Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations cowski on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Mechanical Aptitude Test
- Thread starter farmer2
- Start date
MiketheEngineer
Structural
The Army will be happy to give you one...
Check w/ a local community college or psychologist
Check w/ a local community college or psychologist
CorBlimeyLimey
Mechanical
farmer2,
That's difficult to answer without knowing wht the "equipment" is. (Agricultural, scientific, heavy industrial, musical, ???)
... but what could be better than actual problems with the equipment in question.
![[cheers]](/data/assets/smilies/cheers.gif "[cheers] [cheers]")
That's difficult to answer without knowing wht the "equipment" is. (Agricultural, scientific, heavy industrial, musical, ???)
... but what could be better than actual problems with the equipment in question.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks to all for replies.
CoreBlimeyLimey,
The equipment is for a tree service, which has truck mounted man lifts, saws, tools, etc. So we are talking mechanical, hydraulic and I assume light electric troubleshooting. The applicant hired would also work in the field supervising job foremen.
CoreBlimeyLimey,
The equipment is for a tree service, which has truck mounted man lifts, saws, tools, etc. So we are talking mechanical, hydraulic and I assume light electric troubleshooting. The applicant hired would also work in the field supervising job foremen.
Similar to Tick, keep it simple.
Are there any major problems you face everyday that you could water down, for the purpose of an interview?
Or have a failure from the past that you could have the person look over and see how quickly they know the failure mod? (I had this in one interview, and thought it was really good and practical)
I would advise against, emailing them a bunch of problems and asking them to complete them on a specific time, with out using resources –or something like this. The results prove to be inconclusive and there is a high potential to rule out the honist person who may not know it off the top of his head but can learn it really fast.
Are there any major problems you face everyday that you could water down, for the purpose of an interview?
Or have a failure from the past that you could have the person look over and see how quickly they know the failure mod? (I had this in one interview, and thought it was really good and practical)
I would advise against, emailing them a bunch of problems and asking them to complete them on a specific time, with out using resources –or something like this. The results prove to be inconclusive and there is a high potential to rule out the honist person who may not know it off the top of his head but can learn it really fast.
BillBirch
Mechanical
- Nov 21, 2001
- 210
I remember in the early eighties on oil and gas and petrochemical projects, our chief draftsman, when interviewing casuals to churn out manual isometrics, would show the candidates an iso and get them to "construct" it with an old straightened coat hanger. It worked very well!
This was inspiring some discussion a few months ago.
Software For Metalworking
Software For Metalworking
SomptingGuy
Automotive
My old boss used to use a big cutaway diagram of an Iron Duke engine and would ask potentials to describe it. The range of replies was startling:
- I think it's some kind of engine.
- Well whoever drew that balancer shaft got the gear teeth wrong - they don't mesh.
- Steve
- I think it's some kind of engine.
- Well whoever drew that balancer shaft got the gear teeth wrong - they don't mesh.
- Steve
MiketheEngineer
Structural
If they pass the drug test - you are half way there!!
SomptingGuy
Automotive
I only managed 90% on that h
test. I think some of the electric circuit nomenclature tests were a bit unfair on a humble mecheng guy. Still, at least I passed.
- Steve
test. I think some of the electric circuit nomenclature tests were a bit unfair on a humble mecheng guy. Still, at least I passed.
- Steve
I like to start very simple, just the use of the proper tool for the job.
I saw this approach being used by an international firm in hiring new technicians. We had a female accounting clerk who applied for a job with this company for a job as a technician. She and I had built several Heathkits and while doing so I had taught her the proper use of each tool.
In her aptitude test she was asked to replace a small motor in a piece of equipment. On the table were several tools including a small screwdriver. To get to the motor she was required to take off a cover held by several large screws. She looked at the screws and the available screw driver and without hesitation see opened the tool kit and retrieved the proper screw driver for the subject screw. At this point the tester told her she had the job.
After this incident I convinced our maintenance superintendent that this would be a good approach for future mechanics trainees instead of the current on the job evaluations. Our resultant program including several different tool scenarios, the screw driver, box end wrench vs the open end or adjustable wrench on a rounded nut, etc.
The second stage testing after there was a short exposure to some safety rules, like anything over 12 volts get an electrician, when in doubt get the manual, etc.
The third stage was for people who professed some proficiency in certain areas. For the ones who said hydraulics, there was a valve body where one was ask to change out a cartridge valve. The valve body was extremely dirty. Part of the test was to see if the first step was to clean the area where the valve was to changed.
None of the initial testing was to see if they could do a specific task rather if they had the basic understanding along with the proper approach to a job like the use of tools, safety, instructions, etc.
Anecdotal
The person mentioned above went rapidly up through the ranks and retired from upper management.
I saw this approach being used by an international firm in hiring new technicians. We had a female accounting clerk who applied for a job with this company for a job as a technician. She and I had built several Heathkits and while doing so I had taught her the proper use of each tool.
In her aptitude test she was asked to replace a small motor in a piece of equipment. On the table were several tools including a small screwdriver. To get to the motor she was required to take off a cover held by several large screws. She looked at the screws and the available screw driver and without hesitation see opened the tool kit and retrieved the proper screw driver for the subject screw. At this point the tester told her she had the job.
After this incident I convinced our maintenance superintendent that this would be a good approach for future mechanics trainees instead of the current on the job evaluations. Our resultant program including several different tool scenarios, the screw driver, box end wrench vs the open end or adjustable wrench on a rounded nut, etc.
The second stage testing after there was a short exposure to some safety rules, like anything over 12 volts get an electrician, when in doubt get the manual, etc.
The third stage was for people who professed some proficiency in certain areas. For the ones who said hydraulics, there was a valve body where one was ask to change out a cartridge valve. The valve body was extremely dirty. Part of the test was to see if the first step was to clean the area where the valve was to changed.
None of the initial testing was to see if they could do a specific task rather if they had the basic understanding along with the proper approach to a job like the use of tools, safety, instructions, etc.
Anecdotal
The person mentioned above went rapidly up through the ranks and retired from upper management.
- Thread starter
- #16
GregLocock
Automotive
92% in 15 minutes.
About half the questions had an error of some sort in them.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG
lease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
About half the questions had an error of some sort in them.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG
lease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
MikeHalloran
Mechanical
You could ask someone to assemble the core of a bent-axis hydraulic piston pump. Typically ~13 small pistons flexibly joined to a swashplate, that all have to be inserted in _very_ tight fitting bores in a cylinder body, while at the same time you have to align and assemble a central universal joint, too.
It requires both dexterity and patience... if that's what you seek.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
It requires both dexterity and patience... if that's what you seek.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question