Reply to: Technical test prior to contract interview?

[GiGo]

I've done one or two of these in the past but now refuse to do them. They're a total waste of time. I once spent 2 hours on one and got no feedback whatsoever.

Had that recently - tests with no feedback. Really annoying waste of time. Perhaps the agent just wanted some answers to hand

[Rebecca Loos]

where do you take your definition of 'business', LG?

[The Lone Gunman]

If you work on that basis then fine, me, I operate as a business.

Could those of you pretending to be businesses to avoid paying proper tax please stop doing so then those of us who are genuine wont have so much trouble with IR35 and stuff. Thanks.

[tim123]

I wish the Govt. would do what they have done in most of Europe and give consequences to the client and agent if they take on an "employee" then people like you would have to think twice about your business practices.

Why?

All this does is push the work in the direction of Software Houses and perma- temp agencies.

At both my current and previous clients (both foreign, different countries) 80% of the consultants are SH employees being paid normal local rates or perma-temps being paid even less. The genuine freelancer, finding his own work and trousering 80% of the billing, is in a small minority (and the majority of those have to pretend that they work as a perma-temp).

Clients want temp employees. If you make a rule that freelancers can't work as temp employees, then you aren't going to get clients change to engaging businesses on B2B terms. They are simply going to get their temps from elsewhere. This is the easy route for them and they have no difficulty filling their jobs that way.

tim

[DigitalMan]

I have noticed an increase in such tests, but frankly I have found :

2) Often the client doesn't know the answer - I have had interviewers say no that's not
right then double checked later to find I was right all along.

3) Faced bloody MENSA tests that made my head spin - only to be told by agent that I
passed with flying colours but still didn't get the job.

Wolfie.

Yes, I've had tests where the client gets the answer wrong. How can they be so sloppy? After all, they have access to all the info before setting the test. When it first happened I didn't stand my ground, as I was less experienced then. But the last time I did stand my ground. Stiil got the contract anyway (although it was a bad contract).

I've also had tests where I've got less than 50 % and got the contract. I once had a test where I got 23/25 right and didn't get the contract!

[vetran]

my experience

From a permie interviewer point of view tests make sense if you have inept managers. I tend to ask leading technical interview questions and watch the way people reason, but then I have been interviewed by some people who have very little technical expertise at all so a test is the only way to check.

Really the agents should be doing this and the clients using only agents that perform. But that requires proper management.

[TwoWolves]

Agreed

I have noticed an increase in such tests, but frankly I have found :

1) They are a bit insulting - do you test a doctor/lawyer/accountant before you hire them?

2) Often the client doesn't know the answer - I have had interviewers say no that's not
right then double checked later to find I was right all along.

3) Faced bloody MENSA tests that made my head spin - only to be told by agent that I
passed with flying colours but still didn't get the job.

In conclusion a few basic questions do the job. Interviewers who overdo it are just permies
who have issues and you can guarantee they will not be good to work with.

That's my two-penny's worth.

Wolfie.

[DigitalMan]

Anyone else noticing an increased use of written technical tests prior to interview being offerred?? IME I normally get a half a dozen technical qs _at_ interview, among all the usual stuff.

I've done one or two of these in the past but now refuse to do them. They're a total waste of time. I once spent 2 hours on one and got no feedback whatsoever.

Also, I'd say most technical tests at interview are crap too, even ones I do well on. They do not test for qualities such as the ability to write readable, maintainable code, intellectual curiosity, willingness to help other developers and be helped by them, for example. Instead you just get mundane questions such as [in C++] "what is a virtual function?"

[Rebecca Loos]

huh?

[The Lone Gunman]

Oh please, save it for Hector.

I've interviewed 20 or so contractors in the last 6 weeks. Not one of them carried or presented themselves in any way as a "genuine business", not in any real sense.

The clue is in the "interviewed". Whilst our client base still believe they are taking on temporary employees we would have to be stupid in the extreme not to go along with that.
Makes IR35 a difficult problem too.

I wish the Govt. would do what they have done in most of Europe and give consequences to the client and agent if they take on an "employee" then people like you would have to think twice about your business practices.
If you want an employee then advertise for one, even a temp and pay what is due. Stop trying to duck all the issues (and costs, your real motive) by pretending you want a contractor.

[handsfree]

Rubbish, we are genuine businesses offering a business service.

Oh please, save it for Hector.

I've interviewed 20 or so contractors in the last 6 weeks. Not one of them carried or presented themselves in any way as a "genuine business", not in any real sense.

[The Lone Gunman]

Imho, the more technical tests the better, at least until the chancers give up

Rubbish, we are genuine businesses offering a business service. Would you ask a builder to prove he can build? You might ask to see examples of his work or talk to previous clients, but zou would not give them a technical test.

If you are asked to do a test get up and walk out pointing out that you are looking to for a business to business arrangement, not an employer employee one.

[handsfree]

Anyone else noticing an increased use of written technical tests prior to interview being offerred?? IME I normally get a half a dozen technical qs _at_ interview, among all the usual stuff.

So what's this all about then? Maybe there aren't that many interviews available atm but this is a new way in which agencies are competing with each other to get on to client sites?

It's because of all these visual basic chancers like Shimano.

Where's he gone now? Here he is... flapping his little chancer arms..


Imho, the more technical tests the better, at least until the chancers give up

[sasguru]

Have I told you of the time I went for an interview with a large consulting organisation and they had me do a technical test...

... that I had actually written for a large round thing in sky / for nonimperial testing co., in a previous contract.

and got the highest possible score...

Oh, how p1ssed off were the other contractors when they heard I was getting £10 an hour more than the next highest...

threaded, you really are a sad fat feckwit aren't you?

[WageSlave]

... that I had actually written for a large round thing in sky

You work with UFOs?