Have you just been told you’d need to take the CCAT (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test) exam for your job application, and are now worried about how to score higher in it?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! As someone who’s been through the CCAT wringer and come out the other side, I’m here to break it down for you in plain English.
My Personal CCAT Score Progressed like this: 27 → 41 → 45 → 48 (across four attempts)
Understanding the CCAT Score System
First things first, let’s talk numbers. The CCAT consists of 50 questions that you need to tackle. The CCAT uses multiple scoring methods to evaluate performance; your employer will share what ranking system they’re using:
Raw Score (0-50)
Simply the number of questions answered correctly
No penalty for wrong answers
Percentile Ranking (1-99)
Shows how you compare to other test-takers
99th percentile requires 45+ correct answers
Scaled Score (100-400)
Standardized scoring system
Allows comparison across different versions
Star Rating (0-6)
4 stars: 35+ correct answers (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
5 stars: 40+ correct answers (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
6 stars: 45+ correct answers (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
But hold your horses! A “good” score isn’t just about hitting the average. It depends on a few factors, which we’ll get into next.
What’s Considered a Good CCAT Score?
Now, here’s the million-dollar question: what’s a good CCAT score?
Score interpretation varies by industry and position, but here’s a general breakdown:
Score Range
Performance Level
Interpretation
Below 30
Below Average
May need additional preparation
30-35
Average to Above Average
Meets basic requirements for many positions
35-40
Well Above Average
Competitive for most positions
40-45
Exceptional
Highly competitive for demanding roles
45+
Top Percentile
99th percentile, exceptional performance
Factors Affecting Score Requirements:
Job position and level
Industry standards
Company-specific requirements
Role complexity
But remember, these are just guidelines. Some roles might require a higher CCAT score, while others might be more flexible.
The Best Way to Increase Your CCAT Score (personal experience)
Practice and simulation. That’s the single most important thing. I have taken SAT-I, SAT-II, GCSE OLevel & ALevel, IELTSs, etc. throughout my academic career and have been in the Top 1% throughout (8A* in OLevels, Best Across 5 state level distinction in ALevels).
Yet my first CCAT Score that I got in a practice test (from a PDF booklet I got for $80 from a very shady website .. so much so that I froze my card after using it there) was 27. I’m not kidding. I printed the test. Turned on the timer on my phone, took the test. And got slapped in the face. The last actual CCAT that I took for an employer, I had 48 out of 50.
My learning from this was that you can read as many “example questions” of CCAT Tests as you like, but until you actually sit down and take a complete timed test to see your “initial base score” that you need to improve. That first test’s results and analytics do 3 things for you:
Which “question types” (verbal/maths/logical) take you the most amount of time to solve
Which “question types” you got wrong the most
And it gives your brain a bit more “experience” with the race against time feeling, plus some preliminary strategies that would work specifically for you
To summarize, if you want to actually get a good CCAT Test Score, do this:
Strategic Preparation
Take practice tests under timed conditions
Focus on identifying and improving weak areas
Learn to manage the 15-minute time constraint effectively
I’ve created a platform where you can take multiple full-fledged timed CCAT tests. And when you do, it gives you analytics about which CCAT question categories you got the most wrong questions from, and where you spent the “most time” (since you need to save as much time as you can). Here’s an example:
Section-Specific Focus The CCAT tests three main areas:
Verbal reasoning
Mathematical & logical ability
Spatial reasoning
If you struggled with a particular section, focus your preparation efforts there. The platform that I shared above actually has topical CCAT practice tests as well, which means if you’re really good at the maths and logical reasoning questions, but get a lot of the verbal reasoning questions wrong – then you need to laser focus on preparing and improving your verbal reasoning skills.
Time management tips
With only 15 minutes for 50 questions, every second counts. Practice answering questions quickly and knowing when to move on if you’re stuck.
Here are a few reviews left by students who took these practice tests in the past:
If you’re preparing for CCAT to apply at Crossover for Work, you will find the below playlist rather helpful to answer more or less all the questions you might have about their hiring process:
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Crossover’s hiring process
Applying to Crossover for a job | Sharing my experience
The Bottom Line
A “good” CCAT score is ultimately the one that gets you to the next stage of the hiring process. Focus on doing your best, preparing thoroughly, and showcasing your skills beyond just the test score. With the right preparation and mindset, you can tackle the CCAT with confidence!
FAQs about CCAT Test
Can I retake the CCAT if I’m not happy with my CCAT score?
Retake policies vary by employer. Some companies (like Crossover) allow retakes every 6 months.
How long is my CCAT score valid?
