[MorePowerToYou]

I think the optimal solution to the hiring problem requires trying out the actual relationship. It's similar to dating. Predicting the long-term success of a relationship based on a first date is sub-optimal.

A service that provides this "trial relationship" could work. When I'm looking for a new job, I could do one hour per day of real work for a few companies. After five days, both employer and prospective employee will have a better understanding of each other than a single day of interviews allows.

There's practical concerns. Companies certainly wouldn't give prospective employees full access to internal codebases or data. Companies would have to break off small tasks which could devolve into throw-away take-home assignments. Employees at the company would have to endure the annoyance of dealing with prospective hires. It might be worth it for everyone.

[w0rd-driven]

This is sadly rife for abuse. Why hire anyone? You can just string enough candidates along to possibly not work a full solution but it could be a first line or give you a fair number of prototypes. Granted I don't know that this could ever be viable but companies would sure try because free work > paying any amount. I think most of us understand the phrase 'you get what you pay for' and yet I've personally seen many individuals and companies believe they're getting a steal.

I feel like there are a few good ideas. I personally love the idea of work related assignments but only if the result is actually measured. If I don't get the job I know I've wasted my time and I can handle that. What I can't handle is giving me a task and completely ignoring the results. What will that signal to me about day to day operations? That you'll likely ignore the very real value I bring to your organization on a consistent basis. That's a big enough red flag for me to stop everything and walk right out the door. If I'm supposed to extend the courtesy of not wasting the interviewers time I expect at least some attempt at that same courtesy.