Testing In Job Interviews

September 16, 2008   zohner   3 Comments

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3 Responses to Testing In Job Interviews

  1. Zuke says:
    September 16, 2008 at 9:06 am

    I hope I don’t embarrass you and TardisCaptain, but I used to be your boss.  And as your boss, and as the guy who would have to interview new applicants, those tests were very important.

    In our area, the amount of “basement trained” IT workers is so high that you NEED to have test like that for entry level positions.  I can’t tell you how often I’d have to turn away people who claimed to have three certifications, 10 years of experience, and a degree because they simply didn’t have the skills.  I believe that if you are applying for an entry level position, then yes, you should be tested for it.  Let’s face it, most IT programs are a laugh (I passed my A+ and two MCP’s without even trying)
    On the flip side, it usually helps if the person giving the interview knows what they’re talking about too.  I once failed an interview because I knew more than the interviewer:
    “Open the system properties.” “I hit win+pause/break” “INCORRECT! You goto Start>right click My Computer, and goto Properties.  Open Help.” “I hit F1.” “Wrong again!”
  2. zohner says:
    September 16, 2008 at 10:41 am

    You bring up some great points, Zuke.  However, despite some of this testing, we still ended up with people like Brian the South African dancer that didn’t know what a ping was.  You are right about the basement trained fools out there that think that just because the can program a macro in WoW, they are a software developer.  I would think though that a real college degree would be acceptable in lieu of testing.

  3. Zuke says:
    September 16, 2008 at 11:51 am

    Yeah, well we know why Brian was hired.

    To be honest, most the people I turned away WERE college educated applicants.  I have a real sour taste in my mouth when it comes to Computer Science degrees and the IT world.  Of course, I am biased since I only have ever interviewed for IT positions.  Software programming, developing, and project management are completely different and their resumes should be handled differently.
    It really all depends on the position.  When I was 17, I applied at Inkley’s Camera Store.  In the application there was a short quiz:
    Define “SLR”:
    Add 5.75 + 2.63
    I kid you not.  I will bet money that if I was applying for the head of the company I wouldn’t be given such an application; my resume would have been judged on it’s own and then an interview.

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