Typically up to 5 years, but this can vary by employer.
Is it possible to get a perfect score on the CCAT?
While theoretically possible, it’s extremely rare due to the strict time limit.
How much does the CCAT factor into hiring decisions?
It varies by employer. Some companies use it as a primary screening tool with mandatory minimum scores, while others consider it alongside other qualifications. For instance, Crossover has a “mandatory” score requirement that differs based on the role you are applying for – if you score lower than the requirement for the role, you cannot proceed to the next stage.
Are there any accommodations available for test-takers with disabilities?
Yes, many testing centers offer accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. Contact the test administrator or employer for more information.
Final Thoughts
Remember that while a good CCAT score is important, it’s just one component of your overall job application. Focus on achieving the best score you can while also highlighting your other qualifications and experiences. With proper preparation and a strategic approach, you can achieve a competitive score that helps advance your career goals.
Free Resources
If you’re looking for a few free resources to get started, you can have a look at:
Want to learn how to start an email newsletter that generates income?
As someone who grew their newsletter from 0 to 1500 subscribers in just two months with The Efficient Entrepreneur (formerly Guardians of AI), I’ll show you exactly how to create an email newsletter that stands out and attracts paying subscribers.
Quick Start Guide: How to Create a Newsletter in 10 Steps
Choose your niche and target audience
Develop a unique value proposition
Plan your content strategy
Select a newsletter platform
Design your template
Set up pricing tiers
Create a landing page
Promote your newsletter
Engage with subscribers
Track and optimize performance
Let’s dive deep into each step to help you start a successful newsletter business.
1. How to Choose Your Newsletter Niche
Starting a free email newsletter begins with finding the right niche. Here’s how to do it effectively:
Leverage Existing Audiences: Already have a Facebook Group, Discord channel, or Udemy course? Consider what valuable content you could provide to that community regularly.
Use AI for Research: Tools like ChatGPT can help transform broad topics into focused niches by identifying specific pain points and opportunities.
Validate Market Demand: Research existing newsletters in your space to ensure there’s both interest and room for growth.
Pro Tip: The best newsletter niches combine your expertise with an underserved market need.
2. Crafting Your Unique Value Proposition
To set up a newsletter that stands out, you need a compelling value proposition:
Disclaimer: That’s my affiliate link, if you use that – I make money.. of course, at no cost to you.
5. Newsletter Design Best Practices
Your newsletter design should be:
Visually engaging
Clean and professional
Mobile-responsive
Brand-consistent
Easy to scan
6. Set Up Your Payment Structure
Multiple revenue streams available:
Educational products
Paid subscriptions
Sponsored content
Affiliate marketing
Premium content tiers
7. Building an Effective Landing Page
Your newsletter landing page should include:
Clear pricing tiers
Clear value proposition
Sample content
Social proof
Easy sign-up process
8. Promote Your Newsletter
Grow your subscriber base through:
Social media marketing
Content marketing
Cross-promotion
Referral programs
Paid advertising (Meta Ads recommended after 10K subscribers)
Don’t be shy about sharing your expertise and the value that your newsletter provides. You can also use paid Meta Ads, etc.
Majority of the really big (100K+ subscribers) newsletters do it – but you can do that at a later stage it. I haven’t done it myself – I plan to do it after hitting the 10K mark.
As someone who’s experienced rapid growth with my own newsletter, I can attest to the power of using the right platform. Here are some insider insights on why Beehiiv stands out:
Quick Monetization: After just 2-3 newsletter editions, you’ll start receiving advertisement offers through Beehiiv’s robust ad network (of course, you’d need to be on a paid plan).
Cost-Effective: With 5-6 newsletter editions per month and around 100 subscribers, your subscription cost starts paying for itself.
Additional Revenue Streams: Beehiiv’s unique “boosts” feature allows you to earn money by recommending other newsletters to your subscribers.
Growth-Focused Tools: Opt for the growth plan to get all the features and start tracking crucial metrics for your newsletter’s from the very beginning.
Q: How do I start a free email newsletter? A: Begin with a free platform like Beehiiv’s basic plan, define your niche, create valuable content, and promote to your existing network.
Q: How much does it cost to start a newsletter? A: You can start for free, but professional platforms cost $30-100/month. Most newsletters become self-sustaining after reaching 100+ subscribers.
Q: How long until I can monetize my newsletter? A: With Beehiiv, you can start receiving ad offers after 2-3 editions, though building a sustainable income typically takes 3-6 months.
The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) is a challenging assessment used by many tech companies, including Crossover, in their hiring process. Mastering this test can significantly boost your chances of landing your dream job. This article provides expert tips and strategies to help you excel in the CCAT.
