Work sample test and structured interview for {role_name}

After shortlisting, assess candidates' skills with a work sample task, followed by an assessment and thorough evaluation.

How to structure the interview to assess skills and cultural fit for {role_name}

Work sample test (Home assignment)

Recruitment Bullet

Assess the candidate’s practical skills by assigning a real-world task similar to the work they would do if hired.

  • Title: Develop a To-Do List Application
  • Objective: Assess the candidate’s ability to design, implement, and optimize an Android application with a focus on user interface, functionality, and performance.
  • Requirements:
    • Create a simple to-do list application that allows users to add, delete, and edit tasks.
    • Implement a feature to categorize tasks and set reminders.
    • Ensure the app’s UI is intuitive and follows Android design guidelines.
    • Use Java/Kotlin for development and integrate at least one external API for additional functionality (e.g., weather API to show the weather forecast for task deadlines).
    • Submit the source code, a brief documentation of the project, and screenshots of the application.
  • Time Frame: 5 days to complete and submit the task.

Questions based on home assignment : 

Recruitment Bullet

Once done with work sample test evaluate the candidate’s technical proficiency based on the work sample task.

Technical questions

Recruitment Bullet

Duration : 10 minutes/question

  • Question: "Describe how you implemented the task reminder feature in your to-do list application."
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should explain the use of Android’s AlarmManager or WorkManager to schedule task reminders. They should also mention how they handled background processing to ensure reminders trigger even when the app is not active.
    • Sample Answer: "I used WorkManager to schedule reminders, as it provides more flexibility and is more reliable for background tasks. I created a work request that triggers a notification at the scheduled time, ensuring that reminders are shown even if the app is closed."
  • Question: "How did you ensure the UI of your application is responsive and user-friendly across different device sizes?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should discuss using ConstraintLayout, implementing adaptive layouts, and testing on different screen sizes using Android Studio’s layout inspector.
    • Sample Answer: "I used ConstraintLayout for flexibility and set different layout constraints based on screen size. I also tested the app on various emulators with different screen sizes to ensure the UI remains consistent and user-friendly."
  • Question: "What challenges did you face when integrating the external API, and how did you overcome them?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should talk about any issues they encountered, such as network errors, API rate limits, or data parsing, and how they handled them (e.g., using Retrofit for network calls, implementing error handling, or caching data).
    • Sample Answer: "I faced some challenges with API rate limits, so I implemented caching to reduce the number of calls. I used Retrofit for efficient network requests and ensured proper error handling to manage any issues during API integration."

Behavioral questions

Recruitment Bullet

Duration : 10 minutes/question

  • Question: "Can you describe a time when you had to troubleshoot a particularly difficult bug in a project? How did you approach it?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should describe a specific instance, the steps they took to identify the root cause, and how they resolved the issue.
    • Sample Answer: "In one project, I encountered a crash that only happened on certain devices. I used Android Studio’s debugger and logcat to trace the issue to a compatibility problem with a third-party library. I resolved it by finding a more compatible library and thoroughly testing across all devices."
  • Question: "Tell me about a time when you had to collaborate with a designer or another developer. How did you ensure smooth communication and project success?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should demonstrate teamwork, clear communication, and a proactive approach to collaboration.
    • Sample Answer: "In a previous role, I worked closely with a UI/UX designer on a mobile app. We held regular meetings to ensure that the design aligned with the app’s functionality. I also provided technical feedback to help optimize the design for performance and ease of development."
  • Question: "Describe a situation where you had to manage tight deadlines. How did you prioritize your tasks?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should provide an example of effective time management, prioritization of tasks, and possibly working under pressure.
    • Sample Answer: "During a product launch, I had to implement several new features within a tight deadline. I prioritized tasks based on their impact on the user experience and coordinated with the QA team to start testing features as soon as they were ready, which helped us meet the deadline without compromising quality."

How to evaluate and compare candidates after interviews?

After interviews, it's important to evaluate and compare candidates based on a set of predefined criteria.Use scorecard to evaluate each candidate.

Recruitment Bullet

Sample scorecard based on pre-defined criteria. Here’s an example:

Criteria Rating (1-5) Comments
Technical Skills
Problem-Solving Ability
UI/UX Understanding
Communication Skills
Cultural Fit

What criteria should be used to make the final hiring decision?

Final decisions should be based on the candidate's overall evaluation score, with a focus on important qualifications. Prioritize technical skills above everything else for a {role_name}, but do not forget about communication and cultural fit.

Recruitment Bullet

How to communicate the decision to candidates

Sample offer letter for {role_name}

[Company Letterhead]

[Date]

‍

[Candidate’s Name]

[Candidate’s Address]

‍

Dear [Candidate’s Name],

‍

We are excited to extend an offer to you for the position of Android Developer at [Company Name]. After careful consideration, we believe your skills and experience are an excellent match for our team. We were particularly impressed by your problem-solving abilities and your approach to mobile app development.

‍

Your starting salary will be [Salary Amount], and you will be eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, which includes [list benefits]. Your start date will be [Start Date].

‍

Please review the attached offer details and let us know if you have any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to our team!

‍

Sincerely,

‍

[Your Name]

[Your Position]

[Company Name]

‍

Sample rejection letter for {role_name}

[Company Letterhead]

[Date]

‍

[Candidate’s Name]

[Candidate’s Address]

‍

Dear [Candidate’s Name],

‍

Thank you for taking the time to interview for the Android Developer position at [Company Name]. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and the effort you put into the application process.

‍

After careful consideration, we have decided to pursue other candidates who more closely match the specific skills and experience required for this role. This decision was not easy, as we were impressed by your background and accomplishments.

‍

We encourage you to apply for future openings at [Company Name] that align with your experience and skills. We wish you all the best in your job search and future endeavors.

‍

Sincerely,

‍

[Your Name]

[Your Position]

[Company Name]

‍

Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary