HR nightmares series: a test first, then an interview

I love when HRs ask me to perform a test without even an interview with a team leader / manager etc. And today’s guest is a recruitment agency. Again, a middleman! Love them!

Photo by Jose Aragones on Unsplash

They found me on LinkedIn and sent me a beautiful job description without any essential information. For example, in this document I did not find any information about a language. Russian or English? For me it is extremely important.

Me: “Okay, I suggest having a call and discussing this position. I am available on … and on…. “
HR: “Before an interview, you should perform a test task”.

And she sent me the description.

Test task for Jane
Do this and this in Russian language.

Me:”This test is not complicated. However, I write technical texts only in English.
What is the main language of the documentation in a company?” (And a question in my mind:” Have you read my resume? Or, you just told me that you did”)

HR:” Do the test in a way you prefer. This company is working with America. But, we have no information about the language. When will you send me your solution?”

Let me rephrase her statement. “Please, do this test. We will send this to the company and get paid. Probably, your test will be rejected because we are not sure about the language at all. We did not ask about the language. And we do not want to disturb the company cause we have a contract with them. And we do everything to make our client comfortable. You spend your time for nothing 99.99999% probability. But it is so fun to do tests, isn’t it?”

No, it is not funny.

I asked her to find out the language of the documentation. Also, I specified that I am not eager to spend my time for nothing.

I have not got any response.

If you are in a similar situation, I do not recommend you to do a test unless you get all the necessary details.