Detailed Breakdown of CCAT Sections
The CCAT consists of 50 questions to be completed in 15 minutes, covering three main areas:
Verbal Ability
Word analogies
Sentence completion
Verbal reasoning
Math and Logic
Number series
Word problems
Basic algebra
Spatial Reasoning
Figure matrices
Spatial visualization
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Crossover’s hiring process
Applying to Crossover for a job | Sharing my experience
Advanced Strategies for Each Question Type
Verbal Ability
Word Analogies: Identify the relationship between the first pair of words, then apply it to the second pair.
Sentence Completion: Read the entire sentence first, then choose the word that best fits the context and tone.
Verbal Reasoning: Look for keywords and logical connectors to understand the argument’s structure.
Math and Logic
Number Series: Look for patterns in addition, subtraction, multiplication, or alternating sequences.
Word Problems: Quickly identify relevant information and translate it into mathematical equations.
Basic Algebra: Practice solving for variables and simplifying expressions.
Spatial Reasoning
Figure Matrices: Identify changes in shape, size, color, or orientation between figures.
Spatial Visualization: Practice mentally rotating and manipulating objects.
How to Prepare: CCAT Practice Tests
To maximize your chances of success, consider these preparation strategies:
Take CCAT Practice Tests: Familiarize yourself with the question types and time pressure.
Improve Weak Areas: Identify and focus on improving your weakest areas.
Time Management: Practice answering questions quickly and accurately.
Stay Calm: Remember, the CCAT is designed to be challenging. Stay focused and do your best.
In the last 4 years, 100+ people have asked me on LinkedIn on how to pass the CCAT, so a few months ago I decided to create a course on Udemy for CCAT Practice Tests. It has 4 mock CCAT tests that closely match what you can expect in the actual CCAT test.
You can access that via this link : Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) Practice Tests 2024. If you end up taking the course, I would appreciate it if you could drop your feedback on my LinkedIn if you find anything “off” in the course, so that I can correct/improve it for future learners (thank you! 🙂 ).
Time Management Techniques
The 18-Second Rule: Aim to spend no more than 18 seconds per question (15 minutes / 50 questions).
Educated Guessing: If unsure, eliminate obviously wrong answers and make an educated guess.
Progress Checkpoints: At 5 and 10 minutes, check your progress and adjust your pace if needed.
Mental Preparation and Test-Day Tips
Practice Regularly: Use CCAT practice tests to build familiarity and confidence.
Simulate Test Conditions: Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions.
Stay Healthy: Get enough sleep, eat well, and stay hydrated before the test.
Read Instructions Carefully: Ensure you understand the test format and scoring system.
Stay Calm: Take deep breaths if you feel anxious during the test.
Post-Test Analysis and Improvement Strategies
Review Your Performance: Analyze which types of questions you found most challenging.
Focus on Weak Areas: Dedicate more practice time to your weakest sections.
Learn from Mistakes: Understand why you got certain questions wrong and how to approach them correctly.
CCAT requires a combination of knowledge, strategy, and practice. By understanding the test structure, developing advanced strategies for each question type, managing your time effectively, and preparing both mentally and physically, you can significantly improve your performance.
Just remember that the CCAT is designed to be challenging, and it’s normal not to answer all questions. Focus on accuracy and speed (aim to attempt all 50 questions), and use the strategies outlined in this article to maximize your score. With dedicated practice and the right approach, you can excel in the CCAT and open doors to exciting career opportunities in companies like Crossover.
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Remote Jobs in 2024
Overview of Cognitive Aptitude Tests in Tech Recruitment
Comparison of CCAT with Other Popular Assessments
Benefits and Criticisms of Cognitive Aptitude Testing
How to Prepare for Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)
How to Prepare for Different Types of Assessments
Future Trends in Tech Recruitment Testing
Many tech companies are increasingly turning to cognitive aptitude assessments to identify top talent. Among these, the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) has gained prominence. This article explores the landscape of cognitive aptitude testing in tech recruitment, with a focus on the CCAT and its alternatives.
Overview of Cognitive Aptitude Tests in Tech Recruitment
Cognitive aptitude tests measure a candidate’s ability to solve problems, learn quickly, and think critically. In the fast-paced tech industry, these skills are crucial. Here’s why companies use these assessments:
Predict Job Performance: High scores often correlate with strong on-the-job performance.
Evaluate Learning Potential: They gauge a candidate’s ability to acquire new skills quickly.
Reduce Bias: Standardized tests can help mitigate unconscious biases in hiring.
