Well, you shouldn't hire someone (by analogy) that can't abstractly describe the process of building chairs. Once they can describe the abstract process, then

Well, you shouldn't hire someone (by analogy) that can't abstractly describe the process of building chairs. Once they can describe the abstract process, then you can dig down conversationally to find out what part of the process they have the most experience in, and what they enjoy the most (joinery, design, sanding, finishing, etc.) That should provide some useful insight into whether they can actually build chairs.