Re: 911:: Typing Test Results.

[Guest guest]

Victor,

Seems to me that was a very unfair typing test. Computer keyboards that you

will probably be typing on are infinitely easier to type on and easier to

correct mistakes. Even if you are typing for speed. Sounds like they used

inferior equipment so i am not surprised that the majority of you failed. I

hope the next test is given fairly.

Good Luck,

Peggy

Beverly FD

Beverly MA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 03/29/2000 12:47:08 AM Eastern Standard Time,

velvetfirefly@... writes:

<< Seems to me that was a very unfair typing test. Computer keyboards that

you

will probably be typing on are infinitely easier to type on and easier to

correct mistakes. Even if you are typing for speed. Sounds like they used

inferior equipment so i am not surprised that the majority of you failed. I

hope the next test is given fairly. >>

I thought the same thing, but what can I do?

[Guest guest]

Oh, and by the way. How many of you out there had to be retested after your

first try? Just curious.

[Guest guest]

YOU CAN PROTEST, AND DECLARE OUTDATED TESTING, SINCE THE PRESENT EQUIPMENT

IS A COMPUTER AND NOT A IBM TYPEWRITER,

MAKE THEM CHANGE THEIR TESTING, TALK TO PERSONEL OR HUMAN RELATIONS DEPT. AND

PROTEST.

PETE

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/28/00 11:52:56 PM Central Standard Time,

DJVICKMC@... writes:

<< From: DJVICKMC@...

Oh, and by the way. How many of you out there had to be retested after your

first try? Just curious.

>>

Well Victor, I didn't have to take a typing test..This was 4 years ago..don't

know why I didn't...didn't have one bit of testing...guess they just needed a

warm body.

good luck next time..just keep practicing. You will get there!!

jamie in iowa

[Guest guest]

Victor,

I have stayed away from the whole typing " thread. " But I would like to make

one

comment to you. I think you have a great attitude about your experience. I am

sure

you are bummed about " failing. " But it seems you view it as a learning event

rather

than a " Failure. " That's great. Keep your head up and aim to do better next

time.

And who cares what everyone else was there for, YOU know why YOU were there, and

that's the only person it should be important to, YOU. Good luck next time.

J. Fred Ayars

Senior PST

Salem County NJ

DJVICKMC@... wrote:

> From: DJVICKMC@...

>

> Hey, all. Victor here.

>

> As I told you earlier, I took my typing test today and unfortunately I

> flunked. I was 4 points below average. The administrator from the personnel

[Guest guest]

Vic,

Sorry to hear about your experience. I was fortuanate, my department

tested us on a computer which is much much easier. Sounds like you should be

able to appeal the results of that test. Just my opinion.

Eva

FPD/Ca

[Guest guest]

I did (I'm a hack typer anyway - my training

in the service consisted of my sergeant

giving me desk blotter and a manual

typewriter, with the advice that all the

keys are marked).

Actually, the test that did me in the first

time is the one with colored dots on the page.

I have a slight color vision problem. I see

colors fine on a computer screen, but on

paper - well ----

I had to wait six months and re-apply.

Ever study for a color test?

EJ

--- Original Message ---

From: DJVICKMC@...

Oh, and by the way. How many of you

out there had to be retested after your

first try? Just curious.

[Guest guest]

At 01:09 AM 03/29/2000 -0500, EJ wrote:

------------<snip>---------------

>Actually, the test that did me in the first

>time is the one with colored dots on the page.

>I have a slight color vision problem. I see

>colors fine on a computer screen, but on

>paper - well ----

>

>I had to wait six months and re-apply.

>Ever study for a color test?

I'm trying not to snicker here... and NOT at EJ.. but with memories.

You see, one of my husbands (don't ask!) was color blind in the reds and

greens. When he was in the service, he was a radio operator. He couldn't

read topographical maps (the greens and browns were all one shade of brown

to him) so he asked about that and they told him, " No problem, you'll

ALWAYS have a partner.... " Uh huh.

