Best interviewing experience?

over 3 years ago from Taylor Palmer, I do the UX

  • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, over 3 years ago

    The closer you can test/replicate real working conditions, the better data you'll get if someone is right for the position. Something we started doing that gave us the most relevant data for our efforts was the white boarding challenge where its meant to be highly collaborative. Its not just the interviewee monologuing and asking questions. The interviewers are meant to engage equally as partners to complete the challenge. In a real work situation you're meant to collaborate. So it helps to see how they collaborate, think, take feedback, give or take direction, "yes and" ideas, etc.

    In addition we make sure that they are fully prepared for the meeting. We tell them exactly who they will meet with, what will be discussed and what we are hoping to learn about them in that meeting. We include some tips as well. The first onsite meeting is "de-pressurize" and prep them. They meet with other designers, they talk about life, get setup, and give advice. Its meant to put them at ease which of course they are trying to impress us but I've found that it takes the edge off the presentation

    Also super important to ensure everyone talking to the interviewee knows everything about them, their work, and what they are suppose to ask and prod for.

    Good interview questions should be preset to remove bias and increase quality.

    Have a debrief that same day if possible.

    2 points
    • Taylor PalmerTaylor Palmer, over 3 years ago

      All great points, and I like the preset questions idea.

      Your approach to exercises sounds very similar to my own. I explain to them, "This isn't a challenge, puzzle, or brain teaser. There isn't a right answer and you won't be expected to find one. Instead, let's work together to solve a problem. Show me how to you like to think and work, and I'll do my best to help design with you along the way."

      I then introduce the prompt to them, and give them a few minutes alone to cool off, gather their thoughts, and wrap their head about the prompt.

      It's the best I've been able to do so far.

      0 points
      • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, over 3 years ago

        Thats a good point about giving them a few minutes. Its funny how often we ask interviewers to do this crazy marathon day, talking almost nonstop for 7 hours. Then have them also talk to us over lunch. I havn't done this yet, but I wonder if having a break where we leave them alone with snack and drinks and bathroom break in the middle somewhere would help as well.

        0 points
    • Stefano TirloniStefano Tirloni, over 3 years ago

      This is the best approach to me, a collaborative whiteboarding/design challenge.

      I found the take home exercises less effective: - it's quite hard to understand the task and provide the exactly outcome that they want (and please don't spend more that 4 hours.... )

      • they are async, if I have a lot of question it takes time to get the answers

      • unbalanced about time. I spent the famous 4 hours to make it but you review it in 5 minutes

      • you get few and low quality feedbacks at the end since you've worked alone ( we expected more craft on this than that.. )

      0 points