practical for hiring lab tech 2

[lyndayoung]

I'll be interviewing to hire a new computer lab aide for our middle school. Any ideas/examples out there for a lab practical exam? I want them to demonstrate general computer knowledge, and use of word, power point, internet explorer, etc.

Thanks for any help.

Lynda Young
Weimar Hills Middle School

 

[SF0751]

How about asking the candidates to prepare a presentation, using Powerpoint, about [insert subject here], and to list their bibliography in a Word document. Give them a time limit (30 minutes or so) and just stick them in front of a PC that has the tools you looking to have them use.

I think that the quality of the finished product, plus the amount of direction (or lack thereof) that you need to provide to the candidates will help you make your decision.

Susan
"'I wish life was not so short,' he thought. 'Languages take such a time, and so do all the things one wants to know about.'"
- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lost Road

 

[lyndayoung]

Thanks, Susan -- that gives me a place to start!

Later ...
... Lynda

 

[aquias]

I'm not a big fan of these types of tests. Yes, they will show you how much that person knows, but you run the risk of losing site of their other capabilities (Adaptability, learning, etc...).

But, if this is the methodology you choose (not knocking it down, I just prefer different avenues) I'd pick something pertinent to the position.

IE. Put together some numbers on system upgrades(How many, different OS', time frames and the like) and such, then have the applicant put them in a "nice" format in word/Excel and then create a power point presentation to display their tables and such.

 

[buck2506]

Is the new hire going to help students? If they are you might want to have them explain how to use each program. After that I might have them solve some hardware/software issues.

I know from my experience with computer labs that some assistants are only there to babysit the equipment. The onl troubleshooting they know is "try to save your work and move to different machine

 

[lyndayoung]

The lab aide is there to maintain control (as much as possible with middle school kids), answer questions, maintain the databases, help with projects, that kind of stuff. Person must be adaptable, to say the least. A practical would be to see if they do have the experience they may say they do, or see if they can cope with an unknown situation.

Thanks for all your input!

Later ...
... Lynda

 

[aquias]

A good lab test would be for them to format some documents while getting hit in the head with paper and erasers then!!!!

Erm...not helpful? Sorry!

 

[DrJavaJoe]

Erm...not helpful?

I would disagree, I think the skill to deal with middle school kids is going to be more difficult to interview for than the technical skills. As far as the technical side though, you know what database they'll be using and what type of projects they'll be helping with, so just come up with some difficult day to day scenarios that they may face and see how they would handle them.(while throwing paper and erasers at them;-))




Two strings walk into a bar. The first string says to the bartender: 'Bartender, I'll have a beer. u.5n$x5t?*&4ru!2[sACC~ErJ'. The second string says: 'Pardon my friend, he isn't NULL terminated'.

 

[lionelhill]

If you've got time, don't design only "difficult day to day" scenarios, but start off with something not too hideous (unless of course you're specifically looking for an "instant-solver-under-glaring-management"). Interview nerves could conceal a very able person. Do avoid humiliating the candidate unnecessarily - even if they're unsuitable, they're still a human. The best interview I ever had, the interviewers always stopped just before I would have got lost. I deeply admired them for it.

Once I read that the majority of interviewers make up their mind about the candidate in the first few seconds, and then spend the whole interview trying to justify it (it certainly applies to nearly all the other interviews I've ever attended).
Tests can fall into this trap too: you have to be prepared to see the candidate's skills and abilities for what they are; otherwise you might as well not bother with the test.