Work trial

Practice-Strength Recruitment and selection

A trial task or trial day alongside the interview.

An interview measures how someone presents themselves under pressure. A trial task or trial day shows how someone works. With clear agreements in advance, about what you are asking and what you are looking at, you measure the work and not the nerves.

When to use it

  • I am inviting someone to an interview

Tip

Choose a task from an ordinary working week, not the hardest one. And look at the result, not at how fast or how relaxed someone seems.

What you fill in

  • Candidate's name
  • The role
  • What kind of trial?
  • The task
  • How long
  • What is allowed
  • What we look at
  • What we do not look at
  • Who is there or available for questions
  • What happens afterwards
  • Offer room for adjustments (to every candidate)
  • Your name

The tool runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.

Example result

Made with the example in the tool. With your own details you get your own version, ready to copy.

Dear Olivia, As part of the recruitment process for the role of customer service adviser, we also include a work trial. After the interview you will get a short trial task, in a quiet room. It is also a chance for you to see what the work is like. The task: You reply to three made-up customer emails, based on questions we often get. At the end there are three replies that you could send as they are. How long: 20 minutes, straight after the interview What is allowed: • Looking up anything on our website • Asking questions to James, who will be in the room • Using scrap paper What we look at: • Whether the answer is correct • Whether the customer knows the next step after reading it • Whether the tone is friendly and clear What we do not look at: Speed, spelling down to the last comma, and whether you already know everything about our products. You will learn that with us. If you have questions during the trial: James Okafor, a colleague from the team. Afterwards: We will go through your replies together briefly. We will let you know by Friday 20 November at the latest whether you are through to the next stage. Is there anything you need to show what you can do? For example more time, a different room or the task on paper. Please let us know; you do not need to explain anything about yourself. Kind regards, Hannah Clarke