Job Selection Process
Discussion
This is completely made up, and bears no resemblance to reality, thus if there are any issues with reality please overlook them.
You’re seeking to employ someone and get four respondents to the resulting recruitment campaign, you’re unsure as to which to employ so you devise a test, you give each of them an oldish 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa for the weekend and tell them you want red brake calipers on the front by Monday. This is the only instruction; there is no mention of budget or method.
Monday morning brings four Corsas as below.
Potential Employee 1:
Has spent the Friday wondering what to do, he has no previous experience of cars so spends his time researching using his friends and internet forums to find out what to do. He decides despite no prior experience that painting is the cheapest and most sensible option; he reads up on removing the wheels and calipers and does his best to clean and paint them with Halfords finest red. All in all he has not done a bad job although it’s obvious it’s been painted at the side of the road.
Potential Employee 2:
Has spent the Friday wondering what to do, again he has no experience of cars, he decided that the best course of action is to employ someone who has. He took the car to someone who could and it’s had its calipers blasted and painted red to a professional standard.
Potential Employee 3:
Has spent Friday wondering what to do, again he has no experience of cars and after some searching around for red calipers discovered that Brembo do red ones and as a result has obtained and had fitted a Brembo brake conversion including red calipers.
Potential Employee 4:
Has spent Friday working out what to do, not knowing about cars after some research he has come to the conclusion that it is of no benefit to the function or performance of the car, and indeed it’s not particularly tasteful on an old Corsa. He’s arrived with the car the same as it was when he took it away, but has come prepared with documents to back up his decision to take no action.
Which would you employ?
You’re seeking to employ someone and get four respondents to the resulting recruitment campaign, you’re unsure as to which to employ so you devise a test, you give each of them an oldish 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa for the weekend and tell them you want red brake calipers on the front by Monday. This is the only instruction; there is no mention of budget or method.
Monday morning brings four Corsas as below.
Potential Employee 1:
Has spent the Friday wondering what to do, he has no previous experience of cars so spends his time researching using his friends and internet forums to find out what to do. He decides despite no prior experience that painting is the cheapest and most sensible option; he reads up on removing the wheels and calipers and does his best to clean and paint them with Halfords finest red. All in all he has not done a bad job although it’s obvious it’s been painted at the side of the road.
Potential Employee 2:
Has spent the Friday wondering what to do, again he has no experience of cars, he decided that the best course of action is to employ someone who has. He took the car to someone who could and it’s had its calipers blasted and painted red to a professional standard.
Potential Employee 3:
Has spent Friday wondering what to do, again he has no experience of cars and after some searching around for red calipers discovered that Brembo do red ones and as a result has obtained and had fitted a Brembo brake conversion including red calipers.
Potential Employee 4:
Has spent Friday working out what to do, not knowing about cars after some research he has come to the conclusion that it is of no benefit to the function or performance of the car, and indeed it’s not particularly tasteful on an old Corsa. He’s arrived with the car the same as it was when he took it away, but has come prepared with documents to back up his decision to take no action.
Which would you employ?
Employee 4 - Because he has taste...however
Actually, i may change that to employee 2 because he was given a simplish task and even though his boss my have no taste he is still his potential boss. His method gets a professional finish without spending a fortune assuming the Corsa isn't some group N special.
....actually... i don't know anymore.....
Actually, i may change that to employee 2 because he was given a simplish task and even though his boss my have no taste he is still his potential boss. His method gets a professional finish without spending a fortune assuming the Corsa isn't some group N special.
....actually... i don't know anymore.....
Edited by Lord 
on Tuesday 22 October 10:06
on Tuesday 22 October 10:06None of them.
The one who asks why and say's there is insufficient data to select the correct course of action.
1-3 fail because they did work without understanding the required outcome.
4 fails because he didn't do anything but waited 3 days before telling you he didn't have enough info and therefore missed the deadline.
It all depends on the job though.
The one who asks why and say's there is insufficient data to select the correct course of action.
1-3 fail because they did work without understanding the required outcome.
4 fails because he didn't do anything but waited 3 days before telling you he didn't have enough info and therefore missed the deadline.
It all depends on the job though.
I've had this thing sat on my hard disk for so long that I can no longer remember where it came from.
However, I've always said I'd give the job to number 4 because.
1 - he didn't waste any time.
2 - he didn't waste any money.
3 - he left the car in a fit state to be sold afterwards (or kept for the next exercise!). The other 3 now look as if they've been owned and thrashed by boy racers.
However, I've always said I'd give the job to number 4 because.
1 - he didn't waste any time.
2 - he didn't waste any money.
3 - he left the car in a fit state to be sold afterwards (or kept for the next exercise!). The other 3 now look as if they've been owned and thrashed by boy racers.
There really isn't any difference between 1-3. They all got the job done in different ways... but in reality they should all have came back to you and asked how you wanted it done rather than just assuming. They all just made assumptions of what was most important (quality, cost, etc).
