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I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

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Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#81

Post by dookahku »

billy99k wrote: post #2

I once had a SW interview with a job that had a 2-hour long personality test. No tech questions. Just random questions to test my personality. It started out simple, like 'what was the last book you read' to more in-depth situations that had nothing to do with the job. The manager interviewing me (who admit he basically just started managing a month prior) told me he just read a 'great book on management' and wanted…

Canonical made me do a personality test.

From what I understand, Canonical culture isn't great, either. The whole process sounds a lot like what you are talking about -- just hoops to winnow out people for the sake of winnowing.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#82

Post by neuromanser »

bluefirebrand wrote: post #51
ejb999 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep - companies will continue to use these bizarre hiring criteria/tests unless or until enough people refuse to participate; but as long as their is a line of people behind you willing to do 'whatever' for the chance at the job, not much will change.

Unfortunately companies have found a loophole: They just say "we couldn't find anyone who is acceptable for the role locally so instead we'll hire overseas for a fraction of the cost, darn" Almost like the unnecessarily complex hiring processes are built that way on purpose.

Rest assured that a company that'll have domestic candidates jump through ill-advised hoops subjects the off-shore ones to the same bullshit.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#83

Post by UncleOxidant »

billy99k wrote: post #2

I once had a SW interview with a job that had a 2-hour long personality test. No tech questions. Just random questions to test my personality. It started out simple, like 'what was the last book you read' to more in-depth situations that had nothing to do with the job. The manager interviewing me (who admit he basically just started managing a month prior) told me he just read a 'great book on management' and wanted…

> I ended up choosing the job that had no whiteboard interview or personality test. It was just a simple conversation with the tech lead about my previous experience and if I had the experience to work on their current system

I miss interviews like this. We need to compile a list of companies that still do this. In fact, getting on that list could really help a company's recruiting efforts - which in turn could influence other companies to adopt this interview style.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#84

Post by Vegenoid »

ipaddr wrote: post #69
bluefirebrand wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems to me that what you are getting is people who are both decently clever and fairly dishonest. Which is an awful combination to select for, imo

Realizing the desired outcome a company may desire isn't dishonest. Being agreeable enough to play the game by the rules isn't dishonest. You'd rather clever enough but defiant employees? Or not clever and some other combo? Being honest is realizing your situation and making tradeoffs to prioritize what's important. Pretending that your ability to call out weaknesses in the interview process makes you the best candid…

> Realizing the desired outcome a company may desire isn't dishonest. Being agreeable enough to play the game by the rules isn't dishonest.

Answering in a way that is not consistent with what you truly feel or believe is dishonest. I don't think it's an amoral dishonesty, as you say, you've been forced to play this dumb game. There are many cases where being untruthful is not morally wrong.

> Being honest is realizing your situation and making tradeoffs to prioritize what's important.

I wouldn't say that's 'being honest', it's being pragmatic.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#85

Post by 0xbadcafebee »

I'm fine with it. It's their crappy process; if it weeds me out because it's crappy, they're the ones losing out. I'll just go get a job at a different, less crappy place.

A lot of the time stupid hiring requirements are due to the company having government (or other) contracts, and those contracts stipulating certain hiring requirements. For example, drug testing is basically mandatory if the company has government contracts.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#86

Post by cebert »

niceice wrote: post #36

You can take it here: https://fedexdataworksprod.traitify.com/assessment/31449c4a-... Each one has a title like "Starter Not a Finisher", "Frequently Change My Mind", "Always Wonder Why", "Easily Offended", "Art Isn't My Thing", "Unstoppable", "Make Friends Everywhere", "Good Enough", "Not My Job", "Tend to Feel Sad", "Volunteering", "Believe the Best of People", "Hard to Start a New Task", "Loves the Social Scene",…

I thought this was ridiculous as an interview screening process. However, since you shared the test, I took it and I’m not sure it’s too unreasonable. I felt like it’s determination of me as a mentor was quite accurate.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#87

Post by shitlord »

neuromanser wrote: post #82
bluefirebrand wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately companies have found a loophole: They just say "we couldn't find anyone who is acceptable for the role locally so instead we'll hire overseas for a fraction of the cost, darn" Almost like the unnecessarily complex hiring processes are built that way on purpose.

Rest assured that a company that'll have domestic candidates jump through ill-advised hoops subjects the off-shore ones to the same bullshit.

In this thought experiment the domestic candidates aren't putting up with it, which is the only reason why the offshore ones are even candidates.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#88

Post by UncleOxidant »

frfl wrote: post #28
georgel wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has been my experience as well. The more hoops a company made me jump through the less they were offering to begin with, and the culture was not great. My last gig was great in that aspect. My client found my LinkedIn, we had a quick 15 minute call to discuss the project and I was working for them the next day.

Imagine the tens of thousands of dollars saved if you had a 15 minute (okay 15 is a bit short unless someone vouches for you or you're a well known open source contributor etc, maybe 1 hour or 1.5 hour, hell even 2 hour) technical conversation and the other engineer is like, yeah this person's worth bringing onboard. Might not work in all cases, but really, if you're trying to sniff out a pretender vs someone who can…

Indeed, while it might not work in all cases you'd probably save enough time/money to make up for those cases where it didn't work out. I've often seen jobs posted that stay open for 6 months or more because some hiring manager and their team can't make up their minds on who to hire. Meanwhile, the project they want to bring someone in to work on languishes, or people who are already stretched thin burn out and go elsewhere. There's such an emphasis now on hiring the perfect candidate that it's the enemy of actually getting things done.

Re: I applied for a software role at FedEx and was asked to take a personality test

#90

Post by FpUser »

I have my own company, have my own products and also develop products for clients. Maybe this explains the difference. Obviously before any clients use my services we have some kind of interview / negotiations. Normally I am being asked what kind of stuff I have developed and how did I solve such and such problems. I do not remember ever being asked to pass any tests. I do know that if they ever do I will simply refuse. I have very good decades spanning portfolio along with references from my client companies. If potential client is not interested in checking my real work and would rather switch to some bullshit test we are better off without each other.
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