Yesterday, I completed skills testing (in pursuit of a job) that I didn’t think would be as intense as it was, even though the HR representative had told me the test was comprehensive and would take about three hours. Afterward, when I told others I had taken the test, they said things like, “Oh, yeah. I heard it’s really something,” and I was glad I had remained blissfully ignorant for the day between scheduling the test and completing it. That is not to say I didn’t worry about a timed assessment of my skills. I did . . . a lot. But I figured I wouldn’t be any more prepared in a week than in one day, so I opted to “get it over with.” (Otherwise, I would have worried all week instead of just one day.)
In fact, one could spend a week preparing for the kind of assessment it turned out to be. Fortunately, I had years of experience to draw on. And if the circumstances were different—that is, if I had not been taking a timed test that determined whether or not I would advance to the next step toward landing a job—I would say the skills testing was stimulating, and maybe even fun. Dare I go further and say a similar exercise is probably a good idea every few years?
It’s possible to become a bit complacent after providing information services for a while. I tend to rely on many of the same sources time after time; I know my way around them and usually can find information. However, I also stockpile emails and announcements that describe cool new sources in hopes that I will come back later and explore all they have to offer. Unfortunately, I often “never come back” unless I’m compelled by a special situation. The assessment provided an opportunity to think about different resources. Also, it's satisfying to develop a strategy to use specific tools to look for a specific piece of information, and then find it. And it's stimulating, due to the creativity involved.
After writing all this, I may change my tune if I find out I bombed the skills test.
In fact, one could spend a week preparing for the kind of assessment it turned out to be. Fortunately, I had years of experience to draw on. And if the circumstances were different—that is, if I had not been taking a timed test that determined whether or not I would advance to the next step toward landing a job—I would say the skills testing was stimulating, and maybe even fun. Dare I go further and say a similar exercise is probably a good idea every few years?
It’s possible to become a bit complacent after providing information services for a while. I tend to rely on many of the same sources time after time; I know my way around them and usually can find information. However, I also stockpile emails and announcements that describe cool new sources in hopes that I will come back later and explore all they have to offer. Unfortunately, I often “never come back” unless I’m compelled by a special situation. The assessment provided an opportunity to think about different resources. Also, it's satisfying to develop a strategy to use specific tools to look for a specific piece of information, and then find it. And it's stimulating, due to the creativity involved.
After writing all this, I may change my tune if I find out I bombed the skills test.
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