Homework before a job interview?

Candidates are driving the job market. In this environment of 3.7% unemployment and happy… well, mostly content employees, companies are at the mercy of the passive candidate market when it comes to finding the best talent and filling jobs. What happens when a candidate approaches your company and is interested in your job? How do you gauge their level of interest and motivation? What is the best way to prepare them for an upcoming interview with your company? A homework assignment...?

A homework assignment (or at least some preparation) for a job interview is expected: look up your interviewers on linkedin, research the company and competitors, get some questions prepared, etc. But how do you react when a potential employer asks you to complete a homework assignment BEFORE you even interview? The answer is typically – it depends on the homework assignment.

"Before you come in, could you read a specific book? It really outlines our sales philosophy and client approach.”

‘Sure.’

Unknowing to the candidate, it’s a 300+ page book and the interview is in 2 days.

As an employer, what are you thinking when you give a candidate homework? Are you purposely trying to scare away passive candidates before you assess their talent and skill set? If a candidate is unemployed and desperately trying to get a job, then I can see the willingness and availability to read a 300 page book overnight. What about when the candidate is employed, passive, and just curious to see what else is out there? If you give that person an extensive assignment before a first interview, it may scare off the perfect candidate. What is your approach as a hiring manager? What is ‘too much’ to ask for from a candidate in a hiring process?