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When I was hiring university students for a student technical writing
position, I would have them spend 30 minutes after the interview
writing instructions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
They were given a computer with Internet access and a list of
requirements (which were weighted for importance; the weighting was
shown to the applicants so they knew where to spend their time).
We then evaluated the "tests" based on writing ability, clarity,
audience interpretation, layout, etc. What was nice about this type of
test, was it avoided the concern that was brought up previously in
this conversation about the employer using the applicant's work for
business purposes.
Most of the students responded very favorably to the test, and I
thought it was a good measure of their ability to think quickly,
evaluate audience (how much detail to go into), and to write to a
deadline. It was one useful tool in our hiring toolbox.
Paul Pehrson
Midvale, UT
> One test I had to take in the past was to document how to drive around the block from where the interview was taking place. I was handed a few sheets of blank paper and left alone for about 20 minutes. Knowing that I only had 20 minutes, how much detail I chose to go into, the assumptions that I made regarding the reader's ability to drive, and how I structured the information were entirely up to me.
>
> I thought that was a brilliant way to test someone's writing abilities. There was no faking your way through that test.
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