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 RESTful API for a Task Management System
  • Objective: Assess the candidate’s ability to design, implement, and document a RESTful API that allows users to manage tasks, including creating, updating, retrieving, and deleting tasks.
  • Requirements:
    • Design and develop a RESTful API that supports CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations for a task management system.
    • Implement basic authentication and include at least one endpoint that requires user authentication.
    • Document the API using a tool like Swagger or Postman, including clear instructions for using the API.
    • Ensure the API follows RESTful principles and is secure and scalable.
    • Submit the source code, documentation, and a brief explanation of your design choices.
  • Time Frame: 5 days to complete and submit the task.

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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: "How did you ensure that your API follows RESTful principles in the task management system?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should explain their approach to ensuring statelessness, proper use of HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), resource-based URIs, and how they handled errors and responses.
    • Sample Answer: "I ensured the API was stateless by making each request self-contained, used appropriate HTTP methods for each operation, and designed resource-based URIs like /tasks/{id}. I also implemented consistent error handling and used proper HTTP status codes in responses."
  • Question: "What security measures did you implement to protect the API, and why?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should discuss implementing basic authentication, rate limiting, input validation, and how they protected the API against common threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
    • Sample Answer: "I implemented basic authentication using tokens and ensured all endpoints required authentication. I also added input validation to prevent SQL injection and set rate limiting to protect against brute-force attacks."
  • Question: "How did you document the API, and why did you choose that method?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should explain their choice of documentation tools (e.g., Swagger, Postman) and describe how they ensured the documentation was clear, comprehensive, and easy to follow for other developers.
    • Sample Answer: "I used Swagger to document the API because it provides an interactive interface for developers to test endpoints. I made sure to include detailed descriptions, sample requests/responses, and authentication instructions to make the documentation user-friendly."

Behavioral questions

Recruitment Bullet

Duration : 10 minutes/question

  • Question: "Describe a time when you had to work on an API with conflicting requirements from different stakeholders. How did you handle it?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should describe a specific situation, how they communicated with stakeholders, and the steps they took to resolve the conflict.
    • Sample Answer: "In a previous project, different teams had conflicting needs for an API. I organized a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss their requirements and find common ground. By facilitating communication and understanding the priorities, I was able to design an API that met the core needs of all parties."
  • Question: "Can you tell me about a challenging bug or issue you encountered while developing an API? How did you resolve it?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should describe a specific challenge, the troubleshooting steps they took, and the outcome.
    • Sample Answer: "I once faced an issue where an API endpoint was returning incorrect data due to a complex query. I debugged the issue by breaking down the query into smaller parts, identifying the problem, and optimizing the query to ensure it returned the correct results."
  • Question: "How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple API projects simultaneously?"
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should demonstrate effective time management and prioritization skills, considering project deadlines and impact.
    • Sample Answer: "I prioritize tasks based on deadlines, the complexity of the work, and the impact on the overall project. I use tools like Jira to track progress and ensure that I’m focusing on the most critical tasks first, while also making time for code reviews and testing."

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
Security Best Practices
Communication Skills
Cultural Fit

"Standardize interviews" – Use our customizable scorecard templates

Learn More  ->Get a demo

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]

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[Candidate’s Name]

[Candidate’s Address]

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Dear [Candidate’s Name],

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We are thrilled to extend an offer to you for the position of API Developer at [Company Name]. After careful consideration, we believe your skills and experience align perfectly with our team. We were particularly impressed by your problem-solving abilities and your approach to API development.

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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].

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

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Sincerely,

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[Your Name]

[Your Position]

[Company Name]

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Sample rejection letter for {role_name}

[Company Letterhead]

[Date]

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[Candidate’s Name]

[Candidate’s Address]

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Dear [Candidate’s Name],

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

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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.

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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.

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Sincerely,

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[Your Name]

[Your Position]

[Company Name]

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Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary