New Hire Question?

fridaymean

Just curious, do any of you guys, or the companies that you work for, give new hires a job-skill test with thier application?

MSSI

The first test is........"give me a call about 3:00 tomorrow".. If I dont get the call on time they dont get the interview..
We dont have a formal test, but offer them a paid day in the field to 'see if they would like to work with us'

mickeyco

About half the places I worked at or applied for had them. Motorola had a long test about everything beside the work you were doing, you had to pass it to get to the interview. Océ had a mechanical aptitude/IQ test that was tough one, out of about 12 people on the day I took the test only one passed. AT&T no testing. I worked for a small guy doing power supply/ backup for cel towers and he kind of tested you verbally on the spot, I thought that was pretty good. One place I worked at they did the three words that best describes you and what is your favorite tool and why?, bunch of HR idiots. One place had a written test asking how you would handle certain situations, irate customer, etc.

I though the verbal test was a good way to see if a guy knows his stuff, usually tests are multiple choice and there's a chance of a lucky idiot getting through by guessing.

Sparky Joe

That's nice, I like the way you do things . My brother is a union plasterer, and bigger stronger man than me, he did his apprenticeship in Vegas doing the hand carved sculptures. When I was down on my luck he told me to go to the hall. They dispatched me 2 days later(after I had been up all night partying). I got to the job at 7 and left at 10.

With the IBEW, first you apply, then wait for a call(perhaps a month), then do a mechanical aptitude test (similar to what the military gives), then wait for a call(perhaps 2 months), then go to an interview where the questions are very legally limited, basically if you have or have had any drug or violence problems. Then you wait for a call(perhaps 3 months), then go to orientation where they rundown the requirements and ask how long before you can quit your current employer.

Mind you I got in at a time when things were slow and was able to skip the aptitude test because I had prior experience. Right now while it's busy, I'm surprised if most the guys even do an application. But also keep in mind I went through the entire process in local 11(LA), and after all the waiting they put me on a 2 year waiting list.

I think the idea of it all is to make sure the guys are serious.

sparky66

I think tests are supposed to weed out the super moronic. I once applied to a big tissue company that had a multitude of tests. I was applying for industrial electrician but they had general tests.....Questions like "do you think taking home a pencil is stealing from the company?"

I was so offended by the test I wouldnt even consider going back for a second interview when they called.

copusbuilder

When people call looking for work I ask them to fax an informal resume. Just jot it down on a piece of paper.
I haven't gotten one yet. Most don't even ask for a fax #. Weeds out 100%

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Sparky Joe

Who has a resume for a construction job........?

Is that your goal while hiring construction personnel, to find office presonnel?

jproffer

If you can't take time to write down the basics....name, addy, last job and how long, and before that and how long, etc...then you don't need a job very badly. He did say INformal...and you'd probably be surprised how many people have formal resumes prepared...yes even for construction jobs.

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Jim P.

Mike Finley

I get resumes. I get a lot of unsolicited resumes. I have long stopped even reading them. Some are crazy and you wonder what the hell is this person thinking, some are polished and all wrong in all the right places. When somebody wants to send me a resume I tell them to just down load our pre-application and send that, it's got what I want to know about them, if I like what I see then they get a call to sit down and talk.

It's all still bull sh*t. I'm a pretty damn good tile setter and on a scale of 1 to 10 I wouldn't even rate myself a 7 because I know what a real tile setter is. When I have guys rate individual skills I just laugh when they list tile skills and rate themselves 9s and 10s and then can't tell me what deck mud is or what the difference is between porcelain and ceramic tile or ask them if they have ever set travertine or glass. Then they tell you they did some tile in their own bathroom 4 years ago.

Silly, silly people out there to choose from. What they know is way less important than how much ability do they have to learn. I've hired guys with 18-20 years of exerience and they don't even know how to cut out outlet boxes or cans with a dremel.

copusbuilder

That's why I said jot it down on a piece of paper

If I were hiring office personnel I would ask for a formal resume.

