Re: Evaluating Candidates Using Tests, Logic Questions, and Similar

["Julia Countryman" <julia -dot- countryman -at- gmail -dot- com>]

I can see your point, and reading body language is important, but I don't
think I'd disqualify them on body language alone, unless it was something
full of attitude like a big sigh and lots of eye rolling.  I guess the part
that bothered me is the implication of the lack of trust in a person's
portfolio and references for their ability to write.   I'd much rather be
asked what my thought process is rather than through a test--interviews are
stressful enough as it is.

I find it interesting that writers want to edit the test--you might want to
rethink the test into a format that targets what you want them to do?  It
might save you and your interviewees a lot of time.

Julia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sharon Burton" <sharon -at- anthrobytes -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 2:41 PM
Subject: RE: Evaluating Candidates Using Tests, Logic Questions, and Similar


> It's not a trick or gimmick. I explain that we have a short writing test
that
> should take no more than about 20 minutes. I'm not looking for spelling or
> grammar, it's a 1st draft. What I am looking for, I say, is your logical
> approach and how you structure information. This is not the only thing
looked
> at in this interview but it is a part.
>
> (what I get is people editing the text they are supposed to be rewriting
for
> grammar and spelling. Despite the fact that I tell them this is not
important
> and the instructions asy it is not important. That's what most writers do.
> sigh)
>
> When someone sighs and shakes their head, I think I have a problem
> child. We're
> _writers_ and it's not at all a surprise that you should be asked to take
a
> _writing_ test. My husband is a journalist editor and he gives
interviewing
> reporters writing tests all the time because these are _writers_ and a
certain
> level of writing has to be there.
>
> I don't really want to hire people who make an obvious face and act as
> tho this
> is beneath them. If this is beneath them, then what else is going to be a
> problem? The writing test is a small part of what I'm considering but it's
to
> be expected that we would do this since you are in fact looking for a
> _writing_
> job.
>
> And what else am I going to ask of them as employees that they don't like?
I
> can't only give assignments that are fun. How do you handle stuff you
don't
> like? During the interview, everyone is on the best behavior. If you are
> willing to act like that on your best behavior, then what are you like
> when you
> are comfortable?
>
> sharon
>
> Sharon Burton
> CEO, Anthrobytes Consulting
> 951-369-8590
> www.anthrobytes.com

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