Work samples
Table of Contents
Work samples are real or simulated deliverables candidates submit during hiring to demonstrate their skills, problem-solving, and job relevance.
Full Definition
Unlike resumes or interviews that focus on past achievements or verbal articulation, work samples assess what a candidate can actually do. They offer a tangible preview of how someone thinks, solves, and delivers in the specific context of a role.
Work samples can take many forms — writing a blog post, designing a landing page, submitting code, drafting a product strategy, or preparing a report. They might be real (from past work) or fictional (assignment-based), and are particularly effective in async hiring processes where communication is written-first.
They’re often used in later stages of the funnel, after initial screening, and help reduce bias by shifting focus to deliverables over credentials. However, poorly designed work samples risk being too time-consuming, unscored, or misaligned with the actual role.
Use Cases
Visual Funnel
Application → Initial Screen → Work Sample Assigned → Submitted & Reviewed → Final Interview → Offer
Frameworks
Common Mistakes
Etymology
The term "work sample" originated in industrial and organizational psychology, where job simulation tests were used as early as the 1950s to predict job performance. Its usage surged in the tech and startup world in the 2010s as a counter-response to resume-based and degree-first hiring.
Localization
Comparison: Work samples vs CV screening
CriteriaCV ScreeningWork Samples
FocusPast credentialsActual performance
Bias RiskHigh (name, school, pedigree)Lower (deliverables speak louder)
Time InvestmentLow for recruiterHigher for both candidate and reviewer
Role Fit AccuracyMediumHigh
Use CaseEarly funnelMid-to-late funnel
Mentions in Media
Indeed explains that a work sample is a finished product a candidate submits during hiring to demonstrate skills, experience, and job fit.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
U.S. Office of Personnel Management defines work sample tests as tasks mirroring real job activities to evaluate how accurately applicants perform duties.
University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis states that work samples verify critical skills and knowledge drawn from the job description as part of hiring decisions.
UCOP explains that work samples are prior-produced work examples that must be job-related and objectively assessed by hiring managers.
JSG Blog emphasizes that work samples allow candidates to show their skills practically while avoiding tasks that exploit intellectual property.
StaffingAdvisors explains that work sample tests involve small, realistic work tasks to evaluate competence in context.
KPIs & Metrics
Top Digital Channels
Tech Stack
Understanding via Related Terms
Seeing work samples through the lens of skill matching shows how tangible examples of past projects help verify a candidate’s abilities for a specific role.
Relating work samples to verified candidate highlights how demonstrated work quality supports the validation of a candidate’s professional claims.
Understanding work samples alongside high-trust hiring demonstrates how reviewing actual deliverables builds confidence in a candidate’s capacity to perform.
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