I will not mention the name of the restaurant (it is part of a very well known chain) but for a hostess' job, they administered a two hour psychometric exam.
This was in addition to the standard interview. And for a big $2.13 an hour. (I figured I'd apply there for something to do with my spare time and maybe make a few extra bucks)
There were over 200 questions on the exam and the exam was divided into different sections: One section consisted of questions like "I get along well with others", "I can work independently," "I slack at work often", "I am good at motivating people, etc and you had to rank yourself on a 1 to 5 scale.
It also consisted of a list of "employees", their hours worked, their "chores" done at the restaurant, their pay rate and their overtime -- you were supposed to calculate how much in overtime their tips came to, "who filled the soda machine, Jack or Mary", etc.
If you do not pass their exam, you do not get their job.
It isn't just the Famous Restaurant that is administering this exam -- so are several well known home improvement stores. In addition to this, they are also doing a full background check -- where they will speak to your neighbors?! This is insane - all of this if you want to work in their garden section part time?!
In addition, you cannot go to the store and fill out the application: the only place to apply is on line. Again, they want your SSN and if you do not supply it, the system is set up in such a way that you cannot proceed to the rest of the application. Again, this is information I do not want them privvy to...unless I am hired.
It is also alarming that these companies WILL NOT SCORE the exam unless you supply your SSN. I do not know who at the end who is scoring these exams has privvy to the SSNs; there's lots and lots of identity theft out there and IF the restuarant hired me? Fine: they can have my SSN, but only THEN. Not at any other time.
Getting back to the restaurant and the exam: there was a high school age lad there, looking for a busboy's job -- he too had to take that exam? Come on: the kid is probably saving up for a car or some other thing like college or expenses in the future, like a prom. All he is going to be doing is clearing tables after patrons have eaten -- this is much ado about nothing.
The restaurant didn't stop at the psychometric exam -- you get to sit with an interviewer and there you have to answer 20 more questions: "How would you get people to eat here?" "You are giving a party in your home. How do you make guests feel welcome?" "A coworker is not cooperating. How would you motivate him?" "What do you feel is most important in a restaurant?"
All overdone and all too much. Some company is making a great deal of money from these batteries of tests and corporate is busily sucking it up, thinking this will screen applicants better. Sorry, but in retail or a restaurant? You are always going to have a high turnover: it comes with the property. And no test in the universe is going to prevent an employee from quitting after a day, a week, a month or even an hour.
Last edited by Zelda Von Yitz; 07-21-2005 at 10:02 AM.
I don't think it's a vendor pushing this testing. As a business owener, we have now implemented three phases to our hiring process. It's all because of one thing...lawsuits. I'm involved with a business club of sorts where we talk confidentially about matters we are all having and what we can do to fix them. Everyone is running into the same problem with employees and unfortunately in order to protect ourselves we are having people run through hoops.
Here are some of the signs business are looking or through these tests and checks:
* The phsych test is to get the problem people not even to come on board. Even though I have done this route in the past it doesn't always work. I had an employee once who threatened a reporter saying they were going to be shot with their gun. I stopped using the test.
* Background checks are more than just criminal now. Businesses are using them to see how well you manage your own funds based on your credit score. I believe this part is an invasion of privacy - personal oppinion. But the other thing that they are looking for here is have you sued anyone - especially a former employer.
* We do writing tests to make sure the applicant can actually do what they say. In the past we've had people submit work that was not thier's for samples of work.
I'll agree that some business are taking it to extremes but it's all because they are getting hurt. Running a business is not easy and for me, I give up a lot for my employees and I've been burned a couple of times. Unfortunately, what should have been a laid back fun atmosphere in my company starts to lean towards cold and calice.
I can see giving a writing test or having the applicant sit down and put together a spreadsheet or giving the applicant a take home "assignment" if they're applying for something in graphic arts or what have you, but these tests to determine if you've got a square peg that won't fit into a round hole is a bit much.
The applicant could "pass" the exam(s) and when he's hired, maybe he won't mesh with the coworkers. Or maybe he just won't like the job, for whatever reason.
I agree with what you said about the credit check; a credit check is also a pretty good indicator of how organized you are with yourself. If you can't handle your own money in an appropriate manner, it's pretty indicative that you're likely as not to have some type of problem. (there's a guy I know who's having horrific money problems...and yep, he's also got a myriad of other problems going on as well)
Originally posted by Zelda Von Yitz: I agree with what you said about the credit check; a credit check is also a pretty good indicator of how organized you are with yourself. If you can't handle your own money in an appropriate manner, it's pretty indicative that you're likely as not to have some type of problem.
I'm gonna have to disagree with this one. Credit issues come about for various reasons. I have a hideous credit score from when I was a single mother doing the best I could... I paid off my creditors rather than filing bankruptcy and have owned a house with no late payments, now own a car with no late payments, and I still have a bad credit score. If I had filed bankruptcy instead of taking responsibility for my debt, my score would be higher now.
I agree that taking some huge test for a job that requires virtually no responsibility is ridiculous. It would be different if it was for a managerial position or one with fiscal responsibility.
