Letter: Letters: Testing tests

From RUSSELL FODEN

I read with interest Neil Harris’s article ‘In search of the right stuff’
(Careers, 2 January).

In 1986 I found myself out of work due to a downturn in the oil industry,
and tried my hand as a sales representative. In my search for work I was
invited to interviews by two companies. At my first interview I was asked
to sit an aptitude test and psychometric questionnaire and was told that
I wouldn’t have enough time to finish the aptitude test but to do as much
as possible. I managed to do reasonably well on the test but did not finish
it.

Two days later I went for my interview with the second company and was
again asked to sit a test. Yes, you guessed it – exactly the same one. Once
again, I was told not to expect to finish it, but I did with five minutes
to spare. The interviewer was amazed. Did I let on? Like hell I did.

For the record, I didn’t get the first job, but the second company practically
begged me to work for them.

Russell Foden Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire