Job Applications - Fuck Off with your Online Tests

[TheHateIsNotGood]

Just that really. Been self-employed for many years, 95% wfh. Trade had got a bit slow and I thought I'd like to work in the outside world and have a bit of paye employment T&Cs too.

Seems everyone wants some psychometric, skills and the dreaded 'Situational Judgement' Test.

Some of these I'm quite delighted to thoroughly fail as Office Politics isn't a strength of mine; and yes I'm looking at you Civil Service - there isn't a UK Resident alive who at best knows at least 3 people still waiting for the DVLA to get their arse in gear.

Such a shame so many jobs come under CS remit - delivering a crap public service whilst being more concerned about how your colleagues are 'performing' is not one of my "strengths". Proud to report I'm 14th Percentile at that.

But is it really necessary to complete a similar test for every job going? Even an application for a part-time (8hrs pw) online order picker (nights) required a 'Situational Judgement' Test.

Maybe I'm destined to be forever self-employed......

There should be tests in some format for jobs. For example you need decent spelling and maths for basic retail jobs, and a good education for office based jobs. It’s a way of filtering out unsuitable applicants.

@Doorhandleghost

Civil servant. I use those tests to keep the numbers down. Well aware I’m probably missing good candidates as a result but I don’t want to have to sift 200 applications for one job every the time so I’ll do whatever I can to get the numbers down. Happy to help coach you through the tests if it would help.

What, the Asda shelf-stacking ones?

You're versatile, I'll give you that.

YANBU. I hate them too. The worst are the so called ‘personality tests’. Anyone with half a brain can figure out how to manipulate the answers (for example silly questions like if you enjoy art have to do with being able to place yourself in others shoes). A good recruiter is often better in determining if someone’s personality is a fit then those silly tests.

meh - you want a job, you jump through their hoops, surely?

you do come across as though you think you're too good for it. What level are you applying at? go through an agency.

I don't understand why adverts aren't required to say what the salary range is.
It's extremely annoying.

I agree with you OP. I hope with the amount of roles left vacant at the moment that the use of these tests stops. I also hope for an end to forced zero hour contracts and that the pitiful minimum wage salaries that some people are on improve. The balance of power has swung too far in favour of employers and this needs to be redressed.

God i so hate these so much, dunno how they are of any benefit. Thank god i didn't have to do them for my current job. I do remember years ago though going for an interview and they told me only when i was doing the interview that there would be a test after it. i wasn't told about it nor was prepared. It was a test in excel, however it was in the old version of excel. The upgrade that had happened was a huge upgrade, they haven't been as bad in recent years and i really struggled to remember how to do things as was so used to the new system . Took me forever to get it done plus was nearly in tears finishing it as felt so pressurised. I did say it to them afterwards how it was the old system etc. Plus as i did plan time wise for it was late collecting my MIL from the hospital. I didn't get the job, never heard from the actually, glad in a way as if they weren't going to invest in upgraded simple computer systems when needed then to me they weren't going to spend any money on what was needed

Some nasty responses on this thread.

Do you think it's acceptable that vacancies remain unfilled and suitable applicants are not given a chance due to a 'computer says no' type scenario?

I have failed Tesco and Aldi and I can't see why.

They are ridiculous.

I know people with the relevant qualifications, two references ready to go, good CVs, applying for vacancies in shortage areas, who can't get a bloody interview

This is from local Asda and B&Q to technical production units and the regional hospital lab

Something's really not right

But if these are local branches and it's a common occurrence isn't there away to give this issue more visibility (e.g. contacting local management so that they can escalate, etc)?

Someone is developing and selling these garbage tests to companies -and minting it in the process. It should get a lot more visibility

YANBU - I think the basic ones are pointless.and a total waste of time.
T recently landed and 10 hour temporary job (just above min wage) and had to do the personality test. I mean whtf!!
Anyway as I know the type of person they want I just tailored my answers accordinly. Got the job.

DP works for civil service and he has zero people skills in the real world. He’s one step away from being a narcissist. He just learnt how to trot out the behaviours in an interview. He gets paid a lot of money for waffling on about himself mostly just because he has a good memory for policies.

Ds worked through 6th form at our local supermarket, went off to Uni and for first 2 years went back during the holidays. When he came home for lockdown he popped into the shop spoke to manager who said we would love you back but you will have to apply online. He failed the test ! Manager said nothing they could do to override it

This is pathetic. This should get a lot more visibility. The company named and shamed so that they take action

'Tests' measuring who knows what acceptable behavioural criteria masterminded by a 'genius' in Silicon Valley or wherever. Is this for real?

They’re absolutely crap. Some of the questions are the same, just asked in a different way so you have to remember how you answered the previous questions.
Some of the answers to the scenarios are just ridiculous.

Last time DS had to do one for a job in the Co-op i did the test for him, we live rurally it would be a long time before a job he could do would come up again in our village so i couldn't risk him failing!

I should rent out my teen DS he is brilliant at these tests! He did a lot for DH a few years ago, the finding patterns and what goes next he can see that sort of thing immediately. Our favourite which ended up be a family effort was a while giving the answer to a relatively simple sum on the left side of the screen you had to keep a ball up in the air on the right side. So we were all gathered around the laptop shouting answers at my poor DH who was trying to keep the ball going !
After these tests DH was invited to a day of testing where he was put into scenarios and how would you react, it was a very odd day he said but he passed and got the job and still works there.

Some of the answers to the scenarios are just ridiculous

I've seen a multiple choice question where all the possible answers were equally preposterous. That was for a burger bar. Basically what is the least horrible way to abuse a customer. Erm, not at all?

My DC got a job in the end in an independent company, while the same chains who have the ridiculous centralised online recruitment algorithms moan on about a shortage of good old british workers.