I am in the process of interviewing for a new position. I had one interview where they ran a credit check before I even came in. While I don't agree with personal financial checks, I understand why employers do them. I do think it is pretty envasive for an employer to ask for one before they have even made the decision to make you an offer.
I would have pulled out of this particular interview, but a friend arranged it and I didn't want it to hurt her professionally. All in all, the experience left a pretty bad taste in my mouth.
I am in the process of interviewing for a new position. I had one interview where they ran a credit check before I even came in. While I don't agree with personal financial checks, I understand why employers do them. I do think it is pretty envasive for an employer to ask for one before they have even made the decision to make you an offer.
Suppose you weren't interested in the job?
I've also heard of credit checks where they make the applicant pay for part of it. I don't think you should have to pay.
Note to camberne: that happened out of no fault of your own. Let me note a situation like yours would be the exception to what I said.
I work for the state government and I didn't have to go through psy testing. I work in Child Protective Services for crying out loud. I needed:
oral interview
written interview
three previous job referrences (or school refs)
to have a clean criminal history
clean drug screen (given to me on my first day of work, not at my interview, and I delayed employment by 4 weeks to travel)
My current employer got my SS number at the oral interview so I have no clue if they checked my credit history. If they did, they didn't let me know!!
Why on earth would a waitress or retail position have to go through more checks than someone who works for state government with *children*?????
I've heard of credit checks, I had one done years ago when I applied for a job in customer service for a credit card. But I haven't heard of them done for other positions. I know my DH's workplace does background and pre-employment drug screening. Many construction companies (my industry) also have pre-employment drug tests, I've done several. But other than those, I've never heard of the more rigorous ones that some employers are doing. Wow.
My sister is applying for a waitressing job with a well-known chain restaurant. . . and they had her fill out a 150 word questionairre, saying things like "I'm always tired" and then she had to fill in "agree, disagree, I don't know." That is ridiculous. She also had to write 3 essay questions on some topic, I don't even know what it was. . . .
While Atlanta_ebride has a point, when it's a questionairre such as this, it's pretty easy to write down the answers you know the employer "wants" to hear. Unless of course, you're a complete idiot. But that would come across anyway. . . .
I can see this kind of thing for high-profile, corruptible, or dangerous position. But for your local restaurant, home improvement, or retail store? Give me a break!! Now, I could see taking a typing test, a math test, something like that, would be more relavant--usually you get the person's "personality" out of the face-to-face interview.
I think employers use this in high-turnover jobs because it saves them face-to-face interview time. Basically, if the person "passes" their little test and they "pass" a 10-minute interview, they're hired, with little effort on part of HR.
I once applied for an internship in college with a company. It would have been an extremely high-stress, high pressure, multi-tasking position, with early hours and late nights. I took a 200 question personality test on the internet. This test was even more invasive--it asked things like "is there a history of mental illness in your family?," "Have you or anyone in your immediate family dealt with alcoholism?" etc. Very personal things like that. Apparently it was legal because the employers never found out your actual answers, just your "score" on a range of different things, ie, stress-management, solid background, experiences, type A or B personality, etc. I passed, apparently with flying colors, because after the 2 hour interview, they offered it to me--and I turned it down.
I was completely turned off by the test, and even MORE so by the people interviewing me. I was an excellent candidate for a $12.50/hr internship position, and I TURNED IT DOWN because they TURNED ME OFF. I ended up taking an internship for FREE and loved it, and just worked another PT job that summer.
It's too bad employers don't realize they are offending people who would do their company a lot of good. The company I applied with and turned down, trust me, they definitely could have used some people who were more skilled in "face-to-face" (ie, teamwork and people skills!) interactions. But with their little test, they weren't necessarily getting this.
I've heard of credit checks, I had one done years ago when I applied for a job in customer service for a credit card. But I haven't heard of them done for other positions. I know my DH's workplace does background and pre-employment drug screening. Many construction companies (my industry) also have pre-employment drug tests, I've done several. But other than those, I've never heard of the more rigorous ones that some employers are doing. Wow.
I don't necessarily agree with credit checks either. Like someone said, other factors could have caused the bad credit and it has nothing to do with being unorganized or irresponsible.
Not long ago, I had an interview and as part of "passing" the first interview, they emailed me a series of questions to answer regarding my past jobs. I wasn't too keen on the idea of doing this but according to them, this was the way they see if you are a "good fit" for their company. The questions they asked about my former jobs was the standard what did I do on my job, ect., but other questions were who was my boss, did I like them, what was their strengths and weaknesses, what could they have done better along with other IMO " None of their business" questions...
I live in a area that makes over 60% of the RV's in the country and most of the people living around here ,including myself, work in this business. However, the Methanphetimine and other drug problems are an epidemic with alot of folks here and a particular company does periodic drug sweeps by calling the police, to do drug searches with dogs on employees cars, and the factories themselves. Then they will do a massive drug testing. If anyone chooses to opt out, their employment is terminated immediately. This is an agressive move, but it's so worth it.
Pre-employment testing has gotten way out of hand
AKA Stinky Wizzelteats...
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Originally Posted by BSBC