Anyway, before we married, he showed up one day at work wearing a purple

knit vest over an orange t-shirt. It was early in the morning and I'd only

had one cup of coffee (a bunch of us were going to go on a road-trip to see

various CAD sites in our search for one for our Comm Centers) so I wasn't

in the finest form. I took one look at him and blurted, " God! Who dresses

you; are ya color-blind?!?!? " Imagine my chagrin when he said, " Why, yes I

am.... "

While we were married, I often made suggestions about his color matches....

somebody else gets that chore now. <grin>

Moving along... our officers must have normal color vision, but our

dispatchers don't have that restriction. Now that we're using more and

more color monitors, it might someday become an issue. So far, the colors

and contrasts between similar colors have not presented a problem for

anybody currently working in the Comm Centers.

But studying for a color test must be akin to studying for the urine test,

right?

<ducking and running for cover, laughing like a loon>

Happy to be here, proud to serve.

Olmstead

Communications Supervisor

~on the Central California coastline~

" Not presumed to be an official statement of my employing agency. "

Home E-mail: mailto:gryeyes@...

http://www.gryeyes.com/

[Guest guest]

Here at our center, we used to have the applicants go to the Business Dept

at the Community College and test. When I started 9 years ago, we didn't

have typing requirements because we were not CAD. Now that we are (and we

knew it was coming) we started about 4 years ago. At first, they used the

old standard IBM typewriter. Then one of our supervisors suggested that we

have them take the test on a data proccessor, because that was the type of

keyboard they would be using in " real life " as a dispatcher.

From then on we have used the computer to test applicants on. One applicant

about a year or 2 ago suggested that we try some type of dictated typing

test, since what we type is heard over the radio or phone, and not read from

a page. That was a great idea and we asked the tester to set something up

like that and try it. We have had limited success with that. The problem

being that it is hard to grade something like that. We are now thinking

about testing them with a dictation test like students would have to take

for office testing at the college. We haven't ironed out all the details

with that yet, so for now we are back to having them read from a page, and

type on a computer keyboard.

This has worked out much better. As far as what you can do about it, you

could talk to the Human Resources Dept about it, but I don't know if I would

" protest " it, because it might not look good to the potential employer.

They might not want to hire a " trouble maker " . Its kind of a catch 22.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

~~The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own and do not

~~neccessarily represent those of my department or those I dispatch for.

Tom Deccio, Supervisor

Walla Walla (WA) Dispatch

www.ci.walla-walla.wa.us

decciot@...

dco911@...

[Guest guest]

I tend to disagree with most typing tests, anyway. Tests should be within

reasonable limits. I've been watching this thread, and recalling some

previous discussion about minimum requirements, I think anything over 20

wpm is unreasonable. After all, don't most of us abbreviate when making

entries?

40 y/o male w/diff breath; c/p. Caller is RN, states bp 120/80, r 20 and

shallow, skin dry but flushed. DNR in hand.

or

Dom in prog at 40 Main St. Apt. 4. Unk weapons. Caller is in apt.

3. States shouting and items being thrown.

I really believe in quality over quantity.

-Ken

> Sorry to hear about your experience. I was fortuanate, my department

>tested us on a computer which is much much easier. Sounds like you should be

>able to appeal the results of that test. Just my opinion.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/29/2000 6:26:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,

listowner-ken@... writes:

<< After all, don't most of us abbreviate when making

entries? >>

Not only do we abbreviate, but we conver to signals too. And besides, we

have to listen and type, not read and type.. I dont actually think that I

would pass a typing test now. Been too long

Toni Wyman, (CTO)...Gwinnett County Police, GA ( just N of HotLanta)

770 Hi Hope Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30046

(These are only my opinions, not my agency's, after all they are the

government and they have opinions of their own)

For liability reasons my posts and opinions are to be reprinted with my

permission only

Email to: E911gal136@...

[Guest guest]

Victor,

Sorry to hear about you experience! We had our typing test on computers just

like they use on the floor! Your actually lucky that you get to try it again

in a month! If we flunked we had to wait a year!There was 25 in our

class..only 6 of us made it!Hang in there..You'll get it! Sounds like you

really want this job as much as I did!

To update everyone on my last problems with the training...everything is

going well now...I went to the training cordinator twice..first time didnt

help,,,second time I went to her I really let out all my frustrations..and

made my point! I learned something in all this too...Even as a trainee You

have to stand up for your rights!Turned out I found out that a few of the

dispatchers that have been there also went to administration and told them

to tell the supervisors to watch the how the trainers are treating the

trainees!

