I'm curious: how do you all feel about writing prompts DURING the application process (e.g., no interview yet).
I personally don't mind them, but I have trouble determining how much time I should spend on them, especially given that I haven't met the team yet. And, if you use writing prompts, is the cover letter still necessary?
Please share!
9 Comments
9 Comments
Krystin
141
Recruiting Leader & Résumé Writer in Seattle
11/30/20 at 6:19PM UTC
I'd be curious to know exactly what's being asked before an interview. If it's something short (like "write an email to a client") I think that's totally reasonable. But if it's something much more labor-intensive, I'm not sure I'd want to do that without at least knowing more about the job + whether I'm interested in it!
I would suggest not spending more than an hour, ideally less depending on the prompt. I think a cover letter is useful to explain why you're interested in the job + how you're uniquely a fit, so it isn't necessarily replaced by a writing assessment.
1 Reply
Alec Shannon
68
Global Health Management + Comms
12/01/20 at 7:33PM UTC
Thanks for weighing in Krystin! I should have noted the job post was totally awesome and I was very interested in the position. Interestingly, I went a bit of a different direction than you might have - I decided the prompts were my time to shine, and while I did submit a cover letter it was very brief and to the point.
Reply
Arika Lawrence
188
UX/Digital Strategist
11/30/20 at 6:57PM UTC
This is interesting! I am known to submit my previous writing samples for a job, and I did have to submit a writing prompt once (during the application process). They gave me a content-related work scenario and wanted me to write out how I would go about completing this task. I believe the prompt was more about understanding my thought process but it also gave them a chance to see how I could articulate a particular business process. I agree with Krystin, too. I wouldn't spend a lot of time on the prompt either; I think I wrote up my prompt in less than 1 hour. I still provided previous work samples and a cover letter because the role I was applying for had a heavy writing need. P.S. I did end up getting the job!
1 Reply
Alec Shannon
68
Global Health Management + Comms
12/01/20 at 7:36PM UTC
Great that you got the job, and congrats!
I have also submitted writing samples (pre-prepared) for other jobs, along with a cover letter and CV, and got the jobs. I have heard of timed prompts but never experienced submitting them alongside the initial application until now.
Reply
Lisa Strite
38
Product leader in Southwest Florida
11/30/20 at 9:40PM UTC
It definitely depends on the job. When we are hiring anyone with content creation as a key part of the role, we do ask candidates to submit writing prompts as part of the interview process.
Much like Arika described, it's always a real-world exercise to help us gauge someone's creativity, writing quality, and ability to take feedback.
Done well, a writing prompt should give you an expected timeframe to invest in completion; if not, it's completely appropriate to ask for guidance from HR or your hiring contact. When you send in your submission, you can also note how much time you actually spent, as a way to indicate the level of effort reflected by the deliverable.
And, yes -- follow Arika here too: if you have samples already, definitely offer those up first! We've waived the writing prompt part of the interview for candidates with great samples already.
User edited comment on 11/30/20 at 9:41PM UTC
1 Reply
Alec Shannon
68
Global Health Management + Comms
12/01/20 at 7:38PM UTC
I totally agree with everything you've said, Lisa. And, content creation (storytelling) is part of the role, so I get why they want it as part of the application.
Interestingly, the resume and cover letter were optional in this case (I submitted them anyway!)
1
Reply
Lillis Taylor
68
Social Entrepreneur in Birmingham, AL
11/30/20 at 11:42PM UTC
Hi, Alec!
You got some great feedback up above, but I thought I'd weigh in too. Is the job a writing-intensive job? If so, and if writing is a skill you aim to perfect, then I think spending an hour or so on a writing prompt is a great way to hone your skills. Furthermore, if the prompt isn't too specific to the company, the final product might end up being useful to you in other applications. But I agree that getting a little clarification up front is a great idea! Is the prompt needed to get you to the interview stage? How likely are you to receive an interview if you complete the prompt? In any case, good luck!
1 Reply
Alec Shannon
68
Global Health Management + Comms
12/01/20 at 7:41PM UTC
Hi Lillis!
I wish I had thought to ask about the time component; I definitely spent more than 1 hour on the prompts (there were 5 total)! I certainly agree it was a great way to hone my skills and provided an opportunity to reiterate that I had the skills they were looking for in a potential candidate.
1
Reply
Amy Bucciferro
94
Consulting is my profession, equality my passion
12/01/20 at 2:07AM UTC
I will add, too, that if the door was specifically left open for follow-up questions, it will likely reflect well on you to thoughtfully request clarification.
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Reply
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