How to interview with work samples and case studies

A HireArt Presentation

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What is a Work Sample?

Work Samples Interviews ask candidates do a real task that they might encounter on the job:

•  Make a Sales Pitch

•  Write an Email

•  Create a Presentation

•  Solve a Math Problem

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Work samples give you much more information than other types of interviews

1) Skills and know-how:

2) Real personality

3) Let candidate see whether they like the work Do they like the work you give them? Does it seem like a chore or do they enjoy the sample tasks?

Can the candidate do the work? Do they have the technical skills and experience?

What is the candidate like at work? Are they team players? How do they handle pressure?

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Experts confirm that work samples and cases are the best way to hire

Sam Altman, Partner at Y Combinator

If you’re interviewing a developer, have her write code for a real but non-critical project. For a PR person, have her write a press release and identify reporters to pitch it to.

Your interviewer will describe a strategic or operational challenge, and using the available facts, you’ll structure your thinking and reach defensible conclusions in a short period of time. Among others, these skills are common to successful consultants.

McKinsey and Company

0   0.1   0.2   0.3   0.4   0.5   0.6  

Work  Sample  Test  

Employment  interviews  (unstructured)    

Job  experience  years  

Years  of  educaHon  

0.18  

0.38  

0.54  

0.10  

Research shows work samples are the best way to evaluate talent Predictors  of  Job  Success,  Dr.  Bob  Su4on,  Stanford  University,  meta-­‐analysis  

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To come up with work sample questions, think of a typical work day…

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Competencies Post Job Job Skills

Communication Skills

Case Interview

1. Determine job/ role

2. Design similar tasks

3. Administer Pre-Screen

- Make a list of tasks or activities the employee will do on a daily basis

-  For example: Sales people will make sales calls, write sales emails, do lead generation and go to events.

- Generate short assignments that mimic these tasks

-  For example, ask a sales candidate to write a sample sales email based on information about the product that you provide

- Administer the tasks in person or via phone/ video

- Doing video interviews is best as it allows you to test a broader range of applicants

-  In person work sample tests allow you to see a candidates’ reaction and ability to work in teams

Be careful with the following

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1) Excessive work: Don’t give the applicant too much work. You don’t want to scare them away!

2) Unpaid work/ Free lunch: Don’t

expect candidates to do free work. If you ask them to do real work, pay them as contractors.

3) Personality types: Remember that some of us are bad test takers. Use the outcomes of the work sample interviews as indicators, not as final arbiters.

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HireArt lets you administer work sample tests online

•  Candidates answer questions over video, text and attachments

•  Candidates can record the questions in their homes but some questions are timed

•  Seeing a candidate in this format lets us quickly assess their skills, eloquence and personality

HireArt also lets you recruit candidates who have already taken work sample tests

Thank you!

If you’re interested in using work sample to hire, visit us at www.hireart.com