UX Hiring: The Power of the Screening Question

Read this article on our blog at playbook.uie.com.

“In 250 words or less, tell us about the UX project you’re most proud of.”

We use a tailored form of this question when we’re helping clients with their UX hiring. While the specific question we ask candidates will vary, it does the same thing each time: It tells us which candidates to talk with first.

It’s a great prioritizing tool because, unlike a résumé or portfolio, it’s specific to the job we’re hiring for. For example, when our client was hiring a new senior designer to lead a massive design system implementation and rollout, we asked “Tell us about the biggest design system implementation and rollout you’ve ever led.” The answers that came in told us exactly which applicants we should talk with first.

A simple technique to speed hiring

The number one priority for hiring great team members is to uncover the evidence of each applicant’s comparable experience. The answer we get from each applicant is the first inkling whether they have the experience we are seeking in an ideal new hire.

Candidates love a chance to brag about their best work. But résumés and portfolios aren’t tailored to tell us what in their past history is relevant to the job we’re trying to…