There are five stages to the hiring process with Reynolds & Reynolds. I only made it to stage four within the process, so I did not receive a job offer. The five stages are detailed below, brace yourself for a wall of text. There is a prize for those who make it all the way through.
Stage 1 — Applying again for the position you initially applied for, just on a different website this time.
Stage 2 — Taking an online personality test. The test attempts to measure your math abilities, critical thinking abilities, vocabulary level for what I assume is communication abilities, and the ability to quickly locate differences in an initially similar looking large number. In the sections, you have limited time to complete the questions. I completed all the sections but had to work very quickly to do so.
Stage 3 — Taking an online ethics assessment test that attempts to find your feelings towards drug use, theft, and feelings towards bending rules in the workplace. You are to answer how much you agree or disagree with each statement. There are ten levels of agreeableness you can choose.
From what I recall, they were: Very strongly agree, strongly agree, Agree, slightly agree, neither agree nor disagree, slightly disagree, disagree, strongly disagree, and very strongly disagree. I was advised before not to choose too many middle ground questions as it would skew the results.
Stage 4 — Taking a written aptitude test at Reynolds & Reynolds headquarters that attempts to measure your ability to detect patterns in letter sequences, your ability to detect patterns in a slightly changing visual images over four periods, and your ability to solve algebra word problems without the use of a calculator.
A few days before step four, you are given a small list of sample questions to review. I reviewed all the question multiple times over three days prior to taking the test. I even brushed up on my algebra and found a few strategies to solve problems quicker since they were multiple choice.
On the day of the test, you are given a scrap piece of paper and a computer login; the assessment test is an online test. Each portion of the test has a time limit. Fifteen minutes to do about 50 find the pattern in the letter sequence questions, fifteen minutes to do about 40 find the pattern in the changing shape sequence, and 30 minutes to do about 35 algebra word problems. I was unable to finish the first section in time, I believe I had around 5 unanswered questions. I completed the second sections with 2 minutes extra. The third and final stage I could only complete around 10 of the estimated 35 questions.
If you are still reading this, then here is a tip for the math section of this test. Get proficient enough to be able to translate word problems into a simple algebra equation. For numbers which you find easy to quickly multiply or divide, you can just plug in one the four available answers (since it's multiple choice) until you determine which one gives you numbers that were given to you in the written portion.
Here is an example of what I mean.
John read the first 114 pages of a novel, which was 3 pages less than 1/3 of the novel. How many pages did John read?
The answers are… a) 351 b) 229 c) 328 d) None of the above
This word problem translates into an equation which… 1/3p – 3 = 114, where p is the unknown pages. 1/3 is 0.333 (repeating of course, but three decimal places will suffice), so now simply multiple 0.333 by one of the answers then subtract 3 and see if it adds up to 114.
351 * 0.333 -> 116.883 (round up to get a whole number) -> 117 – 3 -> 114. So, the answer is a) 351. If you are proficient at translating word problems into equations and are proficient at middle school level multiplication, then this may be a faster method for you on some of the questions.
Stage 5 -- Finally, you have an in-person interview with a manager from the department you applied to.
At least I am assuming that is what happens as I did not make it to this step. Three days after my written exam I received an email notifying me that I was no longer in the process. It’s a shame stage four didn’t involve writing a really detailed review of something based from memory. I would have aced it and moved onto stage 5 of the process.
Well, there you have it. That was the interview process.