Web Developers Practical Test???

otemu

otemu

otemu

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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
 
If they gave you 2 hours to do that, I would think that they merely want to see how you tackle the problem and the cleanliness of your css, html etc.

2 hours isn't enough time for that. Last time I went in for an interview like that I had about 6 hours to do it with a really complex psd. As with a lot of designers he had made an absolute mess of the psd. Afterwards they said that they were just looking to see how I prioritised and cut it up.

Their criticism was that I didn't tell their designer to sort some things outs that I should have so don't be afraid to talk to the designer if there are any issues. It felt a little rude to be telling a guy whos job it is to design websites that he had made a hash of some things on the first day I met him so I just assumed I was being a muppet.
 
Would probably take about 2 hours just to get the margins accurate :P Then check it in IE 6 to find it looks like mince meat.

How long do you think it'd take to do itv.com pixel perfect?
 
I've been in this situation before, except with an ecommerce template build instead, rather than just a static web page.

I got a lot of the template work done, but was quizzed why I'd not got stuck into the more advanced PHP aspects of the template. Obviously there wasn't enough time, but I learnt that they were more interested in seeing the more complicated bits even though if I had focussed on that it would have looked like I'd done a lot less work in the given time.

Summary: Do the most technically demanding bits first to show of your skills, then worry about the rest.
 
I'd be very very surprised if any developer could get that sliced, coded into html and cross browser compliant and all working within 2 hours - am pretty sure it's one of those tests that is intended to see how you appoach a large problem and ty
o see if you get stressed by it. I know personally, I couldn't get a site like that fully complete within 2 hours - not a chance (I'd personally need double that to get everything perfect) :)

However, personally within the 2 hours I'm pretty certain they expect a certain level of completeness and will want to see how you approach the problem.

Also, make sure you note the details - as I'd imagine this IS something they'll be looking out for. E.g. the fixed background image and semi transparent top grey area (on itv.com they set background using rgba with 0.5 tranparency)

So, if it was me, I'd aim at being organised mainly and not try to get everything done at once. I start by doing all the usual stuff like creating logical folders, adding in my css reset, adding in my base styles for the whole site etc. and then move onto getting the basic site in wire frame version (E.g. give div's a baground or border class to show they are placeholders).

Then I'd move onto the two content scrollers - have a look at http://www.gmarwaha.com/jquery/jcarousellite/ - it's a jquery based content scroller, very very small (2KB!) and extrememly flexible - as in easy to get something like what they have on itv.com pretty painless. However, as an absolute minimum, I'd get the base styles for each slider done - E.g. style a single slide and simply reference the above slider - personally, wouldn't aim at getting it fully working as you have bugger all time.

Then move onto adding in and styling all the content - this won't take too long as everything is basically a list on the homepage. You should also page particular attention to use of semantics, so make sure you give cascade you section heading accordingly.

It's quite a good test really as when you look into it it's initially it's quite over whelming.

Good luck :)
 
Im not convinced by this method of testing to be honest. Its like testing a formula one driver by putting them in a fiesta and saying show us what you got. If a company wants to see how you do with completely unrealistic time constraints then that would set alarm bells ringing.

To knock that up perfectly cross browser in 2 hours would be a tall order by the way. Even with a perfectly organised psd that would be amazing if you could do that in 2 hours. Its a fairly simple design but just getting all the images out, generic styles that could be re-used etc.
 
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 :)
 
Just in case anyone is interested, I succesfully passed the test and have been granted a interview :)

Cheers once more for all the advice
 
I would say the final outcome wouldnt be the consideration of the interview unless its non IT personnel doing the hiring.

An IT developer will be looking at how you work on it, your methodologies and ability to do the task.
A random HR person will look to see who's is the coolest..
 
Well done mate, hope your interview goes well. If I had to code that in 2 hours I think I would just panic :p 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.
 
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 :p 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.
Click to expand...

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).
 
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