8.27.2005The myths and inaccuracies of online tests"Having recently found myself looking for a new position yet again. Well let's face it a true Fairy never stops looking but with the increase in my focus on the job search I am finding the request to take online tests yet again. The online test is quickly becoming the norm in the search for a tech job but be prepared, this test will not determine your true skills, and in most cases, they won't test on the skills they say they do. Facing one of these tests yet again and it being the same test I took just a few weeks ago I knew what to expect. If I wrote a book on C #and ADO.net, you would think I would pass this test with flying colors right? Wrong try 60% at least that is what my friend who did write a book on it got. These tests are filled with questions that could only be answered in the classroom with 1 or 2 years of theory and has little or no bearing on actually programming. Then there are the questions that do nothing more then show you have used other languages. It asks if what is the right way to declare something and it gives you choices from C#, VB, and I think Java so unless you program in the same language everyday and don't touch the others much this one will trip you up. What do you do to beat the test? Simple make sure you have your resources, a good textbook and if you have a friend or two you can use as a lifeline and of course since most tests lock your browser and second computer to search the internet for your answer. Afraid this is cheating ask yourself what resources would you use on the job... Would you call that friend? Would you have a textbook to check? Would you consider looking on the web? If yes then I say it is fair for the test. Brain bench, Prove it, some other ones out there don't be disappointed when you don't get the high score you feel you should or when you come out of the test shaking your head wondering why you feel that you don't have any skills. The people who write the books don't know this stuff. These tests must be written by those so sunk in to theory they don't know what is used in the real world." - The Teal Fairy To clarify, Teal recently took some online tests to prove her programming knowledge. Her best friend, who *wrote* books on programming in the languages on which she was testing, accompanied her. Their score was 60%. I feel that these tests are used as a bargaining chip; no one tests "well" on them, so recruiters feel perfectly free to say, OK, you didn't test very high, but I will still present you to the client... at a "different" bill rate, of course. As if they're doing you a favor. How sweet of them. Really. I think that the new official JobFairy position on online skills assessments is that they're a scam, just like resume blasting services. They serve no purpose and should be avoided like the plague. Just say no! Archives05.29.2005 06.05.2005 06.12.2005 06.19.2005 06.26.2005 07.03.2005 07.10.2005 07.17.2005 07.24.2005 08.07.2005 08.21.2005 08.28.2005 09.11.2005 10.02.2005 10.23.2005 11.06.2005 11.13.2005 12.18.2005 01.15.2006 02.05.2006 07.09.2006 07.16.2006 07.30.2006 08.06.2006 11.26.2006 12.03.2006 03.25.2007
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