POST-mortem
Jun. 20th, 2002 03:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gridloreSo, how did it go last night?
Surprisingly well.
Kirsten took me down to the test, which was at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds. We made a much needed stop at Wendy's. Food is Good. Also hit 7-11 for a liter Coke (which was a life saver) and a package of mechanical pencils.
We found the site easily enough, after passing through dozens of buildings that didn't exist when I was a driver. Stop changing things! I got in line just as they stated letting people in. This was a big crowd! The people from the PCC had everything well under control, with a person playing traffic cop at the front calling for people with last names beginning with different letters to fill out the lines at the different reg tables.
I shouldn't have worried about getting good seats, since they were seating people according their plans. They were also passing out pencils. Much better than last time so far. A quick run to the latrine (Hey, this thing lasts over three hours!) And away we went!
The test was being run by a really funny guy named John, from the Foster City Police Department. He had an easy style and a good sense of humor. When I said this was a big test, I wasn't kidding. Over 700 invitations had been sent out. 370-odd people had showed up. After the usual government required instructions, we began.
The POST is actually 11 different tests that cover everything from our reading comprehension to ability to take notes and follow instructions and work under stress. The first seven tests are in one book. 8 -11 are separate because they require note-taking.
The test is hard, but mostly common sense. Test 10 (code group recognition) and 11 (multitasking) are the real hard ones. Test ten gives you a series of code groups like:
2r7 R72 728 r27 7R2
There are three columns or twenty. The test is given off a tape (as are most portions.) The voice reads off, say "R72" You would mark the appropriate line like this:
2r7R72 728 r27 7R2
The trick is, the voice gets faster, and the code groups get longer, until it becomes impossible to keep up or even breathe! After the test ends, there is a bursts of released air and laughter. You can't get them all. The trick is to get as many as you can right.
Test 11 consists of comparing names, addresses and license plate numbers on a hot sheet to ones listed in the question area. you mark the "A" column if it is an exact match, "B" if it isn't. While this is going on, you are hearing five different units report their status, which you have to record. Some of the reports come in groups of three or four, and it can get distracting. That's part one. Part two is answering questions about the status reports. One idiot near me ignored the instructions and didn't bother to take the status info. "Up shit creek" is the phrase we're looking for. After the test I spoke with the director of SSF's communications center, and she remembered my application. She told me to call her about arranging a time to come in and observe in the communications center. This is looking better. I get the results of the test in about two weeks.
Kiri came and picked me up, went home and didn't get to sleep until 0300 for some reason. Bleah.
Today, I slept late, and then went to the Haight-Ashbury to do some shopping. Picked up Sword & Fist for D&D3E (all about fighters and monks), Chez Geek: Block Party and the latest Dragon. Comic shop yielded the latest Nodwick and the Dork Tower Guide to Gamers.
Nice diversions before diving back into writing.
Surprisingly well.
Kirsten took me down to the test, which was at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds. We made a much needed stop at Wendy's. Food is Good. Also hit 7-11 for a liter Coke (which was a life saver) and a package of mechanical pencils.
We found the site easily enough, after passing through dozens of buildings that didn't exist when I was a driver. Stop changing things! I got in line just as they stated letting people in. This was a big crowd! The people from the PCC had everything well under control, with a person playing traffic cop at the front calling for people with last names beginning with different letters to fill out the lines at the different reg tables.
I shouldn't have worried about getting good seats, since they were seating people according their plans. They were also passing out pencils. Much better than last time so far. A quick run to the latrine (Hey, this thing lasts over three hours!) And away we went!
The test was being run by a really funny guy named John, from the Foster City Police Department. He had an easy style and a good sense of humor. When I said this was a big test, I wasn't kidding. Over 700 invitations had been sent out. 370-odd people had showed up. After the usual government required instructions, we began.
The POST is actually 11 different tests that cover everything from our reading comprehension to ability to take notes and follow instructions and work under stress. The first seven tests are in one book. 8 -11 are separate because they require note-taking.
The test is hard, but mostly common sense. Test 10 (code group recognition) and 11 (multitasking) are the real hard ones. Test ten gives you a series of code groups like:
2r7 R72 728 r27 7R2
There are three columns or twenty. The test is given off a tape (as are most portions.) The voice reads off, say "R72" You would mark the appropriate line like this:
2r7
The trick is, the voice gets faster, and the code groups get longer, until it becomes impossible to keep up or even breathe! After the test ends, there is a bursts of released air and laughter. You can't get them all. The trick is to get as many as you can right.
Test 11 consists of comparing names, addresses and license plate numbers on a hot sheet to ones listed in the question area. you mark the "A" column if it is an exact match, "B" if it isn't. While this is going on, you are hearing five different units report their status, which you have to record. Some of the reports come in groups of three or four, and it can get distracting. That's part one. Part two is answering questions about the status reports. One idiot near me ignored the instructions and didn't bother to take the status info. "Up shit creek" is the phrase we're looking for. After the test I spoke with the director of SSF's communications center, and she remembered my application. She told me to call her about arranging a time to come in and observe in the communications center. This is looking better. I get the results of the test in about two weeks.
Kiri came and picked me up, went home and didn't get to sleep until 0300 for some reason. Bleah.
Today, I slept late, and then went to the Haight-Ashbury to do some shopping. Picked up Sword & Fist for D&D3E (all about fighters and monks), Chez Geek: Block Party and the latest Dragon. Comic shop yielded the latest Nodwick and the Dork Tower Guide to Gamers.
Nice diversions before diving back into writing.
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no subject
no subject
Date: 20 Jun 2002 17:25 (UTC)no subject
Date: 20 Jun 2002 22:02 (UTC)Sounds wicked both as a testing environment and a job.
no subject
Date: 20 Jun 2002 22:45 (UTC)Do let us know the results! Hope you did well!
no subject
Date: 21 Jun 2002 09:23 (UTC)I'm hoping for a jpb as a Communications Dispatcher (aka "911 operator") These are all government jobs, pay well, and have great bennies.