I was reached out to on LinkedIn by a recruiter encouraging me to apply for the role based on my established work experience. I applied online and I was immediately contacted by them to set up a time for a 30-minute virtual presentation that would elaborate on the role.
I attended the 30-minute meeting expecting for there to be multiple candidates and to be able to ask questions about the role more in-depth. However, they made it so that I was unable to view or interact with the other candidates on the call. I didn't even know how many others there were, just that there were others. We were only able to ask questions in a chat room, and the presenter was the only one able to see the messages. We were discouraged from asking any questions that were not directly about the role, so we couldn't ask about benefits, the interview process, or potential next steps. It felt very impersonal and difficult to really connect with the role they were presenting.
After the presentation, I was sent an email to complete the general knowledge assessment. I read in the instructions that the exam did not require studying in advance, however, this was entirely false. The exam covered literacy, basic math, problem-solving, and computer programing skills. If you went to school for computer programming, then I can see why you might not need to study beforehand, but if not, you will have a difficult time executing the tasks they ask you to complete. Especially given the short time you have to complete each question.
I think the most frustrating part of the experience was that the role I applied for did not mention requiring proficiency in coding, so why would that be included in the exam? I also just don't think these types of assessments speak to true capabilities of an individual. If someone has a proven track record of performing in a similar role, why should they have to prove they can solve a generic math problem that won't be relevant to their day-to-day tasks? On the other hand, I understand they want to be confident their employees can perform at a high level with limit prior information.
Ultimately, I would have preferred more personal interaction during the process and been more informed of what to expect from the assessment. I wouldn't have wasted my time if I had known what was in store for me.