What if hiring projects could actually improve the candidate experience?

Hebba Youssef, CPO at Workweek and Creator of I Hate It Here, is known for her sharp takes on modern HR, and this conversation is no exception. With Shannon, she discusses how thoughtful, well-structured projects can lead to better hiring outcomes, more equitable processes, and clearer expectations for both candidates and hiring managers.

They explore what makes a project fair (hint: it’s all about time, relevance, and rubrics), when to introduce it in the process, and why relying on interviews alone just doesn’t cut it. Hebba also shares how her team uses candidate feedback to refine the experience and why transparency at every stage is key.

Key takeaways:

1. Projects lead to better hiring decisions: Well-designed take-home assignments reveal real capabilities and reduce the risk of hiring based on personality or surface-level impressions.
2. Rubrics support fair evaluation: Clear, role-specific scoring criteria help teams assess consistently, reduce bias, and stay focused on what actually matters for the job.
3. Early projects save time later: Introducing assessments earlier in the process helps filter candidates efficiently and avoids wasting time on final rounds with poor fits.
4. Transparency improves experience: Setting expectations from the start builds trust with candidates and ensures they understand what the job entails before they accept.

Timestamps:
(00:00 ) Introductions
(06:08 ) Preference for clear, objective project guidelines  
(08:30 ) Evaluating talk vs. action  
(12:18 ) Balancing skills vs. cultural fit  
(14:44 ) Calibrating performance reviews  
(19:10 ) Intense hiring kickoff strategy  
(22:40 ) Embrace iterative improvement  
(23:56 ) AI in project completion: a balance  
(27:03 ) Interview privilege and honesty  
(30:01 ) Projects enhance candidate clarity  
(34:40 ) Interview process: staying efficient