THE ART OF THE HIRING ASSIGNMENT

Love them or loathe them, hiring assignments have become a staple of the modern job hunt. These tasks– from crafting case studies to drafting articles, are designed to give hiring managers a glimpse into your abilities and potential fit. But for job seekers, they can feel like an extra hoop to jump through, often without compensation.

So, how should companies approach hiring assignments? And more importantly, should they always come with compensation? Let's dive in.

First and foremost, paying for assignments is a matter of equity and respect for a candidate's time and expertise. Monday’s Talent Manager, Aziza Yaropa, noted:

“Candidates put immense time and effort into these assessments and sometimes they don’t have a current income because they are in between jobs, so it’s only fair to compensate people for their time. Also, you sometimes see companies using the ideas from these assignments within their organizations, which even furthers the case for paying candidates for their work during the hiring process.” 

Furthermore, paying for assignments signals to candidates that you value their skills and are serious about the hiring process. As Monday’s Talent Director, Ruby Sokol described:

"It signals to the candidate that you are serious about hiring, value their skills and experience, and will have them leave the process feeling positive. It's also important to recognize how this can impact your reputation in the industry as the last thing you want is for candidates to be dreading the interview process before they have started!"

Timing, as with most things in life, is everything when it comes to these assignments. If you introduce them too early in the process, you risk deterring qualified candidates who may not be ready to invest significant time and effort without a clear understanding of the opportunity. Ideally, you introduce the assignment when the candidate is already excited about the role and eager to flex their skills. By that point, you've had a chance to gauge their overall fit and see if they're a contender, making the assignment a natural next step in your assessment.

At Monday, we're firm believers in the power of fair play. That's why we think compensating candidates for their time and effort on hiring assignments isn't just the ethical thing to do – it's a savvy business move. Not only does it create a positive experience for everyone involved, but it also attracts top-tier talent who know their work is valued. 

Remember, the goal of an assignment is to assess a candidate's skills, not to take advantage of their time. By offering fair compensation, you're not just creating a more equitable hiring process, you're setting the stage for a mutually beneficial relationship with your future employees.