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RoadTest Forum RoadTest Application "What Am I Supposed to Write?"
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  • Replies 19 replies
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  • scasny
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RoadTest Application "What Am I Supposed to Write?"

rscasny
rscasny over 7 years ago

Part of my job at element14 is to read the RoadTest applications and make recommendations to the supplier for who should be selected as the official roadtesters. I just spent an hour going through applications for a roadtest. A high number of them were one sentence applications, which I do not consider competitive applications. In this sub-group I received a higher number number than usual which stated as his application: "What am I supposed to Write Here?"

 

It's a curious response, from my point of view. If this were a job application or a job interview, and the employer asked why do you want this job, would you answer, "What am I supposed to say?" My guess is probably not. If I were competing with other people for a product, I guess I would want to show them my I was the best and what I would do with it. Perhaps adding in something I did in the past was tangible proof I could do the job would help.

 

If you still do not know what to write in a roadtest application, please take the 15-munutes to listen to my webinar: Webinar Recording: How To Write a Winning RoadTest Application.

 

There was a previous discussion that memebers began on the chances of getting selected: https://www.element14.com/community/message/241787/l/re-commenting-in-roadtest-and-chances-of-getting-selected#241787

 

There is a 100% chance you will not get selected when: (a) you only write 1 sentence in the comments of the application or (b) you ask, What am I supposed to write here?

 

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager

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Top Replies

  • Gough Lui
    Gough Lui over 7 years ago +6
    I suspect the allure of "free" and the occasional social-media advertisement (e.g. on Facebook) that makes the RoadTest seem like "any other competition" might have some applicants think that this is only…
  • rscasny
    rscasny over 7 years ago in reply to gecoz +5
    Fabio, I agree that making the application to strict may cause unpredictable results (i.e., fewer applicants.) But I am not asking for a book. Three paragraphs would do: Para #1-- introduce yourself and…
  • gecoz
    gecoz over 7 years ago +4
    Hi Randall, It is a tough act to balance. On one side, there is the push to make the selection process more strict, so that you get better odds of good reviews published, but on the flip side you need…
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  • gecoz
    gecoz over 7 years ago

    Hi Randall,

     

    It is a tough act to balance. On one side, there is the push to make the selection process more strict, so that you get better odds of good reviews published, but on the flip side you need to give chance to newcomers to prove themselves.

     

    I think that you are doing a great job with the program, which I feel has noticeably improved in the last year. One thing we need to accept and live with is that a 100% success rate on all the Roadtests, as nice as it would be, it is just impossible, as there will always be someone who will play the system to their own benefit.

     

    Making the enrolment process too strict it might result in reducing the number of applicants to the usual group of very reliable active members, which surely would provide excellent reviews, but would make the Roadtest group feel like a closed group, compromising the chance of further grow.

     

    One possible way to try improve the quality of the application could be to add a short mandatory questionnaire as part of the enrolment process: the questionnaire would be based on the information given in the webinar you have published (a bit like the format used for the quiz of Essentials learning modules). Nothing overly complicated, just couple of questions (the ones that cover the points you made at the end of your post).

     

    Probably, to be more effective, the questionnaire should be put as first step of the enrolment. The rest of the process I think works well just as it is now.

     

    Just my 2p.

     

    Fabio

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  • rscasny
    rscasny over 7 years ago in reply to gecoz

    Fabio,

     

    I agree that making the application to strict may cause unpredictable results (i.e., fewer applicants.)

     

    But I am not asking for a book. Three paragraphs would do:

     

    Para #1-- introduce yourself and tell me a bit about your background for the roadtest.

    Para#2-- how you plan on testing it.

    Para 3#-- something on your schedule, availability and commitment of completing the roadtest and review in 360 days.

     

    300 words, maybe?

     

    Randall

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  • gecoz
    gecoz over 7 years ago in reply to rscasny

    Hi Randall,

     

    I think the requirements for a good application are already well laid out in your webinar, and I don't think they need changing.

     

    It might help setting a limit on the length of the application, both lower and upper, as I think a verbose application could be just as bad as a "thin" one.

     

    Does 300 words minimum and 500 words maximum sound reasonable?

     

    Fabio

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  • rscasny
    rscasny over 7 years ago in reply to gecoz

    I am already considering placing a minimum on the applications. We have a maximum but no one has ever hit it. I believe it's 32,000 characters.

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  • rscasny
    rscasny over 7 years ago in reply to gecoz

    I am already considering placing a minimum on the applications. We have a maximum but no one has ever hit it. I believe it's 32,000 characters.

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