testing
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- jeremydouglas
When interviewing for a full-time in-house graphic design position. After showing your portfolio and going through the interview process. If you were then asked to re-design some old work for the company as a test to see how your skills work for the company. Would you be put off?
- jamble0
If you've got any level of experience then your folio and an interview should be enough.
I can understand checking out a junior position with a small skill test but generally above that level I wouldn't personally do it. Tell them you're too busy to fuck around redesigning old work for nothing.
- detritus0
Aye, what Jamble says.
Personally, I've always thought of test work as more of an indicator of an unsure or incapable interviewing process.
- jeremydouglas0
Also worth noting, this piece of work is not something needed by the company, it's completely just for testing purposes.
- You should bloody hope so, too!detritus
- absolutely, unless of course there is payment for the work involved.jeremydouglas
- jamble0
What level is the job?
- jeremydouglas0
There is only one designer at this company, so I'm not sure if level matters. There used to be 2 designers there.
- jamble0
Sounds a bit like what detritus said above, their own process for decision making isn't great. I guess it's up to you, I personally wouldn't say yes to testing for anything other than very junior roles but if you want the job and you don't mind doing it, why not.
- ckentish0
if there is one designer then yep this is normal - they are clearly a very small company and probably don't want to risk going through the process and then find they have hired a muppet who doesn't know the software and has brought a load of work samples in off his mates.
Who cares - just do it or are you getting so many offers you can pick and choose?
- jeremydouglas0
Thanks, it seems there's a general consensus which confirms what I'm thinking.
This is actually what the company I'm leaving is considering doing for a couple applicants. The job is actually the one I'm leaving. I just wanted to make sure they weren't shooting themselves in the foot and scaring off potential good replacements.
They aren't a huge company. A non-profit of about 25 employees.
- d_rek0
I don't understand this practice of 'testing' to get a job.
Are there any other professions that after you've interviewed they ask you to perform a test to see if you're a right fit?
Do surgeons need to perform a 'test surgery' to see if they'll fit in at the next may0 clinic?
Do CEO's need to start up 'test companies' when stepping into office at the next company?
And what about other positions in the design industry? Do potential CD's get asked to 'test manage and direct' a teams of employees? Do AD's get asked to 'test brainstorm and art direct for large accounts'?
What a load of horse shit. If your experience, folio and demeanor aren't enough to sell them on your value to their company tell them to go fuck themselves.
- oh come on this sounds like a tiny company who cant afford to absorb the wrong decisionckentish
- designers are not surgeons or CEOs - very low scale unfortunately. Sigh.ckentish
- If restaurant was hiring a new (one and only) chef, they'd ask for sampleslocustsloth
- So any service-related industry should have a testing process for new hires? Is that what we're saying? C'mon people.d_rek
- exactlyckentish
- Continuity0
Is it name-and-shame time yet?
- d_rek0
If anything you should show them process.
How you got from point A to point B. At what point in the process was there 'discovery' that led you to final concepts? What point did you start to refine your ideas? When did you start to actually produce materials? Can you show them production files to show them how you organize and setup something that's going to press / being produced for the web?
To me those are much better indicators of a worthy individual.
- jeremydouglas0
I'm guessing it will show who has the most compliant attitude which will also be the least competent designer.
- raf0
I understand everyone's pride is shattered by the sole concept of being tested for a job, but if I were hiring, I wouldn't see anything wrong with requiring someone to do some sample work. It doesn't mean the "process for decision making" is wrong. It is part of the process, that's all.
This could show what you can't see in a portfolio (which only has the best stuff): how the person approaches a task, how fast they work and most importantly: how serious they are about getting that job.
Would a programmer be tested with algorithmic tasks, ie. "write a table sorting routine"? Most likely he would. So what's wrong with testing a designer, other than him sitting on a higher horse?
- For the record: I would be the same outraged if I were to be tested.raf
- Continuity0
In all fairness, I don't generally like the idea of testing at all. However, I just recalled a conversation I had with a headhunter a couple of months ago: sometimes, a candidate has done a lot of bread-and-butter work at an agency that was made to client order (as opposed to having creative freedom on a given project), and may not adequately reflect a candidate's talent or skills (or both). However, because they're the only things a candidate has in their folio, due to the bad luck of it.
So, in that regard, a test could be a good opportunity to see how creative and talented a candidate is.
- True, but this candidate should at least make up 'fake' pieces so they have somethingjeremydouglas
- Or at least include unpublished ideas that weren't sold to clients, like I have.Continuity
- The candidate will have the best work they've done for the best ringing brands in their folio, that's obviousraf
- its_only_me0
My guess is, if you say no. The wont give you the job.
Handle with care as there's probably a bunch of folk after you who will be happy to do it.
- raf0
It is a transaction, and not a cheap one: it'll cost them tens of thousands per year, they need to know what chances of having any ROI there are. Would you buy a car with 10 years on the clock without a test drive? :)
- skref0
Years ago I went for an interview and then was asked to do a test, on the spot. I didn't know there was a test involved when I went for the interview. They brought me into the office and gave me two hours to work up a mockup for a website.
Those were a valuable two hours though, as I learned a few things.
1. I could work well under pressure (as the computer crashed and I lost about 40 mins worth of work)
2. I could think on the spot
3. Most importantly, I learned I didn't ever want to work for that company. The office was a fucking dead zone with everyone working in complete silence, no music, no talking.
On the up side, I got offered the job, politely declined and got a cheque in the post for the hours spent doing the test. So they weren't all bad.
- Lifeinvector0
Just do it & have fun with it. Show 'em what you've got. :)
- exactly - no point getting on ya high horse about it. good opportunity to blow them away!ckentish
- flashbender0
I'd do it if they will pay you. If they don't, why would you do work for free?
- what a load of bollocks - its to get a job! muppets everywhere!ckentish
- flashbender0
ckentish then how is this different than spec work?
I understand it is for a job - but as someone else said, if they are not convinced by your interview, CV, portfolio, and references. They clearly have a problem with their hiring process.