Aptitude Tests for Jobs really needed or just for show off ?

[avi]

I really need to understand Indian IT [campus] job recruitment process.

From what I hear by most of my seniors & friends is, after completion of BE / BTech we are put into to any sector 'they' [employer] want. And also, they give us training on subjects like C, C++ etc.

Firstly, one don't gets a choice to work in his favorite domain & secondly, you got to do what they ask you to, not innovating anything. Like your own ideas. If one is not using his brain, then Aptitude Test [Apti] needed at all ?

Also, they gauge one's knowledge by marks & apti clearance. For infy, in my campus, minimum is 60%. Why all this fuss over marks and all ? If they going to train our ass off, why marks in considered in first place ?

If they never gonna use our brain, then why Apti needed at all ?

Why apt, why not juding on technical skills ? Why not concentrate more on our projects, skills ? If it is like so, better put apti for non-technical student like commerce, arts & train them to do the job ?

PS - I am in final year of btech & posted here from what I heard from seniors & friends, I may be totally wrong.

 

[vivek.krishnan]

Well, they need some method to filter out the candidates. So these are used to do it. 1st~60% criteria, 2nd~Apti, 3rd~GD, 4~Technical round, etc...

 

[deep16]

I really need to understand Indian IT [campus] job recruitment process.

From what I hear by most of my seniors & friends is, after completion of BE / BTech we are put into to any sector 'they' [employer] want. And also, they give us training on subjects like C, C++ etc.

Firstly, one don't gets a choice to work in his favorite domain & secondly, you got to do what they ask you to, not innovating anything. Like your own ideas. If one is not using his brain, then Aptitude Test [Apti] needed at all ?

Also, they gauge one's knowledge by marks & apti clearance. For infy, in my campus, minimum is 60%. Why all this fuss over marks and all ? If they going to train our ass off, why marks in considered in first place ?

If they never gonna use our brain, then why Apti needed at all ?

Why apt, why not juding on technical skills ? Why not concentrate more on our projects, skills ? If it is like so, better put apti for non-technical student like commerce, arts & train them to do the job ?

PS - I am in final year of btech & posted here from what I heard from seniors & friends, I may be totally wrong.

Actually what your seniors told are totally right. and for your information infy doesnot even ask anything remotely technical in their freshers interview.. :S . This apti thing doesnot judge merit or skill whatever you want to call , its simply a process for eliminating some candidates and creating a interview shortlist so whether its appropriate for tech or non,tech depts are a totally irrevalent thing to discuss.

In my year all the companies came in diff colleges around india actually eliminated some candidates from apti round and we were little unsure to get an interview call, but this year atleast in w.b all companies selected allmost 95% freshers from there freshers apti round . I HOPE u have heard about TCS hireing 1700+ students from shashtra. :S :huh:

 

[avi]

Well, they need some method to filter out the candidates. So these are used to do it. 1st~60% criteria, 2nd~Apti, 3rd~GD, 4~Technical round, etc...

That's where my main question lies. Why such process is needed ? All are going to get same training to do same sheep jobs anyhow.

instead why not ask something related to their job or area of interest of candidate ?

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Actually what your seniors told are totally right. and for your information infy doesnot even ask anything remotely technical in their freshers interview.. :S .

Yes. In my college, no GD & shit. Just Apti & HR round [for namesake], you are hired.

In my year all the companies came in diff colleges around india actually eliminated some candidates from apti round and we were little unsure to get an interview call, but this year atleast in w.b all companies selected allmost 95% freshers from there freshers apti round . I HOPE u have heard about TCS hireing 1700+ students from shashtra. :S :huh:

Yeah, man. I know... :S

Exactly my thoughts, you nailed it ->

This apti thing doesnot judge merit or skill whatever you want to call , its simply a process for eliminating some candidates and creating a interview shortlist so whether its appropriate for tech or non,tech depts are a totally irrevalent thing to discuss.

 

[vivacious_tg]

OP,

Some of what you said is true but not everything. You need to understand that IT companies don't have anything like R&D but it is not always copy paste either.

