You Lost The Job When You Answered The Online Test

[Retromancer]

How much you want to bet people with ADD-type responses are being selected out?

When looking for workers to staff its call centers, Xerox Corp. used to pay lots of attention to applicants who had done the job before. Then, a computer program told the printer and outsourcing company that experience doesn't matter.

The software said that what does matter in a good call-center worker—one who won't quit before the company recoups its $5,000 investment in training—is personality. Data show that creative types tend to stick around for the necessary six months. Inquisitive people often don't.

(I bet Xerox has a rather narrow definition of creativity...)

Meet the New Boss: Big Data
Companies Trade In Hunch-Based Hiring for Computer Modeling

[Arei]

FYI, that was a fluff piece. Call centers do NOT want creative people, they do not want kind/caring or polite people. They want drones. Drones who will operate like clock-work, held by the promise of the almighty dollar, who have no lives or family or other obligations. If they do, they expect them to put work first at all times. Creative OR inquisitive people need not apply. You'll be out on your a** at the drop of a hat.

[tudorose]

Originally Posted by Arei

FYI, that was a fluff piece. Call centers do NOT want creative people, they do not want kind/caring or polite people. They want drones. Drones who will operate like clock-work, held by the promise of the almighty dollar, who have no lives or family or other obligations. If they do, they expect them to put work first at all times. Creative OR inquisitive people need not apply. You'll be out on your a** at the drop of a hat.

That's true which is why I wonder how I got recruited for one. I worked in the organisation's call centres for 5 years and was never ever a drone. I was caring and creative in finding solutions to the client's problems. Saying that they did try to bash it out of me but it didn't work coz I passed all my calls with flying colours, had a good handling time and kept to the schedule but they still hated me coz there was never anything they could ping me for so they tried to make everyone hate me instead.

Thankfully I'm working in a different area now where I'm appreciated but they find it hard to believe me when I tell them that previous managers would dread the thought of me ending up in their team.

[Retromancer]

So does workplace sabotage fall under "creativite" or "inquisitive"? If I worked for any length of time at a call center I would emphatically be engaging in it...

[tudorose]

Originally Posted by Retromancer

So does workplace sabotage fall under "creativite" or "inquisitive"? If I worked for any length of time at a call center I would emphatically be engaging in it...

I've seen good people fall in pursuit of this. So sad. My best mate ended up leaving after a nervous breakdown. I've found the only way to win is to be completely insubordinate whilst being the best performer in the team. Just gotta not take their threats too personally coz it's not like they can act on them when the stats tell a different story.

The thing is that (in Oz at least) $50K for answering the phone all day is what keeps people there.

Sometimes being a complete pain in the @$$ is the way to get given a chance at working in different areas

[silivrentoliel]

despite what the article says... I think it's still a true fact that those stupid online test things you have to take for some jobs weed out those with ADHD, or those who are incredibly honest. Pre-meds, I could take them without a problem and always pass and get the interview... on meds, I can't seem to pass them no matter how hard I try (or don't try)... it's really frustrating