So Victor your problems arent over yet...wait till you pass the typing

test and start gettin trained...it is the hardest 90 days of anyones life!

But it will be ver rewarding and worth it!

Rite

On Tue, 28 Mar 2000 23:46:51 EST, 911consoleonelist wrote:

> Hey, all. Victor here.

>

> As I told you earlier, I took my typing test today and unfortunately I

> flunked. I was 4 points below average. The administrator from the

personnel

> division at headquarters told us that we might have another chance in

about a

> month. You see, we were a total of 11 people that were scheduled to the

test.

> I was the only bilingual person in the room (you'll see why I mention

this

> later on) and you won't believe what I'm going to tell you........ ok, 9

of

> us had no experience whatsoever in this job. But I noticed something that

> made me think a lot afterwards. No one in that room except myself knew

what

> the job description was. You see we had about 20 minutes to chat with

each

> other as a group before the test started and all of us started asking

each

> other the question: Why do you want to become a 911 telecommunicator?. 2

said

> that they had no idea about what the job was, yes they knew that they had

to

> answer phones and tell the cops where to go, but that's all they knew. I

> could not believe it!!!!. I'm not a professional in this field but I

think I

> know enough for me to understand that this is not an easy job.

Anyways.... 1

> of the applicants didn't know what a return key was!!!!!. 2 of the

applicants

> thought the test was for a Crossing Guard!!!!!!!!. I was flipping in

> there!!!. And the rest of the applicants kinda knew what this whole thing

was

> about. I noticed that all of them except me wanted the job because they

all

> needed money, Hey I need money too!!!! but I want that job. It's a dream

that

> I have, It's not an obsession but I would really love to have the job of

a

> 911 telecommunicator. Anyway, they divided us into groups of three by

taking

> a paper from a can. I got the number 6. So the first 3 go in to a

different

> room in which we were sitting on. It took them about 15 minutes to come

out

> and ask for the next group of three, Now it's my turn. They had this test

on

> the secretary's typewriters!!!! The IBM Selectric typewriter. They gave

us 5

> minutes to practice, and then the test was given. The test consisted of 2

> paragraphs a total of 175 words. They gave us 5 minutes to complete the

whole

> page the margins on the typewriter were already set, and the return key

was

> very, very well oiled, I mention that because I would only hit the return

key

> once and the key would keep on going unless I hit it very slowly. The

girl in

> front of me started typing during the test and the machine got stuck!!!!.

She

> pressed the " S " key and the thing kept on going about a whole line said

> sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss until one of the people in charge

> actually hit the machine with his hand, then it stopped!!!!. I kept on

typing

> and the whole page (I thought) was coming out alright. The bell rang and

we

> stopped typing. They graded it right there on the spot. I made 34

mistakes.

> They had a little chart with the amount of mistakes that a person is

allowed

> to make. For example, if you type 35 wpm your mistakes should be lower

than

> the number 31, so I made 34 mistakes remember? ok. 21 of those mistakes

were

> because I double spaced in between words. But remember the girl sitting

in

> front of me? she made 56 mistakes in the first paragraph the first

paragraph

> consisted of 75 words!!!!!. The grader said to her " sorry you're in the

hall "

> Man!!!!!! That was a mistake!!!! The girls started complaining using very

> lewd language in Spanish so the he started going nuts too!!!!!!. I was in

> shock!!!!!. The guy didn't know what to do!!.

> She would not shut up, anyway I spoke to the same test grader after the

whole

> showdown and I explained to him why she started going crazy. He graded

her

> test wrong. She had 52 mistakes and she was already inside the 2nd

paragraph(

> she flunked anyway).He started laughing, I'm still trying to figure out

why.

> Oh, and by the way the first two groups going in did not pass the test. I

> ignore the result about the remaining 3 applicants. So to make the story

> short I failed!!!!!!!!!!!!. Period.

>

> The question that I would like to ask the console tonight is: Why do they

use

> such old machines? I don't understand. I accept that I didn't do good and

I'm

> not blaming the typewriter but it was very uncomfortable typing on it.

>

> And, I will keep on trying until I pass. I will keep on practicing and

> reading all the advice that you give. Please keep it coming.