Comparison of CCAT with Other Popular Assessments
While the CCAT is widely used, it’s not the only cognitive aptitude test in tech hiring. Let’s compare it with some alternatives:
CCAT (Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test)
50 questions in 15 minutes
Measures verbal, math/logic, and spatial reasoning
Used by companies like Crossover
Wonderlic Personnel Test
50 questions in 12 minutes
Covers verbal, numerical, and spatial questions
Used by various industries, including tech
Predictive Index Cognitive Assessment
50 questions in 12 minutes
Focuses on numerical, verbal, and abstract reasoning
Popular in tech startups
Revelian Cognitive Ability Test
51 questions in 20 minutes
Assesses verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning
Used globally in various industries
Each test has its strengths, but the CCAT is often preferred in tech for its balance of question types and slightly longer time limit.
Benefits and Criticisms of Cognitive Aptitude Testing
Benefits:
Objective Evaluation: Provides a standardized measure of cognitive abilities.
Predictive Validity: Often correlates well with job performance.
Criticisms:
Test Anxiety: Some candidates may underperform due to stress.
Cultural Bias: Questions may favor certain cultural backgrounds.
Overemphasis: Some argue these tests shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor.
How to Prepare for Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)
I have written a detailed set of articles covering different aspects of the CCAT exams that you can find here. In short, the best way is to practice, identify your weaknesses and get your mind used to the “race against time” scenario that CCAT poses.
In the last 4 years, 100+ people have asked me on LinkedIn on how to pass the CCAT, so a few months ago I decided to create a course on Udemy for CCAT Practice Tests. It has 4 mock CCAT tests that closely match what you can expect in the actual CCAT test.
You can access that via this link : Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) Practice Tests 2024. If you end up taking the course, I would appreciate it if you could drop your feedback on my LinkedIn if you find anything “off” in the course, so that I can correct/improve it for future learners (thank you! 🙂 ).
How to Prepare for Different Types of Assessments
While each test is unique, some general preparation strategies apply:
Familiarize Yourself: Understand the test format and question types.
Practice Time Management: These tests are often time-pressured.
Focus on Weak Areas: Identify and work on your weakest skills.
Stay Calm: Remember, these tests are designed to be challenging.
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Crossover’s hiring process
Applying to Crossover for a job | Sharing my experience
Future Trends in Tech Recruitment Testing
The landscape of cognitive aptitude testing in tech is evolving:
AI-Powered Assessments: Adaptive tests that adjust difficulty based on performance.
Gamified Assessments: Engaging, game-like tests to reduce test anxiety.
Skill-Specific Tests: Assessments tailored to specific tech roles or skills.
Holistic Approaches: Combining cognitive tests with personality assessments and job simulations.
Final Notes
Cognitive aptitude assessments, particularly the CCAT, play a significant role in tech hiring. While they’re not perfect, they provide valuable insights into a candidate’s potential. As a job seeker in the tech industry, familiarity with these tests, especially through CCAT practice tests, can give you a competitive edge.
Remember, while these tests are important, they’re just one part of the hiring process. Your experience, skills, and cultural fit are also crucial factors in landing your dream tech job.
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Remote Jobs in 2024
Are you considering applying for a position at Crossover?
Before you start, remember that Crossover has a rather rigorous hiring process and it uses the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) as a key component in evaluating candidates. This article will guide you through Crossover’s hiring steps, particularly focusing on the CCAT assessment.
Overview of Crossover’s Hiring Steps
Crossover’s hiring process involves the following stages:
Initial application screening
Basic Fit test
CCAT assessment
Spoken English Test
Real work assignments
Interview with hiring manager
Offer and proctored CCAT retake
Let’s look deeper into the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) portion of this process.
Detailed Breakdown of the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)
The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) is a crucial step in Crossover’s hiring process. Here’s what you need to know:
Time Limit: 15 minutes
Number of Questions: 50
Question Types: Verbal, Math and Logic, Spatial Reasoning
Scoring: Based on the number of correct answers, with percentile rankings
Crossover uses the CCAT to assess your problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and aptitude for learning new information quickly.
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Remote Jobs in 2024
Tips Specific to Crossover’s Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)
Aim High: Crossover often looks for candidates scoring above the 90th percentile, with some roles requiring scores in the 95th percentile or higher (40+ marks out of 50).
Time Management: Practice answering questions quickly but accurately.
Broad Knowledge: The CCAT covers a wide range of topics, so brush up on various subjects.
No Calculator: Mental math skills are crucial as no calculator is allowed.
