I ran across a reference to this the other day that some companies may require incoming IT personnel to take a “skills” test. This wouldn’t be so bad if ALL personnel, regardless of their field of endeavor, were subjected to the a “skills” test. Just imagine – an incoming attorney being required to take a “skills” test -insulting for them and insulting for IT Pros as well.
I can understand the genesis of this – the paper MCSE’s. Many companies were deceived as to the technical competency of the new hire. But if the person they are bringing in has years of experience, solid references AND certifications – then there is no real need to subject them to a “skills” test. If a new person walks in, says they have all of these certifications, but no work record to support the certification claims, then I would be suspicious. But the crux of the matter is that if you ONLY test IT personnel, then aren’t you discriminating against them? Can’t someone “earn” a degree through various on-line degree-mills – send the “school” XX dollars and poof – now you have a degree in computer science? Once when I was searching for a new job, I was asked to take a skills test and told them I wasn’t interested in their job if this was required only for the IT staff – just as well, company has gone downhill since.
The crux of this is that one time it was way too easy to get a certification. Times have changed, it is not that easy to earn a certification and it is about to get harder. If you single-out one group of people to “test” and not all, that is discrimination and there is no way to justify this, no matter how the HR types want to spin this sad tale. If you test one, you test all or you test none – simple as that. A good HR interviewer (note I said good here) with a few IT folks would interview the perspective hire and ask appropriate questions that a skilled an knowledgeable IT Pro should possess and voila! No discriminating test required. Maybe what should be examined are the people doing the interviewing – perhaps if THEY knew their job, there wouldn’t be a need for these discriminating tests. Then **gasp** – someone would actually have to take responsibility for their actions and not blame someone else for their own failures?
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So who does have to take a pre-employment jobs skills test?
