Top 4 Tips for Interviewing an Instructional Designer
No matter what field you’re in, finding the right person for the job is never easy. Whether you’re new to e-learning, or you’ve just never been involved in the hiring process before, interviewing potential Instructional Designers (IDs) can be a daunting task. Here are some tips that will help you make sure you hire the right person for the job.
1. Have them send you their portfolio
If all you have to judge a candidate on is their resume, it can be hard to choose which ones to interview. A good way to tell if they’ve got what it takes it to have them send you a portfolio of some past projects, so you can see concrete examples of their work.
2. Ask them to explain something complex in a few words
A big part of instructional design is taking complex concepts and breaking them down into a series of easy-to-understand chunks. Depending on the subject matter, this can be easier said than done. So how do you know if your candidate has what it takes to get the job done?
Ask them about a hobby they love that has nothing to do with their career in any way. Draw them into a short conversation about it and finally ask ‘So if someone were interested in getting started in that, what would you say are the first four things they should do and why?’ Their answer will help you gauge how well they can break down the complex into simple, ordered chunks.
3. Prepare a “homework” assignment for them
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of candidates, the best way to pick out the cream of the crop is to prepare a hands-on “homework” assignment for them. For example, you could provide them with an example of typical course content and ask them to create a mini-module. This will allow you gauge not only their skills (ability to structure content, graphic design, etc.), but also how interested they are in the role, based on how much effort they put into their assignment.
4. Ask them about their methods
As a follow up to the “homework” assignment, ask the candidates questions about their methods to get a feel for how they work and determine if they are the right fit for the job. For example, you could ask them how they went about creating the module and how they chose the color scheme.
This list is by no means exhaustive, so don’t hesitate to share any other interview hacks in the comments section below. And if you're on the other side of the table, you may be interested to check out this article: What Questions Do You Ask Prospective Employers?
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