I went to a test and interview for Centrelink Graduate Recruitment yesterday. I thought it would be another standard test and interview, little did i know…

The first test was a programming test, this was the first time I ever been tested in programming.. I was required to make a NextDate method given a date and days after that date. It wasn’t complicated, but I think I made a mistake because I accessed the private variables directly without using the provided methods (I wish I was programming at actual computer not writing it on a piece of paper… ) The second question required me to make a system proposal according to the given business requirements.

The second test was pyschometric test. I was tested on verbal, numerical and abstract ability. The numerical and abstract tests were ok, they are like standard IQ tests. The verbal was the one which killing me, I was asked words correlation, synonyms etc, and I didnt even know what most of those words mean. I wasn’t expecting this.. I hope they would consider the fact that I come from Non English Speaking Background..

And then there was an interview with Chris from Centrelink and Nicola from Hobart Recruitment. Usual questions were asked, but Chris asked some technical questions. I was asked what polymorphism and encapsulation mean, my brain went numb… I wasn’t expecting this kind of questions, if I knew I would have opened up my Java text book… Polymorphism?? I don’t think I use that concept often in my program (hence it’s not important, right? RIGHT???). Encapsulation, I know what it is, but for that point of time my brain just didn’t comply…

It was a sad day.. I was told that there were 250 grads competing for 50 positions in Centrelink this year, jugding on how the interview went I can only pray for a miracle.