How Crossover Uses CCAT Scores in Their Decision-Making
Crossover uses CCAT scores as a key factor in their hiring decisions:
Initial Screening: A minimum score (40) is often required to proceed in the process.
Role Matching: Higher scores may qualify you for more advanced or complex roles.
Potential Assessment: Scores help predict your ability to learn and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Preparing for Crossover’s CCAT Assessment
To maximize your chances of success, consider these preparation strategies:
Take CCAT Practice Tests: Familiarize yourself with the question types and time pressure.
Improve Weak Areas: Identify and focus on improving your weakest areas.
Time Management: Practice answering questions quickly and accurately.
Stay Calm: Remember, the CCAT is designed to be challenging. Stay focused and do your best.
In the last 4 years, 100+ people have asked me on LinkedIn on how to pass the CCAT, so a few months ago I decided to create a course on Udemy for CCAT Practice Tests. It has 4 mock CCAT tests that closely match what you can expect in the actual CCAT test.
You can access that via this link : Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) Practice Tests 2024. If you end up taking the course, I would appreciate it if you could drop your feedback on my LinkedIn if you find anything “off” in the course, so that I can correct/improve it for future learners (thank you! 🙂 ).
There are also some free resources if you just want to get an idea of the sort of questions you can expect here:
Understanding Crossover’s hiring process, particularly the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) assessment, is crucial for your success. The hiring process is designed to identify candidates who will do well in Crossover’s high-performance, remote work environment. With proper preparation, especially through quality CCAT practice tests, you can approach the assessment with confidence and increase your chances of landing your desired role at Crossover.
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Remote Jobs in 2024
What is the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)?
Purpose and Use in Hiring Processes
Test Structure and Content
How Companies Like Crossover Use CCAT
Tips for CCAT Preparation
Where to find CCAT Practice Tests?
Are you preparing for a job application that requires a cognitive aptitude test? You might be facing the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test, or CCAT. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the CCAT, from its purpose to preparation strategies.
What is the Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT)?
The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) is a popular pre-employment assessment used by many companies, including Crossover, to evaluate a candidate’s problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and aptitude for learning new information. This cognitive aptitude assessment is designed to predict job performance and learning potential across a wide range of occupations.
Purpose and Use in Hiring Processes
Employers use the CCAT to:
Assess a candidate’s ability to solve problems and learn quickly
Predict job performance and potential for success in a role
Streamline the hiring process by identifying top candidates early
Companies like Crossover incorporate the CCAT into their hiring process to ensure they’re selecting candidates who can thrive in fast-paced, intellectually demanding environments.
Test Structure and Content
The CCAT consists of 50 questions that must be completed in 15 minutes. The test covers three main areas:
Verbal ability
Math and logic
Spatial reasoning
Questions are presented in a multiple-choice format and include:
Word analogies
Number series
Math word problems
Logic statements
Figure matrices
CCAT Scoring system
CCAT scores are typically reported on a scale from 0 to 50, representing the number of correct answers. Many employers also look at percentile rankings, which compare your score to those of other test-takers. For example, a score in the 80th percentile means you performed better than 80% of other test-takers.
Different roles may require different minimum scores. For instance, Crossover often looks for candidates scoring above the 90th percentile for most positions, with some roles requiring scores in the 95th percentile or higher (40+ marks out of 50).
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Crossover’s hiring process
Applying to Crossover for a job | Sharing my experience
How Companies Like Crossover Use CCAT
Crossover, known for its rigorous hiring process, uses the CCAT as a crucial step in evaluating candidates. Here’s how they typically incorporate it:
Initial application screening
CCAT assessment
Further skills tests or assignments
Interviews for top-performing candidates
The CCAT helps Crossover identify candidates who are likely to excel in their high-performance, remote work environment.
Tips for CCAT Preparation
Familiarize yourself with the test format and question types
Practice time management – 15 minutes for 50 questions is challenging
Take CCAT practice tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses
Focus on improving your weak areas through targeted practice
Develop strategies for quick problem-solving and educated guessing
Get plenty of rest before the test day
Remember, while you can improve your performance through practice, the CCAT is designed to measure your innate cognitive abilities. Consistent practice with quality CCAT practice exams can help you perform at your best.
Where to find CCAT Practice Tests?
In the last 4 years, 100+ people have asked me on LinkedIn on how to pass the CCAT, so a few months ago I decided to create a course on Udemy for CCAT Practice Tests. It has 4 mock CCAT tests that closely match what you can expect in the actual CCAT test.
You can access that via this link : Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) Practice Tests 2024. If you end up taking the course, I would appreciate it if you could drop your feedback on my LinkedIn if you find anything “off” in the course, so that I can correct/improve it for future learners (thank you! 🙂 ).
