Create a fair work-sample exercise and rubric for candidates
A realistic, time-boxed exercise based on the actual job, with a level-by-level scoring rubric and follow-up questions.
The prompt
Create a work-sample exercise that shows how a candidate would do the actual job, plus a rubric to score it. This is step 3 of the 'Run a structured hiring process' pack; paste the success profile or interview loop from earlier steps if you have them.
Role and level: [DETAILS]
A real task this person would do in their first months: [DESCRIBE]
Competencies the exercise should test: [2-3 ITEMS]
Format: [live session / take-home / presentation / paired work]
Time limit for candidates: [e.g. "90 minutes max"]
Earlier step output (optional): [PASTE]
Rules:
- Mirror real work, but never ask for free work we could use. Build a realistic, fictional scenario instead of using real client or company problems.
- Keep it short; long take-homes shut out people with caregiving duties or second jobs. Suggest paying candidates if it runs over 2 hours.
- Every candidate gets the same instructions, materials, and time.
Return:
1. The candidate brief: scenario, task, materials, time limit, what to submit, and how it will be judged.
2. Any fictional data or background material needed, clearly labeled as fictional.
3. A scoring rubric: each competency on a 1-4 scale with a concrete description of each level.
4. 4-5 follow-up questions to ask when the candidate walks us through their work.
5. Accommodations to offer on request (extra time, a different format).
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore HR & Hiring prompts
What to fill in
- DETAILS
- DESCRIBE
- live session / take-home / presentation / paired work
- e.g. "90 minutes max"
- PASTE
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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