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DOWNLOAD: Assess new employees' computer skills with this evaluation form
Tags: support, hardware, end user, evaluation
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I hand them a live cd of linux from scratch and the 200 page manual for installing it.
tell them to build their workstation os lsb compliant.
The expression on the face when they get that is enough to tell you if they have the skills or not.
tell them to build their workstation os lsb compliant.
The expression on the face when they get that is enough to tell you if they have the skills or not.
Hell, you'd get a panicked look out of me with that, unless I was filled with sang-froid that day. Not that I couldn't do it, but I'd hate to lose a job just because I was having a bad day while doing something I'd never done before.
Sheesh.
On the other hand, on a good day, I might just ask if I could use DFS instead of LFS.
Sheesh.
On the other hand, on a good day, I might just ask if I could use DFS instead of LFS.
to have everyone panic for a second or two.
someone who has the skills would notice that the printout is the step by step instructions for buidling a base system fairly quickly and accept that it's a test of skills, directly applicable to the work environment. [ Linux only ]
the only two groupings that would actually be expected to build their own system, the network admins staff, and software development staff.
I don't expect clerical staff to have that level of skills.
If you are going to be programming on linux system, for linux, then you will be expected to have the knowledge base to read a step by step manual and build a system.
The benefit, for the person using that system, they have the perfect opportunity to:
1) Prove thier cli skills
2) Prove their problem solving skills
3) have a workstation completely customised to their prefferences. [ with a few policy requirements, like utf-8 being default charset, no support for java in the development tools ... ]
4) Prove their ability to follow directions.
The idea being to see how someone reacts to pressure / stress.
someone who has the skills would notice that the printout is the step by step instructions for buidling a base system fairly quickly and accept that it's a test of skills, directly applicable to the work environment. [ Linux only ]
the only two groupings that would actually be expected to build their own system, the network admins staff, and software development staff.
I don't expect clerical staff to have that level of skills.
If you are going to be programming on linux system, for linux, then you will be expected to have the knowledge base to read a step by step manual and build a system.
The benefit, for the person using that system, they have the perfect opportunity to:
1) Prove thier cli skills
2) Prove their problem solving skills
3) have a workstation completely customised to their prefferences. [ with a few policy requirements, like utf-8 being default charset, no support for java in the development tools ... ]
4) Prove their ability to follow directions.
The idea being to see how someone reacts to pressure / stress.
I'm less than impressed with the scope of that document. It's pretty limited. I had to add an option to question number one to be able to proceed, in fact.
Here, I'll show you some key parts of the document and the answers I gave:
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill3.png
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill2.png
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill1b.png
and last but not least, my answer to question one:
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill1a.png
I'm pretty sure I'd break the brain of any hiring manager who thought this document would be a good one to use to test my computer skills. I hope this isn't meant to test the skills of IT professionals.
(and of course, I just noticed a typo in one of those images, darnit)
Here, I'll show you some key parts of the document and the answers I gave:
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill3.png
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill2.png
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill1b.png
and last but not least, my answer to question one:
http://www.apotheon.org/img/show/post/evalskill1a.png
I'm pretty sure I'd break the brain of any hiring manager who thought this document would be a good one to use to test my computer skills. I hope this isn't meant to test the skills of IT professionals.
(and of course, I just noticed a typo in one of those images, darnit)
~pointing to your reply to my first response~
I might actually be the exception.
[ to breaking hiring manager's brain ]
I might actually be the exception.
[ to breaking hiring manager's brain ]
I said:
"I'm pretty sure I'd break the brain of any hiring manager who thought this document would be a good one to use to test my computer skills."
(emphasis added)
You wouldn't hire me, anyway. I'm not really a software developer, and you certainly don't seem to need an extra netadmin underfoot in your business.
"I'm pretty sure I'd break the brain of any hiring manager who thought this document would be a good one to use to test my computer skills."