Conclusion
Understanding the CCAT is crucial for anyone applying to companies that use this cognitive aptitude assessment in their hiring process. By familiarizing yourself with the test structure, content, and scoring system, you can approach the CCAT with confidence. Remember, preparation is key – consider investing in comprehensive CCAT practice tests to maximize your chances of success.
Whether you’re applying to Crossover or another company using the CCAT, mastering this cognitive aptitude test can open doors to exciting career opportunities. Good luck with your preparation!
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Remote Jobs in 2024
The process is rather simple, I have jotted down all the steps in the bullets below:
Click on “New”.
Create a GitHub repository
Enter the name for your repository. Select whether you wish to keep it private (only you can see it), or make it public (visible to everyone). Then click on “Create Repository”.
Configure your repository’s settings
A new page will open. From that, copy the below line (it will be different for each repo), you’ll need it later:
URL for remote repository hosted on GitHub
In your terminal/command prompt, navigate to your project directory:
Navigate to your project directory
Run git init ; it will initialize a local repository in that folder.
git init
Run git add . ; it will add all the files in that folder to the local repository.
git add .
Run git commit -m "<Enter a short text to describe your commit>"
git commit -m “<commit message>”
All the files in your project are now committed to your local repository.
Now, you need to sync your local repository (that is on your PC/system) with the remote repository (that is hosted on GitHub). To do that, first paste the command you copied earlier which specifies the URL of the remote repository, it will link your local repo with the remote repo:
git remote add <remote repo’s URL>
Run git push -u origin main; this will push/sync the changes/code from the local repository to the remote repository on GitHub.
git push -u origin main
Note: If you have large files (over 100MB), they will fail to upload and show an error similar to the one in the below image. If that is the case, please go through How to Upload Large Files to GitHub | Git LFS.
Large files – use Git LFS
Go to GitHub and refresh the page that you were on. You should now be able to see all the files in your GitHub repository.
In this post, I have tried to cover the different questions that I get regarding working with Crossover. After you have gone through this article, if you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn with your specific query and I’d be happy to answer it for you. However, please be sure to read this post completely and explore all the resources that have been mentioned in it.
Crossover Available Roles & Crossover Application Process
Navigate to Crossover’s website [Navbar > Join Crossover > Current Openings], you’ll see the different roles that they’re hiring for at the moment.
Go through the titles of the roles, see which ones fit your profile/skillset.
Read the detailed Job Description, specifically the Candidate Requirements section.
If you’re not fully sure that you are eligible for the role, apply for it anyway, as the very first step in your application is the Basic Fit test. It takes 10-20 seconds to fill and within 30 seconds it would let you know if you’re eligible to apply for the role or not.
The next step is the Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT), coupled with a Spoken English Proficiency Test. (More details on the CCAT below).
Other than that, there might be role specific tests , which shouldn’t take more than 30-60 minutes to complete. Note: You only have to complete these tests once and it would apply for all the other roles that you apply to. Note: An additional “Generative AI Assessment” has also recently been added – I will update the article to give tips for that in the coming weeks; for the time being, if you need raw unstructured advice on that, just ping me on LinkedIn.
The next part is Real Work, which would test your domain knowledge. These tasks would be role specific; I’ve seen a minimum of one and a maximum of three real work assignments for different roles over time. Most of these are not timed (from what I’ve seen), and they give you a very nice, long description of what to expect in that particular assignment. So just read through that, see if you’d like/need to revise anything before attempting it, then go ahead and do the assignment.
Once you clear the real work assignment(s), the hiring manager will review your complete profile and if you seem like a good fit, they’d invite you for an interview.
If you’ve cleared all the previous steps on your own, the interview shouldn’t really be much of an issue for you. Just don’t do any major blunders and you should be fine.
Clearing the interview gets you the offer, and before joining you have to re-take the CCAT test, only this time, it would be proctored. So, if you used a calculator, or cheated in any way previously, you’d basically have your offer rescinded.
That’s all! Note: Once you apply for a role, these steps appear on the portal as well.
The best way to crack the Crossover CCAT test is to practice. That’s the only way that works; you need to train your mind about the type of questions you can expect, learn some tricks to “save time” because the limiting factor in that test is time. I believe that if anyone had 60 minutes for the CCAT; they would for sure score 100% marks, because the questions themselves are not hard; it’s just that some of them are “time sinks” and you need some “tricks” or practice to quickly do them, or decide to “skip” them to have a shot at attempting all 50 questions in the given time.
