We know what good looks like
Test This
I spoke with one of my previous employees last week who had attended an interview.
The manager of the company in question put a pencil on the table and said “Test That”. Stewart played along and said “where is the Spec”, what is it? what is it’s function.
Now Stewart is no dummy he knew it was a trick question and infact when he told me of the interview we both laughed for about 5-10 minutes saying we need to get some pencils made up with the words Test That along the side of them for conferences etc. Needless to say he did not accept the job offer and he classed it as a bad interview. Managers must know that such a basic and 1970’s type question is not going to catch anyone out. Infact its only going to make you and your company look dated. We’ve all heard that question many many times before and it doesn’t get any funnier or more interesting.
My point is that a job interview is a two way process. Yes I’m looking for the right candidate, someone who I think will be an asset not only to my testing team but also to the company as a whole. A person who will come on board and give their experience gained in other workplaces willingly, and one who also will be willing to learn a thing or two from the staff members whom are already on the team. (Personal Development is a great thing).
I also know however that its not only me wanting them that counts but its also them wanting us. This brings me full circle to the post title “We Know What Good Looks Like”. Those were the words used by a previous manger of mine in an interview with me, This statement made me think that things there were not perfect, however they wanted to change and that if I worked hard I could help them affect this change.
I was infused and accepted the job offer. If that same manager had put a pencil in front of me and said “Test That” I would have just gone through the motions of “what’s its purpose – is there a spec for the pencil”. Playing along with the game. Lets excite people when they walk through our door and not play games.