Nowadays, it would be difficult to find a company that is looking for a new addition to the team and is not planning any tasks for the candidates. In this article, we will present a few steps on how to make these test tasks for candidates to make your recruitment efforts do not go to waste.

Define the Skills You Want to Test

Determine the fundamental abilities needed for the role before developing a test task. Put equal emphasis on hard skills (like writing and coding) and soft skills (like communication and problem-solving). Prioritize the necessary abilities based on the job description. Testing code logic and debugging abilities, for instance, is essential for software developers, whereas evaluating creativity and grammar proficiency makes sense for content writers.

Think of the Most Suitable Task for the Position

Create an assignment that reflects the difficulties that applicants would encounter in the position in the actual world. Make sure it is time-efficient, role-specific, and realistic. Make sure your tasks are relevant – steer clear of "busy work" that doesn't correspond with the duties of the position. For instance, developing a brief campaign outline would be more pertinent for a marketing manager position than resolving theoretical marketing conundrums.

Double-Check the Task with the Team

Work together with the recruitment specialists and your team to make sure the test task is balanced, acceptable, clear, equitable, and doable. Have a team member test the task, for instance, to asses the task completion time for the candidate.

Think of the Evaluation Process

To maintain objectivity and transparency in the evaluation, specify how you will evaluate the task. Make a rubric or grading system with predetermined standards (such as timeliness, inventiveness, and accuracy). Choose which is more important: the strategy, the outcome, or both. For instance, in design positions, emphasize not only technical accuracy but also creativity and attention to detail.

Do Not Forget About the Feedback

Regardless of the result, evaluate candidates' tasks and provide them with constructive criticism. Feedback boosts your employer's brand and enhances the applicant’s experience.