What are hiring managers looking for in take-home assessments?

Anonymous

February 17,2023 at 6:03PM UTC

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What are hiring managers looking for in take-home assessments?

So, I am currently on the hunt for a new job. Usually, I am asked to show examples of work, but during this job search I have been asked more and more to complete a take-home assessment, usually with a quick turnaround time (like 24 or 48 hours).

I know some people say not to work for free, but I don't mind the assessments because it allows me to see if I can do the job (or even want to, assuming that the task is similar to something I am doing).

I also do not mind the quick turnaround time because it makes it finite and limits the number of hours I can put into it before having to send off the result.

In my line of work, they usually fall in line with assignments like this:

Write code or a short program that does something (like a TODO app).

Create a README for the code.

Write documentation to explain this technical concept.

I make sure I follow instructions, answer the prompt fully, and proofread. If a time limit like 'this should take no more than 1 hour' is provided I try to respect it, but inevitably double that time.

But what are hiring managers really looking for in these take-home assessments?

With such a quick turnaround, they often are not absolutely perfect (but as perfect as I can do in the time limit and I try my best), so if they expect fast food style perfection, I know I am falling short.

But what are hiring managers actually looking for with these assessments?

I am hoping that if I understand better what they are looking for, I can maximize the limited amount of time I have and do a a better job.

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Amy Carissa OliverFebruary 17,2023 at 6:26PM UTC
I work in a very niche area of writing and research. So, for me, the assessment tells me whether the candidate has two things: (1) a basic understanding of the research area and (2) basic writing acumen.
Sample work shows me what a final product looks like coming from them, but in samples I never know how much editing and support they had to have to get there.
AnonymousFebruary 17,2023 at 6:30PM UTC
Typically, they are a screen to make sure you aren't just buzz word proficient. In some cases, people apply for positions for which they are only tangentially qualified. An assignment allows you to see if they know their stuff or not.
AnonymousFebruary 17,2023 at 6:57PM UTC
Recruiters on LinkedIn have put their foot down on work assessments and take home projects, etc. If it takes less than 20 minutes, they say it's your call, more than that, it's a hard NO. Sometimes the company is looking for a creative mind that can solve a problem that no one in the company has been able to. Sometimes they're looking for a new idea from a "consumer" (you). Either way, they now own your work, unless you signed an agreement of work ownership. If they want to pay you your rates (if self-employed), make sure you get them to also sign an NDA, and ask where and who to send your invoice to for payment in full before work begins. Once paid, you'll do their project. That should tell you all you need to know about the company and any red flags that were hiding in the wind.
AnonymousFebruary 17,2023 at 8:51PM UTC
As a hiring manager, I let a former boss convince me to assign "homework" during the interview process just once. I hired the person who told me it really wasn't super appropriate, and I realized she was right. At least in that case, there were other ways to assess candidate's critical thinking, analytical, communication, and other skills
AnonymousFebruary 19,2023 at 1:27PM UTC
having assigned assessments myself and created them, I do know that every candidate has to be given the same assessment for that job or its not legal.
and there can only be one person for one job so you may be submitting some great ideas they can just use not needing your permission. as someone said in this post, there are other ways to assess a persons qualifications unfortunately were living in some unprecedented times of how hiring is taking place and how a lot of applicants and candidates just fall into a black hole and have no responses from employers, it’s disgraceful.
you’ll have to do what’s in your best interest and what you feel comfortable with.
AnonymousFebruary 19,2023 at 1:28PM UTC
unfortunately, assessments are subjective and so are the people reviewing them. That’s why they are supposed to be quantitive.
QFebruary 19,2023 at 4:16PM UTC
It's very subjective. Personally, I don't like take home work as part of an interview process. When I'm the one interviewing a candidate, I'd rather talk in person and throw out some scenarios or quick solves you can demonstrate right then. Small things that don't steal your ideas and which a candidate can't have someone else do for them "off screen."
AnonymousFebruary 19,2023 at 6:58PM UTC
It sounds like you are doing software development. What is generally looked for is problem solving, how you look at testing your own work, neatness of the code and any annotations in there, and does it work. If you don't complete in the max time allowed they they assume you struggle to meet deadlines. I would also suggest asking them when you get the test is it a graded test? What will the basis of the decision be based upon - speed, cleanliness, other. Be sure to ask because if not you are wasting time for nothing.