>

> I feel bad, but I gained some experience.

>

> Please wish me luck, for the next time.

>

> I will keep all of you posted. On what happens.

>

> Victor Cabrales.

_______________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

>Oh, and by the way. How many of you out there had to be retested after your

first try? Just curious.<

There was no retest... you tested with several other prospective

employees... if you didn't pass... you went home..

When the department had another opening... everyone went

through it again.

I just passed.... and just typed a word or two more than

my competition....that was many years ago.. and they

haven't gotten rid of me yet.

Hang in there Victor...

If you have been reading the email... you see that centers are short

staffed all over the country...

If you really want to work in this field, you will have your chance..

Good luck,

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

Passed the first time, but then I learned on an IBM selectric in high

school. Hey, Lyn and everybody, guess age does have its advantages!

[Guest guest]

Well, Ken, I disagree with your disagreement. I think

that typing is particularly important for those who

use a CAD, even if abbreviations are used. CAD is

God, and your eyes need to be on the screen,

particularly when you are new to the job. With

everything else that's going on in a comm room, a

dispatcher should not be looking down at the keyboard

worrying about trying to find the right keys. We have

hunt-and-peck typists at my department, but they all

wear guns. As long as the timed typing test serves as

a filter between people familiar with the keyboard,

and those who would need to be focused on

familiarizing themselves with it, I will agree. 10

wpm in my department wouldn't cut it, and we aren't

even a particularly large or urban agency. 30-40 wpm

is probably about right, but I would guess that most

of us type quite a bit faster. My opinion only.

Jen Grieshaber

--- Ken wrote:

> I tend to disagree with most typing tests, anyway.

> Tests should be within

> reasonable limits. I've been watching this thread,

> and recalling some

> previous discussion about minimum requirements, I

> think anything over 20

> wpm is unreasonable. After all, don't most of us

> abbreviate when making

> entries?

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Amen!

EJ

Fayetteville Communications

PS - Remember I mentioned I had to

reapply after six months. Everyone they

hired in the group I would have been in

is no longer dispatching (one is still with

the city as an ID tech). They type of test

the boss wants is one that'll tell him who

will stick with dispatching!!

--- Original Message ---

I tend to disagree with most typing tests, anyway.  Tests should be

within reasonable limits.  I've been watching this thread, and

recalling some previous discussion about minimum requirements, I think

anything over 20 wpm is unreasonable.  After all, don't most of us

abbreviate when making entries?...

-Ken

[Guest guest]

> The question that I would like to ask the console tonight is: Why do they

use

> such old machines? I don't understand. I accept that I didn't do good and

I'm

> not blaming the typewriter but it was very uncomfortable typing on it.

--------------------

It's called budget constraints, and if you want to be a 911 professional you

will probably learn about them rather quickly. Many places buy used

equipment or keep equipment forever because they don't have the money to get

new stuff. Just an observation from my place in the world, there are those

wonderful places that have unlimited funds for new stuff, it's called

corporate America. I know we have been asking for new headsets for a year,

they didn't have the money last year, even when we were down at one point to

everyone sharing a headset. Finally got new ones and nobody like them, they

didn't check with us first and they were not noise reducing, thus they feed

back off one another sometimes (great to test your hearing with). They got

pretty grumpy with us when we complained about them.

Sara Winfield

Union County Ohio

winfield@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 03/29/2000 12:19:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

winfield@... writes:

<< It's called budget constraints, and if you want to be a 911 professional

you

will probably learn about them rather quickly. Many places buy used

equipment or keep equipment forever because they don't have the money to get

new stuff. >>

Hey ,Victor here.... You know? I had to reply to this thread from Ms.

Winfield. I really don't think that is the reason to why they administered

the test on such an old machine, The PD just got rid of 7 Units and bought 9

Brand new units fully equipped totaling somewhere about $500,000. And they

can't get a brand new testing computer?. I mean some of the secretaries work

on brand new computers and the Radio room just replaced all of the equipment

with State of the Art equipment. (It came out on the local paper). I'm

frustrated I would like to do something about it but as someone said earlier,

I don't think it would look good to my prospective employer. What can I do?

Victor Cabrales.

N.J

[Guest guest]

Victor,

I am so sorry, better luck next time, try to practice at the library, do

something...

