What's reasonable to ask for ahead of a 2nd interview?

[QueSyrahSyrah]

I'm interviewing at the moment, only the second time I've had to recruit since being in a management position, and the first where I'm recruiting someone in a role I don't have the skills for myself, so the training I could personally give would be minimal.

It's a creative marketing role and I was thinking of asking my second interview candidates to do some preparation to prove their creativity / skills, perhaps a couple of mock-up social posts for one of our brands, 150/200 words of copy on something related to our business, and maybe a digital billboard to a specific spec?

Is that too much or reasonable for a 2nd interview? If it makes a difference we're looking in the region of a £30k-£35k salary bracket and candidates are either well qualified on paper but with low actual work experience, or experienced in the industry but with less formal qualifications.

Many Thanks

Hopeful bump?

I don't work in that industry so can't comment on what the "norm" is. However, I have applied for jobs in that kind of salary range and when 2nd interview came round and I was asked to give a 10 min presentation, I pulled out. My thoughts were:

• Salary range too low for the level of 'homework' required. You're basically asking people to work for free with no guarantee of it leading to success.
• I think the really good recruits, who know their value, are more likely to bail than the ones who are underqualified and perhaps overly keen. So, a good way to discourage the best, I suppose.

I'd suggest asking them to give you one or two examples of work they have already done, if NDAs allow. That way, you can see what they're capable of when they're being paid* and it's not using up any of their free time.

*because the work I'd do when being paid is different to what I'd pull together as a begrudged freebie.

Hopefully someone with experience in the industry will come along as I'm genuinely interested to hear others thoughts on this.

You could do a short copywriting test: ask them to do a brief web story or social media post on something specific (an event, a bran relaunch, a celeb being in an advert for a product).

You don't need to get people to do it in advance.

They can just spend 30 minutes doing the test before the interview on the day. You provide some existing copy to give background info and they just have to turn it into a brief/engaging web story or post.

What would put me off though is having to do a full presentation on how I would develop a brand or an organisation marketing plan...I have seen companies ask that as part of the interview process and I always think 'no, this is what I would do for you if you hire me...'. I always think it is a cheeky way for them to get all the candidates to give them tips and marketing plans for free. Now I would immediately withdraw from any job interview process that asked me to do that level of preparation unpaid.

I am a bit hmmmm at the salary and the expectation to both write copy and mock up a design.

What about asking them to look at one of your brand's socials and to pick their "best" and "worst" posts? That will tell you plenty about their strengths and how much they match your brand's tone of voice. Or ask them to talk you through a brand they admire and for what reason?

Both of these approaches don't require much prep but will give you a good feeling of candidates passion and strengths. You are recruiting for a skills gap so you need to test them in the round not just on specific skills.

Thanks for the opinions, very helpful. It definitely wouldn't be a full presentation or plan or strategy, basically just a brief test that their skills in terms of copywriting and digital design match their CV / first interview claims. I could ask for them to show me prior work though I suppose.

The reason I was thinking to ask them to prep in advance is that I know myself that I'd freeze and lose my imagination in that kind of situation.

We discussed their most loved / loathed marketing campaigns and brands at first interview stage.

I work in this area and your request is very reasonable and will test a lot of skills without requiring a big time investment.

I think it's a great idea.

For others...really not a candidates market at the moment in marketing. Salary is reasonable.

Ask them to create something based on a fictional brief. Using the business itself as the brief makes interviewees feel like you are asking for free labour, whether or not that's actually the case. Higher calibre candidates will recuse themselves from tasks like this.

@StephanieLampshade

''For others...really not a candidates market at the moment in marketing. Salary is reasonable.''

The salary is low if you are looking for someone at manager level and above. Adequate if you are recruiting a marketing executive/officer.

I think what's reasonable to demand from candidates depends partly on how much demand there is for the job. If you have lots of candidates then it makes more sense to make them jump through hoops so you can filter better. Whereas if you're struggling to attract good candidates, lose the hoops

@Startingagainandagain It's not a management role, it's executive level. Ideally I'm looking for someone who has some work experience and proven skills but is looking for a role they can grow in and take on more responsibility (with appropriate salary increase) as and when they're ready.

Anyway I've now asked 3 back for second interview with some light prep based on a real brand but fictional product. I've stressed we don't expect them to spend too much time on it, and to let me know if it's not practical for them prior to interview.