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To assess analytical ability, candidates should be asked to provide an analysis sample: a written analysis from the candidate. As with the work and writing samp
by jrmg 3y ago
To assess analytical ability, candidates should be asked to provide an analysis sample: a written analysis from the candidate. As with the work and writing sample, the specifics of the prompt will vary by domain: for engineers, this should be the analysis that the candidate performed of a system behaving pathologically; for sales, this might be the research the candidate performed of a prospect and their fit with the product before reaching out to them; for operations, this might be the examination of an existing process with an eye towards improvement; for product management, this might be the exploration of a new system or of a new aspect of the system. Regardless of domain, the sample should contain enough concrete detail to assess analytical ability, with the candidate asked to recall details to the best of their ability.
Given the level of detail requested here, in writing, this feels like it’s requiring proprietary information from a previous job.
I don’t think many people do “analysis [...] of a system behaving pathologically,” or “perform[] [analysis] of a [sales] prospect and their fit with the product before reaching out to them” on their own.
- steveklabnik 3y agoWe do not solicit proprietary information. It is true that it is more difficult for a candidate who has done more private, or NDA'd, work than someone who has done a lot of open source work. But we understand if details need to be elided in order to be respectful of previous commitments. We have hired people in all of these various states before. > I don’t think many people do [snip] on their own. It is true that many people need to do new work as part of the application process. I wrote a large portion of my packet from scratch.
- Paul-Craft 3y ago> It is true that it is more difficult for a candidate who has done more private, or NDA'd, work than someone who has done a lot of open source work. I hope you realize as well that approximately everybody is the former sort of candidate.
- steveklabnik 3y agoMost people are in the middle. They can discuss previous work on some level. Yes, most people’s jobs are not purely in open source. That doesn’t mean they can’t discuss previous work they’ve done. Every employer wants to hear about past accomplishments in some form.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]