New recruitment trend in Internet firms

Those seeking jobs at Internet-related companies may soon be subject to tests by e-mail of their skills in operating home pages and carrying out other high-tech tasks.

Digital Good Morning Co., which operates an on-line bookstore (www.foxbook.com), said Monday that it recently conducted a test by e-mail of 20 new employees.

Large conglomerates often accept job applications by e-mail but rarely give on-line tests because of the possibility of cheating.

An official of Digital Good Morning said that the company opted for the new testing method because it found it cumbersome to gather test takers in one place. He said any cheaters would be sorted out through later interviews.