# Run a simple, fair interview process for my first hire

A lightweight screening, interview, and trial-task process with a scorecard, built for an owner with no HR team.

- Topic: HR & Hiring
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/run-a-simple-fair-interview-process-for-my-first-hire

## Prompt

```text
Help me run a simple, fair interview process for my first hire, without an HR team. This is step 4 of the 'Hire your first employee' pack; paste the job post from step 3 if you have it.

**Role and the 3-4 things that matter most:** [e.g. "reliable, good with customers, accurate with cash"]
**Number of applicants so far:** [NUMBER]
**Time I can spend:** [e.g. "4 hours total this week"]
**Can I offer a paid trial shift or small paid task?** [yes / no]
**Step 3 output (optional):** [PASTE]

Give me:
1. A quick way to sort applications into yes / maybe / no against the must-haves.
2. A 15-minute phone screen script with 5 questions.
3. A 45-minute interview plan: 6-8 questions tied to the things that matter, mostly 'tell me about a time...', with what a strong and a weak answer sound like.
4. A short paid trial or work task idea: how long it takes and how to judge it. Remind me to pay for trial work where local law requires it.
5. A one-page scorecard (1-5 per criterion, with space for notes) so I compare everyone on the same things, not gut feel.
6. Questions I must NOT ask (age, family plans, religion, health, nationality, and similar) and safer alternatives where a real job requirement exists.
7. A short reference-check script with 3 questions.

Keep it practical for a busy owner, and remind me to check local hiring rules.
```

## What to fill in

- e.g. "reliable, good with customers, accurate with cash"
- NUMBER
- e.g. "4 hours total this week"
- yes / no
- PASTE

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