If someone can't jot down their experience, name, age and find a fax then why waste time on the phone

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RobertWilber

I usually just look at the guy's tools, tell him what I'm looking for, ask what kind of work he's been doing and let him talk about himself. I've been around the block once or twice and, in thirty five years, I've met a lot of BS artists. You get to recognize them.
You can tell a lot about a guy's experience by his reaction when you tell him to get the 32 footer off the ladder rack and cut the service drop away ....
[ ... and it doesn't matter if he's good. If he's a jerk, I can't use him]

Ed the Roofer

1st Test. Prior to allowing a new potential candidate waste my time with an interview to assess his trade skill level, I set up a time I know I will be at my office and give them the address, thats it, no directions. If they can not figure out how to find my office, they probably could not figure out how to get to a job site either.

Then I have my secretary give them a basic application listing previous job experiences. She will be able to tell me if they are worth further follow up. Most guys, if they ever show up, will not fill in the information requested. Thats test # 2.

I'm not a sparky, so you would have to throw out some weed out questions to assess their actual skill level. That should reveal how much they really comprehend.

PS. A previous thread stated about job applicant requirements; "Must know how to use an alarm clock", which is funny but also not.

Ed

Boogga

"1st Test. Prior to allowing a new potential candidate waste my time with an interview to assess his trade skill level, I set up a time I know I will be at my office and give them the address, thats it, no directions. If they can not figure out how to find my office, they probably could not figure out how to get to a job site either." _ ED

Ed, Well said. I must remember this for myself if you don't mind. Good point.

Also I get everything from the expression on their face when meeting them (ie if they find your office address :-) ) and their expression while chatting to them on the phone. Yes it can be done. Read that Alan Peace book on body language. Good book.

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mdshunk

I have a 32 footer, but I don't have enough back side to set it up by myself safely. That's why God made bucket trucks.

mickeyco

I went up what I think was a wooden 32 footer (not sure of exact size) and will never do it again.

mdshunk

Scardy cat!!

It was not until I was well into my adulthood that I realized how many people were scared of heights. My dad was a GC, and I was in high places since I was little. A fear of heights is something I never had. It has helped me along, I guess. It's probably better to have a fear of heights, but I just never had it. It's hard for me to understand that fear in others. I take both of my boys up to the clouds in the taller bucket truck pretty regularly so that they don't develop a fear of heights. They think it's cool to look around from that high.

Sparky Joe

I just have a fear of falling, right.....

Usually I'm good with it, but sometimes first thing in the morning I'm a little edgy.

Another company I worked for had a 20 foot extension ladder that probably fell off a truck on the freeway and they just happened to be dumb enough to run out and get it.
But this ladder had a twist in it, where you put the feet down and only one of the legs on top were touching the wall. You get half way up and it shifts so both legs are touching the wall but only one on the floor.
Pucker City

DAVIS081404

I have been getting several phone calls by paycheck seekers. I as well started telling people to send me an informal introduction. I tell them you can fax it to me, mail it, e-mail it, send me smoke signals. To this day no one has asked for the number, address, or e-mail????? However they do blow a lot of smoke.

faber307

I am a union member also, got in after I already had my journey. I really wanted in. The prospect of better wages, pension, insurance was very important to me.

Work was slow when I was applying. No union work for me in the state at the time. They had me salt for quite awhile before I got my first call.

I like the idea of making sure the guys are serious, see what they are made of before commitment.

You know, we should be doing that after the guys are excepted into the union as well. I have seen way to much complacency in our ranks.

If we demand respect and top dollar from our employers through collective bargaining. Then those employers deserve top notch employees with an acceptable work ethic and trade knowledge.

We need to police our own. God Bless the IBEW.

copusbuilder

I have always noticed the guys that tell you how good they are...almost always suck. Anyone can blow smoke out their ass.
I like a level of confidence but not over confidence.


The wife and I will discuss how we have hired 200 + people and how many would you consider "reasonably" normal. The answer is maybe 2
The scarey part is these people have kids and drive and work in restaurants and hospitals

Sad state of affairs today

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