In the last 4 years, 100+ people have asked me on LinkedIn on how to pass the CCAT, so a few months ago I decided to create a course on Udemy for CCAT Practice Tests. It has 5 mock CCAT tests that closely match what you can expect in the actual CCAT test. You can access that via this link : Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) Practice Tests 2024. If you end up taking the course, I would appreciate it if you could drop your feedback on my LinkedIn if you find anything “off” in the course, so that I can correct/improve it for future learners (thank you! 🙂 ).
That said, besides the practice tests, here’s some key points:
You get 12 minutes (IIRC, or maybe 15 minutes – you will know in advance of course) to attempt 50 questions. From what I’ve noticed, this is the rough scale:
4 stars > 35+ marks.
5 stars > 40+ marks.
6 stars > 45+ marks.
Each role would have a different requirement for the number of stars.
Mindfulness and focus really matters in this one. Best to do it on a day and time when you’re fully relaxed and haven’t done any other mind-numbing activity.
Question types include: Basic Mathematics, English & puzzles.
Be fast. Don’t think you know the answer straight away and it’d likely take you more than 30 seconds to get it? Make a guess move on. Try to attempt all 50 questions in the allotted time.
To add to the above point, questions are ordered randomly (not in increasing order of difficulty), so it’s very likely that if you’re only able to attempt 45 questions for instance, the last 5 questions might have been easy but you never got to them because you spent too much time on a hard question (hard = would take more than 30 seconds to solve).
Try to find some generic tips & tricks for ‘quick math questions’. Example: 12 is 20% of what number (x is y% of what number). You can solve that in your head quite quickly by doing x100/y | (12100)/20 = 60. This is just an example. Series, sequences, basic algebra, these are some of the topics that I remember being touched in this exam, so just do a quick 20-30 minutes revision of these.
TAKE the test. The best way to know which areas you need to improve on and what to expect on the test, is to take the test. They let you take it twice before blocking you for the next 3 or 6 months. Once you have taken the test, I’m sure you can pinpoint which areas you struggled in (took more time) and can look for online resources where you can practice similar questions.
I compiled a list of a few free resources for the CCAT Practice Tests here:
Varies from team to team and company to company. But my general observation has been that as long as you’re doing quality work, you would be fine.
Your colleagues are going to be very very smart people (they went through the same challenging recruitment process that you did), so you always have to be delivering your best work to keep your performance levels high.
There is a lot of autonomy – little to no micromanagement. You get constructive feedback/coaching for areas where you can improve by your Manager, if and when needed, in an asynchronous manner.
Shift requirements can vary from team to team, or company to company.
You’re not bothered past your shift timings, for most roles that I know of at least.
If you’re on holidays, there are very low chances that you would be bothered at all. I personally never have been, IIC. Again, I obviously haven’t worked, or talked to people, in all the roles. But one thing that I have observed is that if you are requested to check in on a holiday, it would be for emergency cases only, where you are the only resource that is equipped to handle the situation.
Fully remote – no time wasted traveling.
Compensation is as advertised. If it says $50/hr on the portal, that’s exactly what you would be getting. Payment cycles are weekly, not monthly.
You’re expected to treat this as a full-time commitment (I’ve never seen Crossover advertise a part-time job) , minus any (un)planned holidays.
💡Youtube Playlist: Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Remote Jobs in 2024
Conclusion:
I’ve read some really bad reviews on Glassdoor, but did not really find them to be true for pretty much all the teams that I’ve had a chance to collaborate with, but of course, experiences can vary based on perceptions so feel free to ask other people directly (Plus, most of the reviews on Glassdoor I’d say are by people who basically never really cleared the recruitment round). Lastly, I’ve only covered the basics here, if you have any specific questions, drop them in the comments below or message me on LinkedIn. I’ll either include them in the article so that other people can benefit from them in the future, or see if I can schedule a meeting with you if it requires detailed guidance/can’t be covered properly over text.
P.S: Read the FAQs on their website, they cover a lot of common queries quite well.
I have also covered some other areas that you might have questions about. You can read about it here:
In this brief article, I will cover the basics of Git Large File System, short for Git-LFS.
Purpose/Use Case
Its use case is, as the name suggests, to allow uploading large files (over 100 MB – to be precise) to your GitHub Repository. You might need to push design files to your repository (for documentation purposes, or to keep everything related to a project in one place), or you might be a game developer, in which case, there are dozens of files with a size that is north of the limit.
How it Works – Theory
In essence, the large files are still not stored within the GitHub repository. Git-LFS works by uploading the large files to the cloud and store a pointer with the location of that file in your GitHub Repository.
