{"id":16301,"title":"Tech Tests - Am I Right?","description":"Tech tests - to the letter or off the page? What to deliver when many tech tests are on shifting sands?","content":"

\"\"
So, tech tests. You apply for a job, you make it through the screening call and then you get the take-home tech test. This is so the company you're applying to can check whether your list of skills on your LinkedIn\/CV is legit by looking at how you code a test that they set you. It can actually be a lot of fun. Or not...

if (completeTechTestToSatisfactoryLevel) {proceed to next stage}
<\/strong>\/\/nice pseudo code , there ^^<\/em><\/p>

But beware, here be dragons.
<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>

I'm about to complain. But I'll phrase it like a question, so I don't sound too whiny.<\/strong><\/p>

  • If you are asked to complete a number of features in the test, but the last few are optional (show thank you page on submit, finish the visual design nicely)<\/p><\/li>

  • If there is \"no need to be perfect, as long as it works!\"<\/p><\/li>

  • If you are asked not to go over two hours<\/p><\/li>

  • If unit tests are optional <\/p><\/li><\/ul>

    ....<\/p>

    • ...and you submit a tech test that takes you:
      two hours (as specified<\/em>) <\/p><\/li>

    • but is not complete (not a problem, as per<\/em>) <\/p><\/li>

    • and the CSS is unfinished and there are minimal tests (fine<\/em>)... <\/p><\/li><\/ul>

      this is often not enough to get you through to the next round, even though you have followed the recipe. <\/strong>

      You sit there thinking\"Is following instructions a part of the test? Are they looking for someone with attention to detail ? Or a maverick who <\/em>gets the job done...?!?<\/em><\/strong>\"<\/em><\/p>

      Yes, there are lots of people out there who can code faster and complete the test to perfection in 2 hours, but they are probably not sitting tech tests any more...or those who manage to identify the key elements that should be completed before all others (perfect column alignment \/ a suite of unit tests \/ fantastic README \/ dancing unicorns in the input fields) ...<\/p>

      Here's the question: <\/strong>how do you know whether to<\/p>

      A\/ follow the instructions, not go over time, take the instructions at their word and still get fair consideration<\/em> OR<\/strong><\/p>

      B\/ ignore the instructions, go all fast and furious<\/em><\/strong> - install all necessary npm packages, use SASS instead of CSS, finish the user journey for any interactions, complete with button gradients and shuddering parallaxes (is that a thing? it is now!<\/em>) ...essentially, treat the test as if it were a complete feature at your paying job, take all freaking day and still get fair consideration<\/em>...<\/p>

      A or B? Comments below, please!

      All replies considered. We may not get back to you in person but <\/em>have a great day!!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>","urlTitle":"tech-tests-am-i-right","url":"\/blog\/tech-tests-am-i-right\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/tech-tests-am-i-right\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/shetechs.io\/blog\/tech-tests-am-i-right\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1643995494,"updatedAt":1644007589,"publishedAt":1644007589,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":156203,"name":"She Techs Shop"},"tags":[{"id":1340,"code":"techatwork","name":"techatwork","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/techatwork\/"},{"id":1525,"code":"gettingatechjob","name":"gettingatechjob","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/gettingatechjob\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ieb3mdzssb3msdzbwzm62xr1i7zprvmiqrpjeqqcatrekn4f.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ieb3mdzssb3msdzbwzm62xr1i7zprvmiqrpjeqqcatrekn4f.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ieb3mdzssb3msdzbwzm62xr1i7zprvmiqrpjeqqcatrekn4f.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Tech tests in tech job search","metaDescription":"How should we deliver what a tech test asks for?","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":13166,"title":"Welcome to She Techs","url":"\/blog\/welcome-to-she-techs\/","urlTitle":"welcome-to-she-techs","division":156203,"description":"Hi, I'm Atty, founder of She Techs. Web developer, full-stack developer, freelancer, mentor.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pid0oh5h9h5mjo4ddeabshlpilnwezszgyb9jng5gjjsjmgj.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/pid0oh5h9h5mjo4ddeabshlpilnwezszgyb9jng5gjjsjmgj.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":15157,"title":"How learning tech for the virtual classroom made me a better teacher.","url":"\/blog\/how-learning-tech-for-the-virtual-classroom-made-me-a-better-teacher\/","urlTitle":"how-learning-tech-for-the-virtual-classroom-made-me-a-better-teacher","division":156203,"description":"As school closures due to Covid-19 were confirmed in early 2021, UK teachers were thrown a gauntlet: teaching is going online. Be ready.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qwnxd0fg5jmgbr886gji3ehhq5fu4km0vn5rnxnk9h0n61ks.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qwnxd0fg5jmgbr886gji3ehhq5fu4km0vn5rnxnk9h0n61ks.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":16487,"title":"Things I know about working in tech as a frontend developer","url":"\/blog\/things-i-know-as-a-frontend-developer\/","urlTitle":"things-i-know-as-a-frontend-developer","division":156203,"description":"Things I know about working in tech as a frontend developer. Being a woman in tech both is and is not relevant. Most days, I don't think about it..","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/e3vvcuzpppudgwece7nzkmmjzmeenzczwnxihchnl1hvast4.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/e3vvcuzpppudgwece7nzkmmjzmeenzczwnxihchnl1hvast4.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}