discover at least three ways. Some people stop at three answers even though I've asked for more. Remember, people are nervous during interviews and may not be thinking clearly. I sometimes write out the audition request on a piece of paper so the candidate can have a written copy of the question(s) he or she can refer back to.
Test the Audition with Your Current Staff
Once I develop the audition, I test it with the current staff. I once developed an audition only I could succeed at - a terrible audition for other people. Not only do I consider the technical part of the audition, I make sure the audition can be completed in the time allotted, and that I have time to review the results of the audition with the candidate.
An audition is not a final exam for a graduate-level course; it is a technique that reveals how a person works. It doesn't need to be hard - but it must reflect your working environment.
Summary
Auditions help you see a candidate in action. Whether you hear a candidate's problem-solving process during a phone screen or watch the candidate at work, you'll gather a richer perspective of the candidate's capabilities and how easily the candidate can adapt to your working environment.
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About the author
Johanna Rothman, known as the “Pragmatic Manager,” helps organizational leaders see problems and risks in their product development. She helps them recognize potential “gotchas,” seize opportunities, and remove impediments. Johanna was the Agile 2009 conference chair. She is the technical editor for Agile Connection and the author of these books:
- Manage Your Job Search
- Hiring Geeks That Fit
- Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects
- The 2008 Jolt Productivity award-winning Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management
- Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management
- Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds: The Secrets and Science of Hiring Technical People
Johanna is working on a book about agile program management. She writes columns for Stickyminds.com and projectmanagementcom and blogs on her website, jrothman.com, as well on createadaptablelife.com.