Aptitude is one of the way to filter students and at the sametime recruiting average/good of the bunch. Most of the projects involve repetitive work but there is always a possibility that you get something challenging.

Even during interviews for experience IT people more emphasis is given to logical thinking rather than syntax.

 

[vivek.krishnan]

That's where my main question lies. Why such process is needed ? All are going to get same training to do same sheep jobs anyhow.

instead why not ask something related to their job or area of interest of candidate ?

It does not work that way. Then everyone will want the post with the plum posting and fat salary and job security. Instead, now, only the best will be selected. And further culling takes place. And TBH, even sometimes i feel the system is stupid. But it works for over 90% of the ppl. So thats why they stll go with it.

Also, if the job you are doing is not of your choice, then you should leave and join some other company. But other factors like peer pressure, parental pressure, etc. will mostly not allow you to do that.

 

[avi]

Actually I want to know why filtering with Apti ? Why not filter with technical skills ?

IMHO apti defines how a person thinks logically, solves problems etc. If that is never going to be used in Job, then why not use it at first.

Hope I am clear, thanks for replying

Even during interviews for experience IT people more emphasis is given to logical thinking rather than syntax.

This is not happening in my college. May be just mine college ? or scenario is same everywhere ?

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Also, if the job you are doing is not of your choice, then you should leave and join some other company. But other factors like peer pressure, parental pressure, etc. will mostly not allow you to do that.

Screw all, I like to live for myself.

and so u also agree the system is flawed somewhere.

 

[agantuk]

IMHO apti defines how a person thinks logically, solves problems etc. If that is never going to be used in Job, then why not use it at first.

Wrong assumption like vivacious_tg already said. There are lots of pressure scenarios that crop up during the course of this 'mundane' work. During such scenarios, the necessity is to tide over the problem rather than be alarmed about it. A level head and a practical approach to solving a problem is what will be required in that case. Many a times it isn't about the beauty of the technical solution, but the practicality and benefit that ranks higher. This is true of any industry.

 

[vivek.krishnan]

The system is definitely flawed to an extent. But not completely, as sometimes, it works. Also, the TINA factor must be considered in some cases.

 

[vivacious_tg]

OP,

As Agantuk pointed out , I have faced/seen many instances when you need to provide solution to a problem in a limited time say 1- 2 hours where technical skills are obviously help but much needed thing is logical thinking.

I am talking about scenario where thousands of dollars are at stake and there is too much pressure.

Do you think a person with no or below average logical thinking will be able to handle all this ?

Always remember that these so called IT companies don't keep the non performers at all, so if you feel that some one who don't deserve the job got selected then be sure that either he will improve or thrown out of company. If not either case then you will see many such people doing samething for decades without any promotion.

Don't make false impressions about anything just by hearing from someone.

Also want to say one more thing here, the mundane work we are talking here in IT companies, there are many who don't even want to do more than this , innovation is just in dictionaries for them.

 

[Vince]

I think the main point stated by many posters here is the logical thinking factor comes in during critical scenarios, which is very true.

Another way to look at it is, organizations look at getting people to grow ground up, i.e., they hire someone not to be a coder/tester for life, but as someone who can grow within the org, and become a future leader (eg. GM, Jack Welch, yada yada..)

The aptitude test during the initial joining is, to select the "good" of the lot. The "best" of them will rise up using their talents. The rest, as someone famous once put it, get stuck at the highest level of their incompetency

 

[whatsinaname]

Actually I want to know why filtering with Apti ? Why not filter with technical skills ?

IMHO apti defines how a person thinks logically, solves problems etc. If that is never going to be used in Job, then why not use it at first.

Because nowadays, technical skill becomes outdated very quickly. These companies want people who can start from scratch and pick up something new and reach a high efficacy in a short time. We are now competing in a workplace where technical skills and whole sectors could get out dated in a couple of years.

Even inside these larger companies, the employees are expected to join new teams and new verticals and get up and running in a short time.

I guess they feel these "Apti" tests are a good gauge for such candidates.

