Web Developers Practical Test???

otemu · 2 Apr 2011 at 21:30

Recently I have started looking for a new Web Developer position, some of the companies I have applied for have requested that a technical test be complete within two hours, this normally consists of a messy psd that needs to be coded to web standards, SEO and be cross browser compatible, the psd normally consists of a major site home page such as http://www.itv.com/

Within the multi-layered PSD, Pictures need to be cut, cropped, text extracted and then when the code is complete tested on various browsers I assume it’s impossible to complete within the 2 hours.

I just wondered how can you work out what is an acceptable amount (using itv home page as an example http://www.itv.com/)?
Will you actually be penalised if you don't finish it and other potential candidates have?
Anyone have any ideal?

Cheers for the help

otemu · 3 Apr 2011 at 20:41

Thanks for all the advice, completed top navigation and content sliders pixel perfect, the rest although blocked out is unstyled. Hopefully its enough.......

Included a document explaining the methods I used to create the site within the time limit, which was basically the following:

• CSS Tripoli Reset Used
• Folder Structure Created
• Images spliced, cropped and cut
• PSD to PDF to extract all text
• Blocked out large chunks of HTML
• Photoshop Ruler tool used for various measurements and positions
• Added CSS
• Validated XHTML
• Tested on various browsers

Thanks for all the advice

otemu · 4 Apr 2011 at 14:38

Just in case anyone is interested, I succesfully passed the test and have been granted a interview

Cheers once more for all the advice

otemu · 4 Apr 2011 at 23:30

pieplough said:
Well done mate, hope your interview goes well. If I had to code that in 2 hours I think I would just panic But then I'm not very experienced.

Is this standard with most firms? Or does it vary place to place? Pretty interested as I will be applying for jobs soon.

The tests vary depending on the companies, sometimes it a serious of like 30 questions exam type (at the company), or 2 or 3 parts (at the company) asking you to build a page and spot the errors, some do give you full sites to build without any time limit(from home) which is extremely tedious and others give you a set amount of time to build it(from home).