The Working Interview: A New Way of Hiring
Whether you’re hiring or job hunting, it’s crucial to get a good sense of an opportunity before committing, and sometimes a traditional interview just doesn’t cut it. It may not be until after a candidate starts work that it’s apparent they’re not a good fit. On the flip side, the candidate may determine the role or the organization is not right for them either.
Wouldn’t it be nice to do a trial run to prevent this scenario in the first place? That’s where the working interview comes in.
What is a Working Interview?
Starting with the definition, a working interview is:
“An interview method where job candidates demonstrate their ability to perform jobs or tasks.”
In short, a candidate works for the employer for a short period of time in order to review their performance and, ultimately, make a hiring decision.
How does it work?
Compared to a traditional interview, where an employer sits down with a candidate to ask questions and analyze their answers, a working interview is a “trial run” where the employer assigns tasks to the candidate.
Employers: Make sure to give candidates tasks that best allow you to monitor their performance so you can see how they’d perform on the job.
Professionals: You can think of it as auditioning for a part. An employer may bring a few people in and offer the role to those who perform best. Plus, it gives you a chance to prove your skills and expertise for the position.
Advantages of the Working Interview
Now, you’re probably wondering why you should consider a working interview.
Interviews can be helpful to get to know someone, but it can be hard to get a full grasp of what it’d be like once the offer is signed. Sometimes this leads to multiple interviews and potentially wasted time for employers and candidates alike. To avoid that, have candidates come in for a couple of hours or even a couple of weeks so both parties can accurately assess the fit and make a mutual decision. Then, there’s no commitment, and it’s a win-win for everyone.
Benefits for organizations:
Try before you hire
On top of evaluating the skills and performance of candidates, you get a chance to see how they interact within the company culture. Assessing all aspects will ensure you find the best fit for each of your criteria.
Find the best match
You can evaluate as many candidates as you want and keep hiring until you find who you’re looking for. Hire one candidate at a time or a few candidates at once to find the best fit.
Stay on top of tasks
If one person isn’t the right fit, you can send them home in as little as a couple of hours. Worst case scenario, the candidate still got a couple of hours of paid work, and you got tasks done to keep your business on schedule.
Save time
A working interview means less time commitment compared to traditional interviews. Instead of spending hours and hours sorting through resumes, reaching out to applicants, and bringing them in for interviews, you can bring candidates into work right away and get the offer out sooner.
Reduce turnover… therefore, reducing costs
Turnover is tough, especially when it costs your business. Since professionals have already experienced what it’s like to work for the company and perform the role, they know what to expect. They had the chance to try out the job and decide it was a good fit.
How to get started
Now that you know how working interviews can benefit your organization, here are a few simple steps to easily implement them into your hiring process:
Outline what you are looking for
Talk to your team and define what you need. Be specific in the roles, responsibilities, skills, ideal start date, and anything else you can think of.
Post a job
Choose a platform that best suits you and be specific when posting a job. Don’t be afraid to think outside of your typical job posting routine. Your usual job board may not get the best results when posting working interviews. Instead, evaluate your options and choose one that aligns closest with your goals.
If you’re evaluating options, AmbiMi provides an easy-to-use platform that allows you to post working interviews directly in the app!
Get ready for their arrival
Choose the tasks you want the candidate to complete to showcase their ability. Remember, they’re evaluating you, too! Make sure to prepare everything you need before their start time.
Get their feedback
At the end of the working interview, ask the candidate about their thoughts and gather feedback on the role. You can ask their opinions on everything from the tasks to the wage to their commute. Any feedback is valuable for the future.
Talk to your team
It’s important to hire someone that fits well within your company. Once the candidate leaves, ask your team about their thoughts on performance and cultural fit. Make sure you talk to multiple members to ensure there’s no bias.
Make a decision
If it was a great match, go ahead and make the candidate an offer! Or, if you’re not sure, you can try hiring a few more candidates to determine who is the best fit.
Benefits for professionals:
Try before you sign
In addition to evaluating the role, responsibilities, and company culture, you can see if the job fits into your lifestyle. From the commute to the working hours, you will see how the position fits into your daily routine.
Get paid to interview
Maybe you’ll get paid for a zoom interview one day, but we’re not there yet. However, you are paid for the entire shift in a working interview. A little extra income never hurt anyone, right?
Stand out!
Companies get to see what you’re capable of. This gives you the chance to prove yourself right for the job. Try to stand out from the crowd to ensure that the job offer will come in the end.
Better chance to negotiate
Get a grasp of the role and what you specifically bring to the table. If you play your cards right, this valuable insight will be crucial to accurately negotiating compensation and may lead to a higher wage than listed on the original job posting.