Why we now PAY candidates to prove they can do the job

We've been hiring a few team members over the last 6 weeks.

And we've learned something that applies way beyond AI automation roles: it's incredibly easy for candidates to "say" they've built something without actually understanding how it works.

Here's what keeps happening...

A candidate shows us an impressive automation in their portfolio.
Complex workflows, sophisticated logic, clean integrations.
They walk through it confidently in the interview.

But then we dig deeper. We ask them to explain a specific decision they made, or how they'd modify one part of the system.

Suddenly, they're stumbling over their words.
They can't remember why they chose certain approaches.
They struggle to explain the logic behind their choices.

That's when we realize: they didn't build it from scratch. ​
They found a template somewhere online and claimed it as their own.

The Template Problem

Now, there's nothing wrong with learning from others or using existing knowledge as a starting point. That's actually best practice.

But if your new hire doesn't understand the foundation they're building on, it becomes a problem fast.

The moment you need them to troubleshoot something, customize a workflow, or explain why something isn't working, they're lost.

And you're stuck with someone who can copy but can't create.

How We Solved It

We added an extra step to our hiring process.

Every candidate now has to complete a fairly difficult challenge based on a real client project we've done.

Here's the structure:

• We pay them to complete it (usually $100-150)
• They get 2x longer than it took us to build the original
• It's based on actual work they'd be doing if hired
• They present their solution and explain their thinking

The Results

So far, this process has filtered out about half of the prospects we would have hired otherwise.

People who looked great on paper couldn't handle the practical challenge.

But the ones who passed?
​They've been exceptional hires.

They understand their work at a fundamental level, not just surface-level copying.

Why This Works for Any Role

The principle applies beyond automation work:

For writers: Can they actually write in your brand voice, or are they just good at talking about writing?

For designers: Can they solve real design problems, or do they just have a nice Behance portfolio?

For marketers: Can they think strategically about your specific business, or do they just know marketing buzzwords?

The key insight: there's a massive difference between someone who's done the work and someone who's seen the work done.

The Hidden Benefits

This approach has created two unexpected advantages:

First, candidates who complete the challenge are already invested in our business. They understand our standards and have experienced our problems firsthand.

Second, the people who can't complete the challenge self-select out. No awkward rejection conversations. They just don't submit their work.

And we don't have to pay them.

Implementation Tips

If you want to try this approach:

1. Make it relevant - Base the challenge on actual work they'd do
2. Pay fairly - Respect their time and effort
3. Give adequate time - Don't rush the process
4. Focus on thinking - Care more about their approach than the perfect solution

The small upfront investment in a paid challenge prevents much larger costs down the line: retraining, project delays, and ultimately having to hire again.

The Bigger Point

Most hiring processes test everything except the ability to do the job.

We check references, review portfolios, conduct interviews. But we rarely ask people to demonstrate actual competence under realistic conditions.

We actually don't look at any references, resumes or portfolios.

We interview them to see if there's a culture fit.

And the paid challenge determines whether they have the skills for the job.

It's the closest you can get to seeing how someone performs without actually hiring them first.

And in a world where it's easy to fake expertise, that's becoming more valuable every day.

Hope this was valuable
- Mitch

P.S. The new rebrand of BigMoves AI launches next week... stay tuned!

P.P.S. Learn more about MakeBigMoves partner offers here: Partner Program | Whitelabel EOI.

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