No, C-Zom's right. No sane human is going to be able to truthfully answer "strongly (dis)agree" over "(dis)agree" to all or even most of these questions. It weeds out the honest people and brings in the arseholes, douchebags, and sociopaths (and the obnoxiously friendly waiters and waitresses at restaurants that nobody likes but some restaurants encourage for some reason that I can't fathom).
No, it weeds out people who don't understand their potential employer. It weeds out those who are not customer-centric. It weeds out those who are too arrogant to beat a simple exercise, in which the potential emplyer is actually communicating what they want, and letting you do the test over and over until you get it right. Once you get it right, you understand what they want, and if at that point you decide to continue with your application, and it really doesn't fit your particular moral dogma, then you are either dishonest or desperate. If you reflect on what they want and it is OK with you, then you are truly an honest fit for their company.
You are trying to illustrate to me rather conceptually the life and rationalizing ideas behind the desk of a CEO and business. Specifically, the reason they dehumanize the application process in order to secure the perfect robotic worker. Obviously anyone with a brain understands that, it is not my point, and you are sadly missing mine again. It is severely obvious to anyone struggling in the job economy like myself or aithne or millions of others that brutal robotic efficiency, connections, good luck AND charisma are nescessary to secure what were considered "starter jobs" and "joke jobs" ten years ago. I was told I needed 2 connections and a years work experience to work at Mcdonalds, too.
You seem to be missing the point. I am not saying "Why do the corps do this?" I am saying that is is complete and utter oxshit, with 1984 directly around the corner.
It is not concept, it is reality - businesses are very complex to run, and a weak link at the front end can cause disaster for a company's profits. If you understand your prey, you can strategize, if you can strategize, you can move on to appropriate tactics.
They are not dehumanizing the process, they are offering a way to communicate to you what they want. A way for you to prove that you are intelligent enough to beat the system, because beating a system means mastering it, and this one is pretty simple... If you can master this simple application process, maybe you can master other systems they use to run their business. It is a game, and nothing more. But if you think you are beat, then you are beat.
No company wants robotic workers, today they want people who can master robots. A system like this is just a robot - it is your Kobayashi Maru.
BTW McDonald's has had that rule in place for ever. I worked at Wendy's for a year because I got turned down by McD's, but I hadn't learned the game by then, so let me share some useful tips for getting a job at any starter location:
- Find out which shifts they have the hardest time filling.
- Show up to apply during those shifts (most likely early morning).
- Ask if you can speak to the manager for a few minutes.
- Be prepared to wait until the shift or rush period is over - don't leave, this is a demonstration of commitment.
- If they say you have no experience, offer to work for free for a week (they will never take you up on this for insurance reasons, but at least it is a valid response to an objection, and the conversation doesn't stop there).
- Offer to work on call, but state your objective to build your hours up to X per week. This way you demonstrate humility, an eagerness to earn the hours, and goals.
- Have a good, but simple answer to the question "why do you want to work here?" The 'honest' answer of course is "because I need a job", but a more practical one, which is just as truthful, is "to learn and prove myself, to be a member of a well-run team". There is 'Truth' and 'truth'.
C-Zom, you are frustrated, and I understand this, but these are obstacles that you can break through or better yet move around. Just as you would in any strategy game or FPS.
BTW 1984 already passed...