Dexterity Test-Interview Tips?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello,

I have an interview this week with a jewelry manufacturing company
and it includes a half hour dexterity exam. Does anyone have any
tips to offer about this process? What should I expect? I’ve never
experienced anything like this and am a bit nervous.

Thanks in Advance!
Tracey

2

I once worked with an agency that did dexterity testing as part of
the screening process. Basically, people had to stack washers on a
peg, put items in a slot, fold a piece of paper, etc. I wouldn’t
worry about it too much. The face to face interviews will have more
of an influence than a dexterity test will.

Tim

3 
I have an interview this week with a jewelry manufacturing company
and it includes a half hour dexterity exam. Does anyone have any
tips to offer about this process? What should I expect? I've never
experienced anything like this and am a bit nervous.

Wow! I want to take one! It would be a hoot. I’d probably spend half
the test assuming the ‘jeweler’s position’. Hands and knees on the
floor, butt in the air - looking for for the stuff i keep dropping.

I’m looking forward to hearing from others who have taken dexterity
exams. I’d imagine they aren’t too bad. I think tests like those are
aimed at evaluating hand/eye coordination and finding out if there
are any major issues.

Don’t forget to breath- many of us tend to hold our breath when
we’re concentrating, and that starves the muscles of oxygen, causing
the neck and shoulder muscles to stiffen up. In my case, a few cycles
of holding my breath while working, util I gasp for air also makes me
a bit- ok, a bit stupid. So if you find yourself holding your breath
and getting stressed, sit up straight, take a deep breath in through
your nose, and out through you mouth, repeat a couple of times, and
you’ll get back to your task calmer and not so tensed up and
frantic.

We’ll be rooting for you Tracey!

Wishing you the best,
Kate Wolf, Portland Maine

4

Well, I went to the interview and they did actually have me work
with their tools and make things. All I had to do was show that I
could follow directions with pliers, wire and a hammer. I did well
and was offered the job! The only tip I have after experiencing this
is to not be nervous because shaky hands will just make you more
nervous. Deep Exhale…

Thanks,
Tracey

5 
Wow! I want to take one! It would be a hoot. I'd probably spend
half the test assuming the 'jeweler's position'. Hands and knees
on the floor, butt in the air - looking for for the stuff i keep
dropping.

LOL LOL! Somehow I think Kate’s ‘jeweler’s position’ might be a bit
more attractive than mine…

I think you’re right-- the key to hand-eye is first relaxation,
which is best done by seeing the project as fun. The next is to
crawl into the scale of the piece-- this jewelry scale is about as
small as hand-eye can do, so it takes a sort of ‘doll-house’
approach-- see that post and that ball of solder as a baseball-bat
and tennis-ball, and that molten flux like a gallon of honey, it
gets more realistic.

Finally, when all else fails, take the advice of the great
ceramicist Peter Volkos, and “Will it into place”!

Have fun.
J.

6

I would think a dark commercial flat-ish carpet would be best. I
drop no. 15 seed beads all the time and I can find them better on the
darker carpet I have than the old light carpet I used to have.

V.