I failed a programming test
 

The test was for a support job at a healthcare information technology company. It consisted of 20 questions and measured the test taker's ability to learn and apply concepts related to the company's proprietary programming language within 30 minutes. The first 15 questions were easy, but the last 5 were difficult to answer within the allotted time limit.

I did not pass the test.

Now that it's official that my technical skills suck as bad as my interpersonal skills, what should I do?

I guess I could lower my standards and search for a less competitive job at a less competitive company, and then hope that I can somehow remain motivated despite knowing that I have an unremarkable job at an unremarkable company.

I curse the day I concluded I was good enough to study computer science.:icon_evil:

Re: I failed a programming test
 

Maybe you were just applying for a position that was beyond your current skill level. Its not the end of your career that you did not pass that test. Get out there and look for another job that you are qualified for. Learn as much as you can and after about a year maybe you will improve your skill level enough that you can apply for a similar job again, and pass the test this time. Don't give up hope -- not everyone can work at Microsoft either.

Re: I failed a programming test
 

It could be worse.
I would not be put off programming because of one bad job application.
Was this your first job application?
What were the questions?
They might have been looking for a person who exceled at things that you might not be good at. (not in a bad way, they might want someone who is a specialist say in ADO.NET or something).
Interpersonal skills? yeah, you need that to tell your boss that the program is not complete in a very creative way. Eg: I'm just optimizing the program. (which means the error has not been fixed yet).

Re: I failed a programming test
 

I've had a 30 year run as a software engineer and during my first couple years I've failed similar tests. So what? I agree with the Dragon...

Re: I failed a programming test
 

No. Without time constraints, the test was easy. Answering those 20 questions within the allotted 30 minutes was the difficult part. My brain doesn't work that fast. I need time to read the questions and absorb the material I'm being tested on. A high school kid with a decent IQ should be able to pass the test.

I was planning a lateral career move. I wasn't shooting for a job out of my league.

I was tested on a programming language that only the people who work at that company are familiar with. The whole point of the test was to measure my ability to learn and apply concepts related to their proprietary programming language within 30 minutes (how do you concatenate two strings? Which of the following expressions is false? Etc). The questions were programming 101 level questions. Only difference is that in college we were given enough time to finish the tests.

I don't think the company in question is quite up to par with Microsoft.

The first in over a year

Before each question, there were a few paragraphs explaining concepts related to the programming language in question. Then there was a question related to the concepts that had been presented in the previous paragraphs. For example, what does the following loop print? Which of the following expressions is false? What is the result of the following arithmetic operation? Etc. The questions/paragraphs got progressively harder/longer. I did not have time to finish the test. I am a slow thinker and a very slow reader.

I think they were looking for intelligent people. People who can read and learn fast.

Re: I failed a programming test
 

Don't worry, in a weeks time you will look back on this and laugh.

Re: I failed a programming test
 

You know what I'll laugh at? The college education I received. I got As in my computer science classes, had high hopes, graduated from college, searched for a job in the real world, and it turned out that I don't even have what it takes for an entry-level support job at a healtcare IT company. I wasn't applying to be a software engineer at a Fortune 500 company...

Re: I failed a programming test
 

I'm a slow worker/thinker too, but when I have time to do stuff I usually get it right. In the long run, if you can demonstrate that you'll probably be preferred over someone who works fast and gets things wrong (can be a costly mistake). And with a bit more practice, stuff starts going faster just out of habit. If the hiring process is based on speed disproportionately, I'd be just a little wary from the get-go (I mean, speed is something to consider, but not at a large cost of quality). Just find someone to whom you can prove your quality :icon_wink:

Re: I failed a programming test
 

Lighten up dude. You're just out of college and starting your career, so I don't really see how not qualifying for one job out of the many that are out there is such a bad thing.

Did you apply to anywhere else?:)

Re: I failed a programming test
 

Here take a look at this : http://www.jkador.com/letter.htm. :)