The Job Selection Process – Unique experience


I should say I went through unique selection process for a job of technical writer and this was the first (and probably last) full day test in Belgium for me! The test was purely skills based! There were four people going through the process for four different posts.
I should list all the skills first in order to understand the depth – Writing, Reading Comprehension, Listening, Logical reasoning, Technical aptitude, Presentation skills, Speaking, Programming.....
That is a long list to judge a person for fitting into one job! Well, we wrote one Calendar Manual as technical writing test. Time given was 2 hours. In order to write we had to carefully listen to the instructor how that particular supply chain management Calendar operates.
Yes...you are right! The company operates in Supply Chain Management software domain. And without any background I was selected for the full day test! Before appearing for first round of selection, I just saw few videos related to supply chain management on Internet. That's it! I admit that I do not have in-depth knowledge for this topic. And I was told that I should not prepare for the test before coming for the selection process. And I followed it (quite foolishly)!
Somehow, I have started believing that this is an era of instant information. What we gather is pure information and not the knowledge. Information dissemination is quite instant these days. And our skills are dependent on how we process that information. Knowledge comes when we start working on particular thing with focus and know the subject throughout. Correct me if I am wrong on this front...
So, that Calendar manual writing I thoroughly enjoyed, though I missed some part of it because of lack of sufficient time. Then post lunch keeping the eyes wide open we had to listen to a video (e-learning) which was purely technical and we had to answer the questions. Here, we were tested for listening skills, technical aptitude, logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude. I must admit that e-learning was bit boring and included just bunch of information without sufficient explanations for newbie like me. I managed to scribble the answers! Anyway, there are surely great ways to make e-learning enjoyable to the listeners...
Then we had to do data model exercise as well with the mention of Bill of Material (BOM) which I vaguely remembered to come across during graduation. I admit I couldn't fill the data well! This was based on the e-learning we just listened. We were supposed to grasp all the concepts within 40 minutes and come up with data model of Soup Making Process. I felt, making soup at home is much easier and healthier rather than buying ready made soup coming through a supply chain!
After fighting with e-learning for two hours, we were given some tests papers with programming test, logical reasoning and technical aptitude related to supply chain of course! And this was one-hour test. My mind started to ache a bit now... But I became euphoric when I could solve two questions related to logical reasoning pretty well. And ultimately I was happy even though I left 3-4 questions related to supply chain management blank.
Between this test, we were called one by one to give presentations on Calender manual we had written. I explained as per my own capacity and managed to answer most of the questions successfully. Never in my entire life, I gave presentation during a job selection process...quite unique experience! After this, I was told that there will be an interview as well. I was thirsty after the presentation. I looked for water in the room and there were water bottles. I opened it and... first time in life I tasted sparkling water...! In no way, sparkling water can quench the thirst like normal water though...
My husband later told me that his office provides sparkling water bottles too...
At last I gave personal interview for 15 minutes telling my own story of successful/ unsuccessful ventures into different domains.!
After mentally, physically and emotionally tiring day, when I came home I had greatest feeling... I experienced something unique irrespective of the outcome! I realized that the world of bottle of sparkling water is not meant for me... 😊

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