Having candidates complete exercises similar to what they’d be doing on the job can give you a good idea of how they would perform if hired. This list of sample exercises tests for specific qualities.
| Position | Must-have | Sample Exercise |
|---|---|---|
| COO | Critical thinking, writing | Observe the organization in action (e.g., delivering a training session, staging a rally, holding a hearing, etc.) and propose recommendations for improvement in a 2-3 page memo. |
| Manager of programs | Strategic thinking | Read and analyze a set of goals and objectives, and come up with recommendations to pursue. |
| Director of communications | Public speaking, judgment | Rehearse a press conference or a call with a reporter about a controversial program we support. |
| Manager of a small- or medium-sized department | General management, staff supervision | Simulate giving positive and corrective feedback to a direct report. In the follow-up, ask them how they might approach this conversation if the candidate and their direct report were working across lines of difference and power. |
| Communications associate | Writing, racial equity and inclusion competence | Share a newsletter or email blast and ask for their suggested edits, with at least 2 recommendations for ways to be more explicit about the organization’s commitment to racial justice. |
| Fundraising associate | Persuasive communication | Write a brief funding proposal or cover letter to a donor. |
| Special events associate | Organization / project management | Develop a project plan for an annual conference. |
| Director of policy and advocacy | Strategic thinking, interpersonal skills | Sit in on a meeting with a potential partner organization. Afterwards, give feedback including a recommendation on whether and how to engage with them. |
| Senior associate for policy and advocacy | Ability to explain complex ideas in a simple way | Produce a visual outlining key players in the healthcare industry and the relationships among them. |
| Research associate | Strategic thinking, writing | Write a memo on how a specific change in legislation might affect state support for low-income families. |
| Trainer | Presentation and teaching skills | Make a short presentation teaching a skill of your choice (e.g., how to write a grant, how to create a work plan, how to plan a conference, etc.). |
| Executive assistant | Fast-paced, attention to detail | Complete 15-minute scheduling exercise involving multiple meeting requests. |