Step 1: Take Test

[livingdeb]

Today I took a programmer aptitude test. I was very careful not to make the mistake of going too slowly like I did on part of the ACT so long ago, and my plan mostly worked. The first section had 40 questions to answer in 10 minutes, for example. I was very good at just skipping things and then going back. I didn't get a perfect score, however (hey, I may as well try for that), which I know because I left two answers blank. The score will be available between next Monday and Wednesday, after which I am allowed to apply and call for an interview.

The dumbest thing I did was not realize I was supposed to bring my ID. Fortunately I had it in my pocket from habit because I sometimes ride the city bus which accepts a swipe of it in lieu of payment.

The smartest thing I did was to bring note-taking materials because the test administrator, who is also the interviewer, and who also makes the placements, told us all kinds of things about the program (which sounds awesome) and about what they are looking for, the latter of which could come in handy during the interview.

(Must think of true answers to questions for which the main answer in my head is the wrong answer to give at interviews. For example, "because if I'm going to be bored and frustrated at work anyway, I may as well be making more money" is not a good thing to blurt out.)

Getting all psyched up for this brain-check test resulted in my feeling very observant and even calculating, things I am not normally feeling unless I'm around an exceptionally motivating (brilliant, calculating) friend. That's fun.

Journal entry of the day - Indigo Rose's Change Is Bad where you can learn one good reason why people sometimes look like idiots. "I tried to gently suggest to her that what was easy for her, because she did it every day, was mysterious and difficult to everyone else. They were not TRYING to annoy her by not following directions, they simply had no idea what the directions meant! The directions were written by someone who KNEW what they meant, and checked by someone who KNEW what they meant."

Journal photo entry of the day - See Cake Wreck's "The Name's Wreck. Cake Wreck." If you think you don't like wedding cakes, you might like this one. (On the other hand if you think you do like wedding cakes, you might not like this one.) "Check out the details, folks: from the crashed plane and face-down henchman (my favorite) to the bad guy scaling the back and the bullet holes peppering the second tier, this is one detailed Bond diarama."

Comments

[llcoolvad.livejournal.com]

I spent an hour or so the other day at work being obsessed with Cake Wrecks. There were so many to love! Made me want cake really badly, though -- which is not to say I wanted really bad cake...