My Financial and Human Value of IQ testing

Continuing my tale of woe, especially with Doc pointing to me.
Here's my own true story on IQ testing.

In my placement in 1982, from University, I worked for ICL for 6 months, the British computer company, now part of Fujitsu.
After my placement, I went back to University to complete my degree.  In the UK, many students go on the "Milk Round" which is when the big corporates come to the Universities looking to attract graduates, and at the same time, make them perform like monkeys in tests and groups. 

If you're a good monkey you get a good job.

I had already done a reasonably good job at ICL, so I'd written to them asking for a job.
They said they'd look into it, but suggested I applied through the official channels, which meant the Milk Round and the initial IQ screening tests.  Do you think I could work out the numeric progressions this time round?  Here's the answer, never before seen (click on photo)....

which is a polite way of saying,
"Piss-Off Thicky, you failed at the IQ screening, even before we make you perform like a monkey at a tea party."
Unfortunately, the results of those who passed (and hence those who failed) were publicly published at the University, and colleagues and friends were enjoying this one, after I'd said my contacts at ICL would look after me.  I didn't even make it to the interview stage.  Too Stupid!

Fortunately, this cat usually lands on his feet, and 1 working day later, the other letter arrived from a completely different part of the company, neither realising each other's communication......

My ICL colleagues, without realising it, had come to the rescue.
And what lessons do we learn from this?
1. The best measure of how someone performs in a job, is to let them do the job.
2. On arriving at ICL and straight into the Graduate Scheme, I struggled for the first few weeks, so maybe the IQ screening was right (no way!)!
3. The two guys that probably struggled the most in those first few weeks, went on to contribute million of dollars to ICL in successful sales careers.

So whenever I see a debate about IQ and testing, I get out my two ICL letters (1 working day apart) and laugh and cry a bit to myself, because but for a twist of fate, and bitter irony, I would have been thrown on the heap.

The ability to rotate a shape, spot numeric progressions, find the word that connects the other 2 words, put words into order of preference, tells us something about the person performing these tasks, but I'm not sure what!!

Comments

[Robin Capper]

Tony, I've long held the veiw that IQ and Physcometric Tests tell you how good the candidate is at IQ and Physcometric Tests - nothing more.