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: Developing a RESTful API with Django
  • Objective: Evaluate the candidate’s ability to design and implement a RESTful API using the Django framework, focusing on best practices in API design, database management, and code quality.
  • Requirements:
    • The candidate will be provided with a basic project setup, including Django installed and a simple database schema.
    • The task involves developing a RESTful API to manage a collection of books (CRUD operations: Create, Read, Update, Delete).
    • The API should include user authentication (using Django's built-in authentication system) and basic error handling.
    • The candidate must write unit tests for the API endpoints.
    • The task should be well-documented, including a README file explaining how to set up and run the project.
  • Time Frame: 4-6 hours

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 design the API endpoints, and what considerations did you take into account regarding RESTful principles?
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should explain how they structured the endpoints (e.g., /api/books/ for listing and creating books, /api/books/{id}/ for retrieving, updating, or deleting a specific book) and how they adhered to RESTful conventions.
    • Sample Answer: "I designed the API endpoints to follow RESTful principles, ensuring each endpoint represents a specific resource. I used proper HTTP methods—GET for retrieving data, POST for creating, PUT/PATCH for updating, and DELETE for removing resources."
  • Question: How did you implement authentication in the API, and why did you choose this method?
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should describe the authentication method used (e.g., token-based authentication) and explain why it was appropriate for the task.
    • Sample Answer: "I implemented token-based authentication using Django REST Framework's TokenAuthentication class because it provides a simple and secure way to manage user sessions in APIs."
  • Question: What steps did you take to ensure the security of the API?
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should discuss securing the API, including using authentication, validating inputs, and handling errors appropriately.
    • Sample Answer: "I ensured security by implementing token authentication, validating all inputs to prevent SQL injection, and handling errors to avoid exposing sensitive information through API responses."

Behavioral questions

Recruitment Bullet

Duration : 10 minutes/question

  • Question: Describe a time when you encountered a challenging bug in a Django application. How did you approach debugging and solving the issue?
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should describe their debugging process, including how they identified the issue, the tools they used, and the steps they took to resolve it.
    • Sample Answer: "I once faced a difficult bug related to database transactions not committing properly. I used Django's debug toolbar to trace SQL queries and logs to identify that the issue was due to a misconfiguration in the transaction settings."
  • Question: How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects or features simultaneously?
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should explain their time management and prioritization strategies, possibly mentioning tools or methods they use.
    • Sample Answer: "I prioritize tasks based on deadlines, project impact, and dependencies. I use task management tools like Trello to organize my work and ensure that critical tasks are completed first."
  • Question: Can you give an example of how you worked with a team to resolve a technical issue? What was your role, and how did you ensure effective communication?
    • Expected Answer: The candidate should provide an example that highlights their teamwork and communication skills, focusing on how they contributed to resolving the issue.
    • Sample Answer: "In a previous role, we faced a performance issue with our API. I worked closely with frontend developers to identify bottlenecks. I facilitated regular check-ins and used shared documentation to ensure everyone was on the same page, which led to a quick resolution."

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 Expertise
Problem-Solving Ability
Cultural Fit
Communication Skills
Experience with Tools

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 Name]  

[Candidate Address]  

[City, State, Zip Code]  

‍

Dear [Candidate Name],

‍

We are pleased to extend an offer of employment for the position of Python Django Developer at [Company Name]. We were impressed with your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and the potential value you can bring to our development team.

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Position: Python Django Developer  

Start Date: [Start Date]  

Salary: [Salary Amount]  

Benefits: [List of Benefits]

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Please review the attached terms of employment and let us know if you have any questions. We are excited about the possibility of you joining our team and contributing to our success.

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Kindly sign and return this offer letter by [Offer Expiry Date] to confirm your acceptance.

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Sincerely,  

[Your Name]  

[Your Title]  

[Company Name]

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Sample rejection letter for {role_name}

[Company Letterhead]

‍

[Date]

‍

[Candidate Name]  

[Candidate Address]  

[City, State, Zip Code]  

‍

Dear [Candidate Name],

‍

Thank you for taking the time to interview for the Python Django Developer position at [Company Name]. We appreciate your interest in our company and the effort you put into the interview process.

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After careful consideration, we have decided to move forward with another candidate who we believe is a better fit for the position at this time.

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We were impressed with your qualifications and encourage you to apply for future opportunities that match your skills and experience.

‍

Thank you again for your interest in [Company Name]. We wish you the best of luck in your job search and future career endeavors.

‍

Sincerely,  

[Your Name]  

[Your Title]  

[Company Name]

Hiring guide

About {role_name}

Job description

Source and shortlist candidates

Structured interview

Progression and salary