# 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.

- Topic: HR & Hiring
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: HR & Hiring, Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/create-a-fair-work-sample-exercise-and-rubric-for-candidates

## Prompt

```text
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).
```

## What to fill in

- DETAILS
- DESCRIBE
- live session / take-home / presentation / paired work
- e.g. "90 minutes max"
- PASTE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.