0

This was a relatively simple assessment but two of the questions I consider to be erroneous or suspect at best. I reached out to the person that sent me the assessment and voiced my concerns after getting every question but those two correct. Was this the right thing to do or have I served to alienate myself in the eyes of the person hiring?

This was not in an interview. It was an online assessment that presumably other candidates are also taking. There isn't an ability to speak in person when you perhaps disagree on a question.

Should I have contacted potential employer about erroneous assessment questions?

Edit: I just received a response email where the employer indicated they have received similar feedback on these questions. I guess that solves this.

Anshul Goyal
  • 7,763
  • 2
  • 32
  • 45
Justaguy1
  • 27
  • 3

2 Answers2

3

Should I have contacted potential employer about erroneous assessment questions?

IMO, Yes. Once you've confirmed that the question / input / output behavior is incorrect, let the employer know politely.

On one hand, this helps the employer correct the question not just for you, but also for other candidates in future, and any past ones on the border of cutoff. So good Karma.

On other hand, some of the employers may be using such questions knowingly as a means for checking how many candidates figure out that actually the question itself is wrong. This too can prove to be a valuable practical skill in real life.

Anshul Goyal
  • 7,763
  • 2
  • 32
  • 45
  • 1
    +1 for the second case. I had an onsite interview once where the coding question (on paper) had an error in it. I crossed out the incorrect code, corrected it and then provided the answer. The interviewer brought it up in a very positive light and I did get the job. I never did know whether it was by design or just a mistake but it clearly worked in my favor – cdkMoose Sep 11 '19 at 19:57
  • Emphasis on the "polite" context of the feedback. If you do provide feedback, it will be important to separate it from any feelings or feedback about why you did not get the job. Try to present it as independently as possible. If your feedback is done in the context of "I didn't get the job and it's because your evaluation is wrong" your feedback may be dismissed because you came across as bitter vs helpful. – dwizum Sep 12 '19 at 13:01
2

Yes, it's fine to do that as long as you're not being too confrontational about it.

Simply ask that the recruiting team take a second look at the tests to see if they're representative of the role being offered.

You're not likely to run into these people again, so you don't really have anything to lose here, and there's always a possibility you might get called back (but don't count on it).