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.