Work samples are specific tasks or projects that a candidate is required to complete as part of the application process. Learn more about practical tips and the benefits of their use in this blogpost.

how can you use work samples during the selection process?

In our recent Virtual Coffee on hiring HR professionals, facilitated by our balanced duo Iulia Cioca en Brecht Santens, we explored the challenges and opportunities of hiring HR professionals. One of the most reliable tools to hire HR professionals is the use of work samples. In this blog post, we delve deeper into what work samples are and how they can be used to better assess a candidate's quality.

What Are Work Samples?

Work samples are specific tasks or projects that a candidate is required to complete as part of the application process. These tasks are designed to show what the candidate can actually do in a role similar to the one being applied for. Instead of relying on resumes and interviews, which can sometimes be misleading, work samples offer a practical way to evaluate a candidate's skills and competencies.

Practical Examples of Work Samples

For instance, when recruiting an HR Learning and Development professional, you could ask the candidate to prepare a plan for a 20-minute training session on teamwork and then actually deliver that session afterwards.

Such practical exercises are valuable. They provide an experience that shows how the candidate behaves in a realistic work situation. It goes beyond just theoretical knowledge; it demonstrates the candidate's actual capabilities in a work environment. This helps employers assess whether the candidate meets the evaluation criteria set for the position. In the video below, Iulia and Brecht explain this further: 

 

Benefits of Work Samples in the Hiring Process

Using work samples offers several advantages:

  • Objective Assessment: Work samples provide an objective measure for evaluating a candidate's skills. They eliminate the bias that can arise from just looking at a resume.
  • Realism: They offer a realistic view of what a candidate can expect in the role and how they will perform.
  • Quality Assurance: Work samples help ensure that a candidate not only has experience but also the right skills. As the video below illustrates, someone may claim to have been doing a task for 20 years, but their experience is not a garantuee for quality. Work samples help avoid such scenarios.

In summary, by integrating work samples into the hiring process, companies can make more informed and unbiased decisions, ultimately leading to better hires and more successful teams.