C and C++ are tools and the training is to show you how the tools work. The actual work is applying those tools for which aptitude is important. These tools can change next month but your analytical abilities/critical thinking won't change.

Also, do I detect a slight note of contempt in your posts for the larger IT companies?

 

[rad0]

I really need to understand Indian IT [campus] job recruitment process.

From what I hear by most of my seniors & friends is, after completion of BE / BTech we are put into to any sector 'they' [employer] want. And also, they give us training on subjects like C, C++ etc.

Not exactly in any sector they want. If you have the guts to be on bench for months and reject projects that you don't like, then surely you can choose your domain and vertical you want. I have seen people doing it.For this to happen you have to damn confident abt the skills you possess. Happens in my company and few others as well. TBH training hardly matters, its just a process to let you know about the industry standard/procedure. If you are from CS then you would have know that by now (Software Engg.)

Firstly, one don't gets a choice to work in his favorite domain & secondly, you got to do what they ask you to, not innovating anything. Like your own ideas. If one is not using his brain, then Aptitude Test [Apti] needed at all ?

Not exactly. You can showcase your ideas, but this totally depends on the project you are in.
if the project requires innovation , u can surely do that.

Also, they gauge one's knowledge by marks & apti clearance. For infy, in my campus, minimum is 60%. Why all this fuss over marks and all ? If they going to train our ass off, why marks in considered in first place ?

Infy's process of recruitment is the worst i have seen. If you have good team work skills( hope you understand this ) written test is just a cake walk. Interviewer's main focus will be on your personality,how good you speak english.
I have seen guys with zero aptitude, good knowledge on english and team work skills clear the written easily.

If they never gonna use our brain, then why Apti needed at all ?

May be elimination process or you can say IQ test

Why apt, why not juding on technical skills ? Why not concentrate more on our projects, skills ? If it is like so, better put apti for non-technical student like commerce, arts & train them to do the job ?

How quickly you can grab the things depends on the IQ test i.e apti,reasoning test.

PS - I am in final year of btech & posted here from what I heard from seniors & friends, I may be totally wrong.

Actually the feedback you have gathered is partly true.It depends on what project they are in and what role they are assigned.

Hope this helps

 

[Sei]

What more can you expect with a population of a billion and close to ~7.5 lakh engineers passing out every year (old statistic, must be much more now)

 

[pradeep200417]

Being in IT industry for 4 years now, i know its not all copy and paste. Like someone said, you may have at times 1-2 hrs to solve a problem and logical thinking comes into play there. It comes into play, when you are coding the business requirements. Analytical skills and logical skills save a lot of time and at times save our A$$. As about technical skills are concerned, people get trained for that in the industry and since IT industry doesnt involve R&D and other such stuffs. Just being technically good wont get you anywhere. You also need people skills too. Aptitude test is for filtering purposes only. Coz if the candidate cannot clear the basic aptitude tests, then there is a possibility that they wont perform well in the Industry.

P.S. You will find a lot of DumbA$$e$ in the IT industry. Believe me, at times you would feel like splattering their brains with a shotgun. They dont need it anyway

 

[smnrock]

hm, i dont know why people are thinking/talking as IT job is copy/paste... Copy/paste is not an easy job. One should know, what to copy and where to paste. And who will do the best copy/paste job is decided based on aptitude/logical skills

 

[rad0]

hm, i dont know why people are thinking/talking as IT job is copy/paste... Copy/paste is not an easy job. One should know, what to copy and where to paste. And who will do the best copy/paste job is decided based on aptitude/logical skills

ha ha , very true

What to copy and where to paste :thumb:

 

[agantuk]

^ To add to that, it isn't a straightforward copy paste either in most cases. You will need to tweak the copied code to make it work.

 

[avi]

Thank you all for replying.

Seems most of the people who told me were wrong or I might have gotten wrong picture.

 

[smnrock]

^ To add to that, it isn't a straightforward copy paste either in most cases. You will need to tweak the copied code to make it work.

100% true, logical/aptitude skills are necessary for the better and faster tweaking!