BSkyB, agent wants me to do a "problem solving" test BEFORE any interview

[Ignis Fatuus]

Depends how badly you want or need the job.

I've never been in the position of being desparate for work so dont have to consider jobs that ask you to take a 'test.'

Try that one on your plumber. Let us know how he takes it.

Jesus! Grow a spine, people. Don't take this tulip.

[d000hg]

Try that one on your plumber. Let us know how he takes it.

But it would be nice if you could... rather than have your house ruined by some cowboy.

What kind of test? I always give coding tests when hiring programmers, as do most good employers, because you cannot tell if someone's good at coding otherwise I bet we all saw people who appeared amazing and can blag like a politician, but couldn't do anything.

But for non-engineer roles, it seems a bit weird.

[blacksheep]

I suspect it's a lie. It sounds wierd.

I worked for BSkyB and recruited a whole team of contractors while there. If I wanted any of them to do a brief tech test, I araranged it at the same time as the interview.

[blacksheep]

Although it wasn't for development or contract, I had an interview at BSkyB a few years back.
Their HR process was a tad on the slow side and they generally weren't in a rush to do anything.
After pretty much giving up on them from CV submission it took them almost 2 months to get me in for interview, and in fact I'm still waiting to hear the result of my interview after receiving no feedback at all

When I went through it (as a contracter, and then as a contract team leader) the BSkyB recruitment process seemed to rely on the recruiting manager being well organised in order for anything to work.

If you had things worked out with procurement and the contracts folks, you could have someone interviewed on a tuesday/wednesday and have a contract in front of the contractor or their agent by COB friday, and setup for payments within 5 days of contract signature.

I did come across several managers who weren't at all organised, so contractors would have had nightmare experiences as a result. Big waste of time and hassle for everyone.

[The_Equalizer]

Although it wasn't for development or contract, I had an interview at BSkyB a few years back.
Their HR process was a tad on the slow side and they generally weren't in a rush to do anything.
After pretty much giving up on them from CV submission it took them almost 2 months to get me in for interview, and in fact I'm still waiting to hear the result of my interview after receiving no feedback at all

I had a similar experience. Once applied for a permie graduate position with a well known Canadian networking firm and soon after I received a letter stating that they would like me to sit an aptitude test. I wasn't available for the test date so rang personnel and rearranged. The following week I received another letter thanking me for sitting the test, but on that occasion I was unsuccessful.

[achilles]

The problem is that even if you agree to do those "tests" and spend 2-3 hours on them, in the present market it is very likely that you will hear nothing after that from the recruitment agent. So your time will be wasted and this has happened to me recently. Also, while doing the test you could be missing out on real opportunities.

So now unless I know and trust the agent and I have no doubt that it is a real and live vacancy, I wouldn't bother doing them.

[billybiro]

But it would be nice if you could... rather than have your house ruined by some cowboy.

What kind of test? I always give coding tests when hiring programmers, as do most good employers, because you cannot tell if someone's good at coding otherwise I bet we all saw people who appeared amazing and can blag like a politician, but couldn't do anything.

But for non-engineer roles, it seems a bit weird.

Expecting coders to sit a coding test is not out of the question. Expecting them to sit a 2-3 hour test IS.

Yes, there are many, many people out there who can blag for England yet "can't do anything", however, a simple 10-15 minute (if even that long) test will soon sort out the wheat from the chaff.

Something like the "FizzBuzz" problem (or something equally quick) can yield amazing results!
(and, yes, it's incredible to number of people who fail at Fizzbuzz).

[kandr]

But it would be nice if you could... rather than have your house ruined by some cowboy.

What kind of test? I always give coding tests when hiring programmers, as do most good employers, because you cannot tell if someone's good at coding otherwise I bet we all saw people who appeared amazing and can blag like a politician, but couldn't do anything.

But for non-engineer roles, it seems a bit weird.

I find coding tests a waste of time, like hiring a electrician and asking his to fit a bulb, then when he passes, allowing his to rewire your house.

Usually the sign of a bad development environment.

The CV should be enough with a quick chat to see if the person is for real.

[SupremeSpod]

I find coding tests a waste of time, like hiring a electrician and asking his to fit a bulb, then when he passes, allowing his to rewire your house.

Usually the sign of a bad development environment.

The CV should be enough with a quick chat to see if the person is for real.

You remind me of a contractor who I interviewed and asked to sit a test "I don't do tests" was his reply.

"You don't work here" was mine.

[Sausage Surprise]

Why would you need to give a contractor a "test". If you hire a contractor and turns out that he/she is shi te you can finish them on the spot.