It is so cool to read your enthusiasm. I remember when I was like that.

We need

people like you, ones that want to do the job, like the job and will do

the job, not

just because of all the money haha we make.

Keep trying and if you are in TX anytime near ole SA, I know where you

might have a

good chance to get this dream job.

Keep trying....

Dana

This is not the opinion of my Department, just my own, which probably

stinks most

of the time. Will serve proudly anyway. =^!'!^=

________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-03-29 01:35:41 EST, you write:

<<

Oh, and by the way. How many of you out there had to be retested after your

first try? Just curious.

>>

Well Victor, I didn't have to take a typing test..This was 4 years

ago..don't

know why I didn't...didn't have one bit of testing...guess they just needed

a

warm body.

good luck next time..just keep practicing. You will get there!!

>>

My Thursday of my 4/10, reading away but little time to answer, but I had

something I thought relevant to Victor's original

question.....wwwwaaaaaayyyyyy up there! Anyway, my agency requires 40 wpm to

start, I'm lucky in a sense cause I type 105 (with zero errors) and with

learning radio the past 2 weeks I'm SLOW even at my regular speed. There's

been a few times I've wished I was a LOT faster and for the first time since

my first typing job wished I could get my fingers making a few mistakes.

I've had people comment positively on my speed and the past 2 weeks I know

I'm going at the pace I usually do but boy do I feel slow! And something

else, I'm actually faster on the selectric .... maybe cause I learned on one

and waaaayyyyy back when they were the machine of choice (i.e., BC (before

computers)) that's what I typed 35 - 50 page briefs on, one draft, one

original all in one 8 hour day. I STILL like those things.

Anyway, my scrambled comments.

[Guest guest]

I didn't have to take a typing test either. Once they found out I have a home

computer that I use ALOT, and the previous jobs I have worked required that I

use

computers, they decided that I did know how to at least " find my way " around a

keyboard. I don't know for certain, but I believe the typing test they did give

was

on a computer keyboard. Haven't seen anyone take one in the 2 years I have been

there.

No color tests either. Just a mental evaluation...hmmm think it is to determine

how

far off we go after a while in dispatch??

Freida

Lavergne PD

jamicans@... wrote:

> From: jamicans@...

>

> In a message dated 3/28/00 11:52:56 PM Central Standard Time,

> DJVICKMC@... writes:

>

> << From: DJVICKMC@...

>

> Oh, and by the way. How many of you out there had to be retested after your

> first try? Just curious.

> >>

>

> Well Victor, I didn't have to take a typing test..This was 4 years ago..don't

> know why I didn't...didn't have one bit of testing...guess they just needed a

> warm body.

> good luck next time..just keep practicing. You will get there!!

>

> jamie in iowa

>

((non text portions removed))

[Guest guest]

Hey, Victor here....... I just finished talking to the Personnel Division

Captain (Captain Orak). He said that another test will be

administered in 2 weeks because NOBODY passed the last test. According to him

I and 2 others were the closest ones to passing. So they will only call us

back, so far. Only 3 people will take the test again in 2 weeks. I will

practice a lot!!!!!!!!! I will be glued to the keyboard and if possible I'll

go down to the Public library and see if they have a Selectric Typewriter

down there.

Just to keep you advised.

Victor Cabrales.

NJ

[Guest guest]

Victor,

Most departments are screaming for qualified personnel in their dispatch

centers.

It is an employees market out there.

You can do what consumers do when they don't like a product or a store...buy

another brand or go to another store. In other words, you can express your

concerns and, if they are not addressed, then apply at another department.

If the equipment is what is causing the problem, it is in their best

interest to correct the situation. Otherwise, they could be cutting

qualified people because of this.

annette hallmark

ahallmark@...

<<snip>>

I'm frustrated I would like to do something about it but as someone said

earlier,

I don't think it would look good to my prospective employer. What can I do?

Victor Cabrales.

N.J

<<snip>>

[Guest guest]

Vic,

A bit late (I'm all behind lately), but bad luck on your first test. All the

best for your next one.

Do they use a typewriter for the test so the applicant cannot correct

mistakes? Or does that 'secret' backspace key mentioned earlier solve that?

Hampshire Ambulance UK