Design test job
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- Mick
Just curious what your thoughts are on job applications that require a design test.
You send in an application for a full-time job and they ask you to do a design test to evaluate your design and thinking skills - you get a brief - the test may take you 10 hours or something.
Waste of time? Company is too anal to work for? Instant mistrust in your portfolio?
- sauerbraten0
your portfolio and interview should take care of any doubt. that's sketchy..
- leaves0
the Co. i work for gives design tests.
i saw some of the other applicants' tests. they were awful.
- leaves0
yeh. i brought my folio, so they didnt ask me to take it.
i was rather looking forward to it.
- monkeyshine0
Does the test involve you redesigning their company identity or website?
Are you desperate for work?
Isn't the point of your portfolio and an interview in part to assess your ability to think conceptually? It sounds like they wouldn't know conceptual thinking if it hit them in the head and someone in HR told them that this test will tell them.
Either that or they're trying to get free work. Sounds to me like a crappy job working for someone with no vision. RUN!
- Mick0
I started my current job 3 months ago - had to do a design test. I'm now leaving :)
I've heard of this before and in my experience it is usually at companies where the designers role is controlled by management (marketing, department managers, etc.) and not by art directors (who can usually tell a fake when they see one).
And we all know its more desirable as a designer to have your briefs and duties being organised by an art director as apposed to a department manager.
- Derek20
design test is basically like getting a hooker, doing them, and being like.. thanks, but im not gonna pay. LATER!
so.. fuck that.
:P
- jk0b0
Even the coolest portfolio doesnt tell how much time you spend on executing it or whether or not you´re able to follow a briefing from a client. I'm not in favour of test jobs, but would take it if I knew that not only would the company demand much, they'ld also have a lot to offer in return.
- Mick0
Oh yeh, after I quit - my boss asked me what he should put in the design test for the job this time around. I asked why he does it and he said "how can I tell otherwise if someones portfolio is all their work or not".
- Derek20
the company offering the test job, will be like..
this is umm.. a.. fake client of ours... and.. we want you to make a fully functioning website for this.. umm.. fake client...
lol
- monkeyshine0
like I said, you'll be working for someone with no vision.
It's pretty easy to figure out in an interview, via this very amazing technique called a dialog between interviewer and designer, if someone is representing their own work.
RUN!!
- Mick0
Just curious... nobody else has done a design test for a job before?
- sparker0
for programming, yes. and, as far as development goes, i am in favor of making incoming prospects take a little exam.
- Derek20
hellllss no.
- brundlefly0
I had to do one when I worked at the last agency, pretty simple jigsaw table layout..... and heres 3 graphics with some content, lay it out using three col layout....
easy, wasn't a big deal
- leaves0
well, i am free to be pretty creative here.
the tests that i saw were actual assignments given to our department a year earlier, so the work couldn't have been used for anything else.
some folks would probably wanna see how competent you are with making files (not just pretty artwork).
anyway, whatever. if you want food in your belly, take a test, if you dont___ then whatever. who cares.
- Derek20
brundlefly,
how long did that take?
- brundlefly0
one hour. but I had three to do it.
but then I worked there for 3 years making $45 an hour.
- Derek20
where?
- brundlefly0
ahh to be young and overpaid, freelancing now, its good and its bad.
- Derek20
oh yea?
yea. i love being young and overpayed. all the friends are working at cockbuster and other fine 8.50 dollar establishments. they all freak cause i make more, but i tell them while they were out partiing, or being a kid, i was inside on flash all night and all day... i remember the summer i got hooked. black eyes, no tan, dreaming in code... :)