Agent asking the candidate to appear for Online Test

[Another Dodgy Agent]

It's very, very unlikely to be the agent asking for tests, in my experience it's always been the clients HR team and their standard approach to hiring staff.

Yep! Usually thrown to the agents to deal with as part of "value added" to the client. Trust me, we don't like tests any more than you guys!

[HairyArsedBloke]

One recruitment Agency called over phone and explained the C# SQL Developer - Recruitment process as follows:

(1) Two tests to be written, one each for SQL and C#
(2) If you score more than their benchmark, then you will have to go through a telephonic interview.
(3) If you pass the telephonic interview, you will be invited for a one day trial onsite wherein you will be given some code to be written. If you pass this trial, you will be hired.

Rate about £250-300/day at Central London based on experience.

Whether you are 5 years experienced or 10 years experienced, the same process.

It is no wonder that they complain that they cannot find people!!!!!

FFS

[BamBam]

It is no wonder that they complain that they cannot find people!!!!!

FFS

Yep, totally agree!

For a start, surely £250-300 for a Central London contract is only going to get you relatively inexperienced developers!?! Would be interested to hear what "Another Dodgy Agent" thinks about C#/SQL rates in general, being an agent and privy to general market information.

Secondly, 2 written tests? Even Microsoft's own MCPs aren't written, and they're professional qualifications!! And as I said in my previous post, is the quality of the written test going to be good enough anyway? Who writes them? Who marks them (being a "written" test, it's not as straight-forward as seeing if they selected answer B, etc)?

Thirdly, shouldn't they be doing a phone interview first? After all, why should someone go through a test first if they're likely to be rejected because their personality doesn't suit, or whatever?

I think agents should be responsible here and feed back this kind of information to the clients - maybe they'd be doing something to earn their money, then!