Number 4 should have came back to you quicker on reasons why not to do it - if you still wanted it done anyway, finding out on Monday morning he hadn't actually done it, was now too late.
So none of the 4 really done a good job did they?
Number 4 should have came back to you quicker on reasons why not to do it - if you still wanted it done anyway, finding out on Monday morning he hadn't actually done it, was now too late.
So none of the 4 really done a good job did they?
Evangelion said:
I've had this thing sat on my hard disk for so long that I can no longer remember where it came from.
However, I've always said I'd give the job to number 4 because.
1 - he didn't waste any time.
2 - he didn't waste any money.
3 - he left the car in a fit state to be sold afterwards (or kept for the next exercise!). The other 3 now look as if they've been owned and thrashed by boy racers.
But failed to follow basic instruction.However, I've always said I'd give the job to number 4 because.
1 - he didn't waste any time.
2 - he didn't waste any money.
3 - he left the car in a fit state to be sold afterwards (or kept for the next exercise!). The other 3 now look as if they've been owned and thrashed by boy racers.
If I ask for a coffee, I don't explain to be told about the basic health benefits of not drinking coffee.
sc0tt said:
But failed to follow basic instruction.
If I ask for a coffee, I don't explain to be told about the basic health benefits of not drinking coffee.
Agreed. 1 did it at the lowest cost, which was a reasonable assumption in the absence of a clear budget, and left options to upgrade to a high spec if needed.If I ask for a coffee, I don't explain to be told about the basic health benefits of not drinking coffee.
KaraK said:
No. 2 - he got the job done to the highest standards possible within the time and budget constraints he was given.
^ #2 here also for the same reasons outlined above.The candidate understood he wasn't the man for the job but found resource to ensure that it was completed as required, within the limitations and for the deadline. I'd also like to think he released the brakes were a safety critical component and didn't want to do something that might cause a problem and as such found somebody suitably experienced to complete the task to the highest possible standard.
It depends on what you are employing the person to be/do.
At 16 I joined the Royal Navy. Regardless of how I did it, any answer that didn't end up with red brakes would be wrong.....very wrong. I was employed to follow instructions, but use initiative if you want to.
I'm now an IT Business Analyst, and the correct answer is 4. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't work out if something was actually needed. I'm employed to listen to what people think they want, then work out if its really what they should have.
At 16 I joined the Royal Navy. Regardless of how I did it, any answer that didn't end up with red brakes would be wrong.....very wrong. I was employed to follow instructions, but use initiative if you want to.
I'm now an IT Business Analyst, and the correct answer is 4. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't work out if something was actually needed. I'm employed to listen to what people think they want, then work out if its really what they should have.
Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 22 October 13:14
Good question.
For me it would be candidate 2. He achieved the best results while remaining within your vague brief. No mention was given to budget so he paid more for a professional job.
Candidate 1 doesn't work to a high enough standard, and as there were no budgetary constraints, should have had the job carried out properly, by a professional.
Candidate 3 strayed too far from the brief. You didn't ask for better brakes, you asked for red brakes. To stay with the Corsa analogy, your car is now 'modified', and hence probably uninsured. He has now created more work for you sorting out the paperwork.
Candidate 4 thought better to outguess you. For me he was the first to go as, sometimes the reason for being tasked with something is not immediately apparent, and to think you know better smacks of arrogance. Again, to stick with the Corsa analogy, perhaps the client had specifically requested red brakes, and you were not able to deliver on Monday morning? He/she did not know this. As a leader you do not always have time to explain the whys of a task, but expect it to be carried out as asked regardless.
Anyway, just my 2p.
For me it would be candidate 2. He achieved the best results while remaining within your vague brief. No mention was given to budget so he paid more for a professional job.
Candidate 1 doesn't work to a high enough standard, and as there were no budgetary constraints, should have had the job carried out properly, by a professional.
Candidate 3 strayed too far from the brief. You didn't ask for better brakes, you asked for red brakes. To stay with the Corsa analogy, your car is now 'modified', and hence probably uninsured. He has now created more work for you sorting out the paperwork.
Candidate 4 thought better to outguess you. For me he was the first to go as, sometimes the reason for being tasked with something is not immediately apparent, and to think you know better smacks of arrogance. Again, to stick with the Corsa analogy, perhaps the client had specifically requested red brakes, and you were not able to deliver on Monday morning? He/she did not know this. As a leader you do not always have time to explain the whys of a task, but expect it to be carried out as asked regardless.
Anyway, just my 2p.
Odie said:
None of them,
Not a one of them asked for further information or a more complete brief even asking for a budget guide would have been a step in the right direction.
I think you are missing the point. It is not a real job. It's a hypothetical scenario to generate a discussion. Not a one of them asked for further information or a more complete brief even asking for a budget guide would have been a step in the right direction.
Besides, not everything has budgetary restraints. I would be shocked if one of my guys asked "how much can we spend to achieve this?"
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