The Job Test

"They handed me a pen and paper," Tom said. At that point we both broke out in almost hysterical guffaws right in the middle of  Starbucks.

Wanting to make sure I heard this correctly, I repeated, " They handed you a pen and paper and expected you to use them for the writing test."

For the past seventeen years, Tom has been  working as a freelance writer  while his wife moved around the country pursuing the corporate ladder. Now  safely ensconced back in Minnesota, Tom's been thinking it might be nice to have a permanent job.

The problem is before you get a permanent job you have to go on job interviews.

Tom was particularly interested in the job to become a speechwriter for the high tech company.

The  company makes its money selling and servicing PCs. After sending in his application, Tom hears nothing for five weeks.

Tom thinks they've hired someone else but really doesn't know because he never heard a peep.

Then there is a request for writing samples. Tom says, " No problem" and sends them via email.

A week later, he goes in for his first interview. It goes really well and they immediately schedule a second interview which they say  will include a writing test.

" I guess they wanted to make sure I didn't have gnomes back in my office writing this stuff."

A few days later, Tom is escorted into a conference room and given a piece of paper that describes the assignment. He is told he will have 30 minutes to write the sample speech.

He reads it, he understands it,and then wonders when they are going to take him to the computer. He is, after-all in a computer-less conference room.

That's not what they intended. Instead, they hand him a tablet and pen and say, we'll be back in 30 minutes.'

That's right. They high tech company that has made its millions in the PC market hands a job applicant a pen and paper and says, "start writing."

What were they thinking? You can only guess. Maybe they assume writers prefer paper and pen? Maybe its like a drug test and the company wants to make sure that he is the actual writer of the material .

Since that is hard to do via a computer ( if he were really crafty he could send an email to his alter-ego who could send back the complete assignment prior to the deadline)

Maybe the computer wants to capture his handwriting so they can go to a handwriting expert for a personality analysis.

Maybe it's really a wonder moment --one of those rare opportunities when, as a job applicant, you get to stare directly into the belly of the beast they call their corporate culture.

NOTE: Tom's name has been changed. He's still on the job hunt.