used to be the worst test-taker in school and I suppose it's an anxiety of mine, especially after all these years.

 

[sourceninja]

It's not always about getting the right answer. Sometimes people want to see how you respond to stress and how you deal with failure/not knowing an answer.

I've bombed interview tests and still gotten the job offer.

 

[Eos]

I interviewed last week for a drafting position and the actual interview was very short. The bulk of the time was spent doing a takeoff from a set of blueprints. He wanted me to calculate the length of a column when accounting for a portion of it under the finished floor, and the height of the i-beam that sat on the column. Once I calculated the dims, I had to draw the i-beam and column in three views with a pencil.

I'm pretty sure I did it correctly (using a construction calc for the first time), but it took me almost an hour. I wasn't offered the position.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Respond with violence in order to establish dominance.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I was going to suggest through poo.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Respond with violence in order to establish dominance.

A real man need not resort to violence -- only the proper stance.

 

[sourceninja]

I had an interview with a large web development house. They gave me a week project to design before the interview. I turned it in and they tore me to pieces. I felt like I knew next to nothing about programming by the end.

Then they offered me the job.

 

[xBiffx]

It's not always about getting the right answer. Sometimes people want to see how you respond to stress and how you deal with failure/not knowing an answer.

I've bombed interview tests and still gotten the job offer.

This. Its not always a knowledge test.

 

[rh71]

Do you guys feel like a lot of job postings & interviews (not entry-level) make it seem like the job is harder than it really is so they can attract the right candidates? I mean it's a two-way street. Then when you're actually on the job after being hired, they are slow-paced enough and simple in processes that anyone with at least decent knowledge could adapt?

 

[Sonikku]

Gotta throttle down that stack of 100+apps.

 

[gorcorps]

Do you guys feel like a lot of job postings & interviews (not entry-level) make it seem like the job is harder than it really is so they can attract the right candidates? I mean it's a two-way street. Then when you're actually on the job after being hired, they are slow-paced enough and simple in processes that anyone with at least decent knowledge could adapt?

I don't know about other companies, but we're starting to take the stance that if people know what the worst case scenario is then we won't keep getting people that can't handle it and leave after their first real issue (it gets expensive). Most of the time the job isn't so bad, but every once in a while it's a giant PITA and we need to know you'll handle it without bitching and wanting to leave.

 

[Fritzo]

I'm at that stage in life where I'm pretty confident I'm smarter and more skilled than the guy asking the questions. Being self-assured (without seeming cocky) always looks good.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Do you guys feel like a lot of job postings & interviews (not entry-level) make it seem like the job is harder than it really is so they can attract the right candidates? I mean it's a two-way street. Then when you're actually on the job after being hired, they are slow-paced enough and simple in processes that anyone with at least decent knowledge could adapt?

Always

When I look at some of the job postings for PM they basically state that you will be responsible for the WORLD. Job description is often 20-30 responsibilities PLUS.

Often require skills in specific area (application) and require Masters, PMP and everything else you can possibly obtain.

Good luck finding that person.....good indicator how "realistic" the company is by looking at how long the job has been posted hehe.

It's simply bunch of BS. Until you start/spend some time on the job you really don't know what you are getting into, but you should have a basic idea of what they are expecting.

 

[_Rick_]

I consider most tests mildly insulting and proceed to work through them without a worry, because the employer is already losing my interest.

If you treat applicants like cattle, that implies you also treat your employees like cattle, and your offer will have to be darn good to make up for leaving that impression with me.

 

[Gillbot]

It's not always about getting the right answer. Sometimes people want to see how you respond to stress and how you deal with failure/not knowing an answer.

I've bombed interview tests and still gotten the job offer.

I agree. I went for a test/interview and the questions had absolutely nothing to do with my knowledge set or background. After the testing I had the sit down interview and they asked "How do you think you did?" I said "Absolutely terrible would be too generous. Most of that stuff I have no clue on, but if given the chance I could learn" and they were impressed. Most people actually just left the interview instead of failing the test and facing the interviewer. They offered me the job.

 

[surfsatwerk]

A real man need not resort to violence -- only the proper stance.

He was over the line.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I consider most tests mildly insulting and proceed to work through them without a worry, because the employer is already losing my interest.

If you treat applicants like cattle, that implies you also treat your employees like cattle, and your offer will have to be darn good to make up for leaving that impression with me.

I agree

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've taken interview tests but they were all very basic like binary conversion (small numbers) and things like asking what IP stands for. All stuff you should probalby know. Nothing super specific.

But I do agree, tests in general are a stupid measurement. In the real world you can look that stuff up in less than 5 minutes. I think what they should do is setup an actual scenario based on the job. Something simple enough like have a computer that's not working and have the person diagnose it in under 15 minutes. Something basic like the hard drive being unplugged. Or you could do something really whacked just to see how they go about troubleshooting it.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

The only employment tests I have ever taken was at a jackass employer Reynolds & Reynolds... the stuff everyone in a backroom with computers where you do multiple choice questions with time limit for each (~50 questions each, about 5 sections) on the following subjects:
1) Patterns (IE: The one's where it has a triangle in a square, and in each square the triangle is rotating. What is next)
2) Simple math although as you continue it becomes harder. By harder I mean instead of being able to do 6x8 = 48 in your head, you start having to write out long division and it takes way more time.
3) More patterns
4) One other one I can't recall.
5) Long word problems (By long I mean ~6 sentences with technicalities) that involve math to solve.

All of which NONE was based on the job, industry, etc... Pathetic. I honestly wonder the legalities of such 'testing' for employment. I can do math - however the problem I have is the massive time limit on all of the sections. Hell, my fiance comes from a different country and doesn't read English fast (from what I get, she doesn't have the power to skip over assumptious words) - she was approved for extra time on tests like the SAT yet is incredibly smart. My handwriting is ugly and slopping long division on scratch paper while reading word problems is absolutely insane to justify workability.

 

[OverVolt]

A real man need not resort to violence -- only the proper stance.

A lions greatest weapon is his roar

 

[surfsatwerk]

A lions greatest weapon is his roar

That's like saying a hippo's greatest weapon is his big fat ass.

 

[OverVolt]

That's like saying a hippo's greatest weapon is his big fat ass.

It is actually :awe:

 

[Ganiy]

Being tested at an interview does not always assumes the final conclusion whether to employ you or not. Very often companies make such tests for considering you in different situations, looking at whether you are confident and how you could participate in discussions, whether you begin feeling nervous or not. If you fail an interview that does not mean you won't be accepted.

 

[Spydermag68]

I have taken online test before the interview and a few during the interview.

I hate going to wipe-board to make a simple program. First of all I cannot even read my own handwriting and that is not the way I program.

I have surprised a few people by taking out my laptop to do these test.

 

[OverVolt]

I have taken online test before the interview and a few during the interview.

I hate going to wipe-board to make a simple program. First of all I cannot even read my own handwriting and that is not the way I program.

I have surprised a few people by taking out my laptop to do these test.

Yea good for you man. Its a tool that programmers use really. Its like hiring a painter and going "no no, put the brush down I wanna see how well you do it using your fingers to apply the paint" like that has anything to do with the job. Its dumb.