Unemployment is extremely low, and top tier UX designers and other tech-focused workers are in high demand. For the first time in over a decade, employers are competing for talent, so it’s vital that managers adjust their interview process. Managers should assume that most candidates are interviewing for multiple jobs and considering multiple offers. For employers to stay competitive, managers need to streamline their hiring process. Here’s how:
Tip # 1: Have a clear interviewing process in place
To ensure that your interview process goes smoothly, start with the basics: know who will be doing the interviewing, know who the major stakeholders are, and make certain there is consensus about what the role entails, qualifications the role necessitates, and the criteria whereby candidates are judged.
There are two primary ways to conduct a round of interviews with a UX-design applicant. Each interviewer can focus their questions on one specific aspect of the job; then the interviewers meet to share notes and offer insights. The second option is for each interviewer to ask the interviewee the same questions, and then, like the aforementioned option, the interviewers meet to share notes and offer insights. Whichever option you choose, having a checklist of skills and questions for each candidate will keep your process focused.
Tip #2: Prepare a design exercise
The in-person interviewing stage is when you give the applicant a UX-design exercise. Again, you have two options. Managers can opt to give the exercise to the interviewee prior to their interview, with the expectation that the candidate will present their completed work in person. If you pick this option, keep the exercise short so it doesn’t require too much time.
The other option is to share a design problem with the applicant prior to the interview, and ask them to do a whiteboard exercise during the interview. Both methods are fine ways to learn how a candidate thinks through problems . These exercises can also indicate how the UX designer will interact with your team. This part of the interview process is less about their solution and more about their process.
Tip #3: Be prepared to decide quickly
Finally, responding to candidates in a timely manner is essential in this competitive market. Because of the high demand, more and more companies are doing rolling interviews where they interview candidates until they find the best person and then make an offer. Too often, you run the risk of losing a potential employee to another company if you string someone along while you continue to recruit others for comparison. It’s is an inefficient method that is likely to backfire.
If you have done your homework, you should know at the start of the interviewing process what you are looking for in a candidate, and you should have made certain your checklist is in alignment with that of your HR group. All of this will go a long way towards making your UX designer hiring process as efficient and easy as possible.