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I applied to a company that must have used the same test. It was then
"judged" by someone who had taken a couple of psychology courses (I found
this out later) and was told by the person who would have been my manager
that I "wasn't smart enough to work for that company." Ironically, two years
later, after that company had a significant reduction in workforce, the
person who delivered the "you're too dumb" message was sitting in the
conference room for the technology company where I was Publication's Manager
with her resume, references, and writing samples. Unfortunately, she was
totally software oriented and out systems needed someone with experience in
robotics, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, and mechanics. She didn't
make the cut and I told her why, but I never stooped to making a comment
about her intelligence. Her former boss had applied to IBM and ended up
being interviewed by someone who also had been told they weren't smart
enough. The company where I had originally applied is no longer in business
and the company I was contracted to perform as Publications Manager paid
nearly double what the original company had offered. I call it Karma......
Al Geist-Geist Arts
Fine Art Photography
Mobile: 231-301-5770
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"...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a pilgrim
without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each
day." (Sy Safransky)
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+al=geistarts -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+al=geistarts -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Julie Stickler
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2016 5:27 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Interesting Article on Pay and Hiring
Almost the only jobs postings around these parts that list pay rates are
often half of the current market value for qualified technical writers.
I'm guessing they're getting a lot of desperate people who have zero
qualifications in the field, because anyone with experience would know
that's a bargain basement rate.
There's also a local company that I applied to back in January that had the
most ridiculous pre-employment screening personality test I've ever taken
(and I took a two day battery of personality tests when I was in school as
part of a match your personality to your career experiment). Their test,
which purported to be based on "typical" business situations, was so odd and
difficult that I almost bailed out it. And I usually ace standardized tests.
But I figured I might as well finish it. Unsurprisingly I turned out to not
match whatever their ideal profile was on the test. It's been nine months,
they're still looking to fill that position. I keep wondering if I should
send that letter that I wrote to HR about how their bad written test is
probably weeding out perfectly qualified candidates. In my case, it let me
know loud and clear that they were not a company that I wanted to work for.
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