Since I got an email asking for tips regarding the EA QA Tester assessment day, i decided it might be useful to put the info on the forum for everyone to benefit from, should they choose to brave the EA assessment and want similar insider info (plus is saves me emailing loads of folk on the same subject
), So here it is.
TIPS for the EA qa assessment:
The First Paper:
The first is a simple menu comparison test (Ref Num, Activities, Food and Drink etc) where one side will have information in typed form, while the other will have the same info in handwriting/visual form (logos etc), you simply check the data is the same either side for each entry, and point out any mistakes in their translation.
The Second (Dodgy) Paper:
The second test involves inputs and outputs, e.g on/off lights from A-E and the processes in between them
INPUT PROCESSES OUTPUT
A-OFF B-ON
A-ON F-D-H C-ON
B-OFF C-OFF
You job is to find which process is not working/affecting the output. So, in the above example, if F turns on A+B (if already off) and D turns off C (if already on) and H turns on A + C, the answer would be H as the dead/non working process as the output shows C is still off.
Bear in mind I got this paper wrong and only realised this at question 30 or so, so you can decide how much of my knowledge on this paper you wanna take. Also, its worth bearing in mind that just because you may get the answers right on the example questions and the EA assessment chick/dude confirms this, this doesnt necessarily mean you have the method figured out (as in my case), the examples for this paper can/are very misleading.
So, if your flying through it, you've either got it figured or your doing it wrong, figure out which you are quickly if you plan on getting further then the EA buildings toilets
Group Hug Thingy:
I can't tell what the group assessment involves exactly, but it comes after you've successfully completed the above two tests, but i imagine they are like those group things you see on telly, just be outgoing, repsonsive and listen to everyone's opinion as well as share your ideas clearly and effectively and you should fly through.
Interview:
Quote: "(To quote Ian Smithers on the gg forum (Thanks for this)) In the interview you will be asked several questions mainly from two senior testers. They cover things like what qualities make a good tester, how do you handle a high pressure environment and what sort of games do you like and do you _not_ like, and why. Just be honest and enthusiastic. Things NOT to say:
1) I am part of a piracy ring, can I take the games home, my friends and I make a lot of money doing this?
2) I normally download and crack games, just not EA games as they are too hard to crack. *smile*
Interesting fact, Ive had people say BOTH those things to me in interviews I did at EA. I kid you not."
"
NOTE: This is quite general and not unique to EA, so it may be useful to have/expect similar q's and a's for other qa tester interviews you may will have in the future.
Closing:
All in all, i don't particulary agree with the way EA do (a lot of things) their qa scouting, but you'll be glad to know, not all studios do this non practical way of finding testers/staff (some still do the good old game/video with bugs and you report them on paper -method), and if i were looking for testers/team members i'd be more concerned that they can do the job in practice rather then papers provide by corporates, for corporates, anyhow, i'm not EA, so they can do what want, and if after you've read this, you still wanna give it a go, their still looking (150 testers by august allegedly), good luck!
Hope this helps.
PS. Remember, if your name is called to go out side after the two tests, youre a gonna! But, other then that, Im sure youll be fine!
I thought i'd better add this just in case
Disclaimer: I can't guarantee they will use the same papers as stated above, or the order of things metioned will be the same on your assessment day, but hey, if they are, your in luck, but it's safe to assume anything (especially with EA) is possible so be prepared to CHALLENGE EVERYTHING as EA say. So, decide whether or not to use/ignore some or all of these tips.
In other words, I don't want any emails saying "i've been practicing input/output tests online all weekend, and they didn't even do it! It's your fault i didn't make it through to the group hug sessions, not because i was rubbish at the test paper(s), errrrrrrrr!"
Leroy Frederick - Director / Lead Designer - ETERNAL SYNDROME™ ONLINE: www.ETERNALSYNDROME.com ETERNAL SYNDROME™ - “Play Your Emagination!”™