If you do not wish to add the large files to your GitHub repository, you can simply add them to the .gitignore file. As a basic example, let us say you wish to prevent all the zip files in your local repository from being tracked/uploaded to the remote repository, you would add the following line in your .gitignore file:
*.zip
If you do wish to track the large files, then you can either add those files individually or in bulk. The bulk is particularly useful when most of your files over 100 MB are divided into a few different extensions. For instance, you might have 15 PSD files and 10 zip files.
Steps
Navigate to the project directory in terminal/command prompt and run the below commands:
git lfs install
git lfs track *.psd
That’s it. Add, commit and push your changes to the remote repository like you normally would and the error won’t appear.
In this article, we are going to learn about Google colaboratory notebooks in as much detail as possible. This tutorial is going to cover a variety of things related to Google colab, the details of which you can find in the Table of Contents Below.
What Google colab offers
How to setup Google colab
Enabling GPU and some basic functions
Importing files/datasets to Google colab notebook
If you have already used Google colab and know a few things feel free to skip any part that you’re already familiar with and jump right to the part you are interested in.
What Google Colab Offers
The reason why Google collab has become so popular nowadays is mainly because they offer free GPU for training for up to 12 hours continuously and even after that you can reconnect for a new session and the thing is that most people do not have a GPU in their workstation. Those who do – it’s not manufactured by Nvidia. The current GPU that collab offers is nvidia tesla T4.
Once you are there, right click, click on more, click on connect more apps.
4. Type colaboratory in the search bar and the click on install.
5. After installation close this tab.
6. After that right click and go to “more” and open colaboratory. It will create a new colab notebook for you.
7. To rename your notebook:
8. Buttons to add more code cells, to add more text cells and to delete cells are as follows. It’s as simple as that.
Enabling GPU and some basic functions
To check which devices are connected to your notebook currently, run the commands mentioned below:
from tensorflow.python.client import device_lib
device_lib.list_local_devices ()
Currently we only have a CPU connected to its memory.
To avail Google’s free GPU service, click on “edit” and then “notebook settings” to enable GPU. Save it as you go. It will take some time to connect (5-6 seconds).
Run the above code again. Now it will show that a GPU device is connected as well. It’s name is Tesla T4.
To install a library or a framework write the command !pip install and the name of the framework or library. Let’s try tensorflow.
Nowthis command might not always work, in case it doesn’t, just go to Google and write “how to install ‘library name’ on google collaboratory notebooks”. The first few searches will probably give you a single line command that you can run on your notebook to install that library on your Google collab notebooks.
To clone a github repository through your Google Drive simply just go to that repository and copy the link, come back to your notebook and write this command with your link. !wget clone “your repo link” With this your repository will be cloned in your file.
To check the content of your current folder use the command ‘!ls’. As you can see the repository has been cloned in our current directory.
Let’s now learn how to navigate to the Google Drive folders. The LS command shows you the content of your current directory. To move back one directory, this is the command that you would run.
To see the contents of your current directory use the same command “!ls”. This is what you will get.
Let’s go to the content folder with this command. cd content. Let’s see what we have inside it. It has Drive simple data and the file you imported from git just now.
Go to sample data with command cd sample_data to put some datasets in there. First go into the file and check its contents. If you want to remove something just type RM and the name of the file. To see if the file has been removed or not, type the LS command again. It should have been removed.
To see the contents of a file use this command !cat "name of file". It displays what was inside that file
Importing files or datasets into Google colab notebook
Let us now learn how to import our dataset into our Google collaboratory notebook. For that, go to Google Apps website with this link.
Copy this line of code and also import pandas library.
Run this cell**
Go back, copy this line of code, paste it in one cell and run it.
uploaded = files.upload()
Choose files and upload them, in this case it is an Expenses.csv file and try to read that file with the command shown.
To import an online dataset into your Google collaborate notebook the easiest way to do that is to write this command and add the link to it.
!wget "the link to import dataset"
Let’s add this link for example and run the cell. The name of the data set as you can see is Titanic.csv.
Now try to read it with the following command.
The data set has been successfully imported to our Google colaboratory notebook.
Before we continue, I would like to discuss a common error that arises when you’re using colab.
It means that all the GPUs that Google offers are currently busy and you can solve this problem simply by trying a few minutes later.
To see the parameters that a function of any library like tensor-flow, keras and scikit learn uses, this is how you can do it.
The documentation for that function will be shown to you which will include the parameters that the function takes as well as what each parameter means and in some cases it will also include an example of how that function can be used.
That’s all folks. Have a good time coding with Google Colab.