(emphasis added)
You wouldn't hire me, anyway. I'm not really a software developer, and you certainly don't seem to need an extra netadmin underfoot in your business.
be polite to him because anything else would be like teasing a dog on a chain.
then run out of there, be sure they don't have you phone or email...
then run out of there, be sure they don't have you phone or email...
This document is ridiculous. If it is intended for IT staff you should already have found the answers to these questions in the interview. If it is intended for general staff I, for one, would just chuck it in the garbage.
Then even if they fill out the form what are you going to do with it? If you have a small shop you could get the information in five minutes of talking to the person which would take less time and build a better relationship. If it is a large shop you would have to get someone to transfer the responses to a database and have techs look at it before they responded to a service call, again not a very productive use of time.
Then even if they fill out the form what are you going to do with it? If you have a small shop you could get the information in five minutes of talking to the person which would take less time and build a better relationship. If it is a large shop you would have to get someone to transfer the responses to a database and have techs look at it before they responded to a service call, again not a very productive use of time.
If you have a new member to the team and you're unsure of thier skills (most trainee's aren't hired because of thier large amounts of IT knowledge, but more on character and ability to learn) and wanted to gauge thier understanding of basic concepts, something like this would be ideal.
Not only do you get insight to thier levels of IT knowledge but also thier written communication skills.
Not only do you get insight to thier levels of IT knowledge but also thier written communication skills.
Hi,
I'm getting the idea from this thread that maybe the purpose of this form has gotten lost in the shuffle. It's not an assessment tool to be used on IT staff members -- it's a way for IT staff members to gauge how well an incoming general employee understands how to use computers. The idea is that it will help techs prepare for the kind of support issues that are likely to come up with users based on how much they know (and don't know) coming into the organization. Just thought maybe that might help clarify things.
--Jody
I'm getting the idea from this thread that maybe the purpose of this form has gotten lost in the shuffle. It's not an assessment tool to be used on IT staff members -- it's a way for IT staff members to gauge how well an incoming general employee understands how to use computers. The idea is that it will help techs prepare for the kind of support issues that are likely to come up with users based on how much they know (and don't know) coming into the organization. Just thought maybe that might help clarify things.
--Jody
My point still stands. A user will get a very negative view of the support organization if you stick this intrusive form in front of them.
I also don't see what you are going to do differently even if you know support issues are likely to come.
Possibly if you are able to offer training it might have some use. However the format should change to something like:
Do you need training on X
At what level? beginner intermediate advanced
I also don't see what you are going to do differently even if you know support issues are likely to come.
Possibly if you are able to offer training it might have some use. However the format should change to something like:
Do you need training on X
At what level? beginner intermediate advanced
Jody - The posts by ppg are correct. Thinking back on all the organizations I've ever worked for, I can't imagine anyone filling out such a form. You just get hired for a job and you're expected to out yourself in terms of the knowledge you lack? I know that's not the purpose you intended for the form, but that's how it would be perceived.
Also, considering how IT is always taking the rap for poor communications it doesn't send a very good message that the best way IT could come up with to determine your support requirements is to ask you to fill out a form. In my last three organizations I worked with HR to make sure that all new employees started only on Mondays. We created a formal new employee orientation program, one component of which was an IT briefing. Gives IT the chance to have a face to face with everyone new coming into the building, and this type of information can be better obtained in a situation such as that.
Frankly, the only value of the form is as a guideline to IT in terms of the type of information you might want to know. I wouldn't use it as a means of gathering that information.
Also, considering how IT is always taking the rap for poor communications it doesn't send a very good message that the best way IT could come up with to determine your support requirements is to ask you to fill out a form. In my last three organizations I worked with HR to make sure that all new employees started only on Mondays. We created a formal new employee orientation program, one component of which was an IT briefing. Gives IT the chance to have a face to face with everyone new coming into the building, and this type of information can be better obtained in a situation such as that.
Frankly, the only value of the form is as a guideline to IT in terms of the type of information you might want to know. I wouldn't use it as a means of gathering that information.
as far as technical goes, this is not worth the paper it would take to print it.
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