What is a work sample?

Here are some different types of work samples:

• Work portfolio

  A work portfolio is a type of work sample that consists of multiple samples, or a collection, of a job candidate's work. The best work portfolios exhibit a candidate's skills through finished products or portions of finished products contained within the work portfolio. The specific contents of a work portfolio vary by industry, but here are some common items within them:

  • Graphic design work

  • Photographs

  • Published articles mentioning the job candidate or a project they worked on

  • Paintings

  • Illustrations

  • Video links

  • Writing samples

  • White pages

  • Marketing campaigns

  • Advertisements

  • Social media posts

  • Sales pitches and sales goals data

  Work portfolios are a comprehensive work sample because they include several examples of a job candidate's work, not just one.

• Single work sample

  This type of work sample includes just one piece of work or a completed product from the job candidate. This can also take many different forms depending on role and industry. Some examples include a piece of published writing from a candidate that is interviewing for a writing position or an advertisement that a marketing candidate had contributed to.

• Assessment and performance tests

  Assessment and performance tests are different from work portfolios and single work samples because they are not a completed piece of work from the job candidate's previous roles. Assessment and performance tests see potential employers providing a sample or mock, work assignment to the job candidate for them to complete during the interview process.

  Assessment and performance tests require a job candidate to know:

  • The company's expectations

  • The company's style

  • The company's work methods

  The potential employer normally provides instructions and access to any necessary resources the job candidate will need during their completion of the test. The job candidate is also given a deadline to complete the work sample. This test is meant to determine if the job candidate is qualified and suited for the job opening.