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Written Tests for Interviews?

Posted by Cliff on from the how-often-have-you-seen-it dept.

University Tech asks: "I am a technician at a small private university in the process of hiring a new technician. Everything here is done by committee. One of the committee members was very offended that we were giving the interviewees a written test after we had finished the oral part of the interview. How many of you have had written tests as part of a job interview? I think I have had one at every tech job interview I have ever had (six interviews) and even two hands on tests. Most of my co-workers and friends have as well. Is this perhaps a regional thing or is this normal for us techies?"

5 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Official test at my organization by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    1) What is your Slashdot karma (please be aware that Human Resources department according to Proposition I-55544 is now legally required to verify your Slashdot karma before employing you at this organization. Any incorrect information will result in immediate dismissal).
    _ Excellent
    _ Good
    _ Below good
    _ What's Slashdot? What's karma?

    2) Have you ever been marked as (-1: Troll)?
    _ Never, all my postings are Informative, Insightful, Funny or all combined.
    _ I have had occasionally bashed Microsoft and received such moderation in no more than 2 or 3 postings for my entire Slashdot career.
    _ No, all my posts are marked as (-1: Flamebait) or just plain -1
    _ I am the Beowulf cluster poster
    _ I am the guy with goatse.cx links

    3) Have you ever participated in Slashdot polls?
    _ Always, answering honestly and leaving witty remarks regardless of the topic.
    _ Just clicked on random option and read what other people said.
    _ Just chose the CowboyNeal option all the time.
    _ Slashdot has polls????

    1. Re:Official test at my organization by GreyWolf3000 · · Score: 4, Funny

      4) Have you, or a family member, ever tried to get the "first post?" Note: Admission of guilt is not necessarily a universal disqualifier.

      --
      Slashdot: Where people pretend to be twice as smart as they really are by behaving like children.
  2. committees by droyad · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps you should form a sub-committee to investigate if that act is offensive. And then another sub-committee to liase with the offended person and to properly record their feelings. Then form a sub-sub-committee to assess the performance of both sub-committees.

    Perhaps at that stage everyone will have forgotton why any of the committees was formed in the first place and it the whole thing will blow over.

  3. I have by cs668 · · Score: 2, Funny

    been given a written test at every interview I have ever had.

    I have also given a written test at every interview I have ever tormented someone with. I really think that the interview process should be evil for the interviewee. It is as much about seeing how they will cope with stress as it is about assessing their tech skills.

  4. I hope they hired you by Cokelee · · Score: 2, Funny

    and even two hands on tests
    Hmmmmm. . . They didn't make you fix a machine did they? Could be a chance for a little free labor:

    Boss: So how many interviewees do we have coming in today?
    Committee: 8, sir.
    Boss: How many M$ machines are in the back?
    Committee: Uh, 8, sir.
    Boss: PERFECT!