How to nail the performance task of an interview process

As part of every hiring process, I encourage my clients to use “performance tasks.” You’ve probably done one -- or a gazillion -- over your time job searching. Basically, the idea is to add a task to the interview process to see candidates in action. For a comms job, you might be asked to write a letter to the editor or a press release; for an executive assistant position, you might be asked to respond to a bunch of urgent emails and prioritize; etc.

Typically I only ask candidates I’m excited about to do this, because it’s a decent time commitment. Here are some tips for nailing the performance task:

• Know that it’s coming. Again, employers want to see you in action. So don’t be surprised if after the phone screen and a Zoom interview, you’re sent a task.

• Don’t spend more than the allotted time completing the task. Yes, if you work on the task longer than what the instructions say, your work will likely be better. But that’s not the point. If it’s meant to be 90 minutes, don’t go over time. The point of the task is to see what you can produce quickly.

• Follow the instructions, nail the details. There are often very specific instructions for performance tasks, including how much time you’re to spend on it. But also make sure you’re sending the final product to the right place (sometimes an anonymous email), include your name in the title of the doc, make sure you’ve double checked the share settings, etc. Getting some of the details wrong won’t help your chances.

• Be prepared to talk about your work. When I’m evaluating candidates, I not only want to see their work product, but want to hear them talk about their process and why they did what they did. I always encourage my clients to give critical feedback and see how the candidates respond. (Do they get defensive? Fold too easily?) At the very least, be prepared to answer these questions: How’d the exercise go? What would you do differently if you had more time?

• Consider whether you could see yourself doing this work full time. Remember that you are interviewing the employers as much as they’re interviewing you. Take some time to think about the work they had you do. Was it what you expected? Could you do this work for the next three to five years? You always learn a lot about organizations during the hiring process, so make sure your eyes and ears are open.

Here are the top three jobs we’re featuring this week:

1. Director of HR at Brooklyn LAB; $125,000; Brooklyn, NY.

2. Multiple positions at RepresentUs:

   1. NC Organizing Manager; $80,000-$87,000; N.C.

   2. WI Organizing Manager; $75,000-$80,000; Wisc.

   3. PA Lead Organizer; $84,000-$90,000; Penn.

3. Teaching Fellow at Citizen Schools; Annual living stipend of $25,550; Somerville, Mass.

Now, onto housekeeping!

NRG Consulting is offering coaching programs to folks on the job hunt, whether you’re an entry- or senior-level candidate. Check out the programs we’re offering on our website, and get in touch with us.

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