BLOG ARTICLE
Don’t Send a Task Without a Call: Why Screening First Matters
Let’s talk about interview tasks. Again.
Yes, they can be valuable. Yes, they can help surface skills.
But there’s one thing I keep seeing that kills candidate experience stone dead:
Companies sending a task before speaking to the candidate.
No context. No conversation. Just a cold PDF and a deadline.
Here’s why that’s a mistake – and what to do instead.
1. It feels transactional, not human
When someone applies for a job and the first thing they get back is a task, it sends a clear message:
“We don’t have time to speak to you unless you prove yourself first.”
That’s a rubbish start to any relationship.
Even a 10–15 minute conversation with Talent or HR can build connection, set context, and give the candidate a reason to care.
2. It increases dropouts – massively
You’re not the only company they’re talking to.
If one process makes them feel like a spreadsheet row, and another makes them feel seen and heard….which one do you think they’ll prioritise?
At Currencycloud, we deliberately made sure every candidate had a personal checkpoint before any kind of task or assessment. It built trust and boosted our task completion rate dramatically.
3. You can tailor the task — or avoid it altogether
When you actually talk to someone first, a few things become clear:
- Their motivations
- Their communication style
- Their actual experience
You might realise they don’t need a task at all – a portfolio walk-through or challenge-based interview could be more appropriate.
Or, if you still send a task, you can adjust the scope or focus based on the call.
4. It builds accountability on both sides
When you speak first, candidates feel like they’re entering a process – not just sending work into the void.
It also means if they don’t return the task, you have more context to follow up (or not). It makes the entire experience less of a black hole.
What good looks like
Here’s a simple flow:
- Application received
- Talent call (15-30 mins) – align expectations, get a feel for intent
- Task invite (if relevant) – now the candidate knows why this matters
- Follow-up – keep the momentum and show you’re serious
Simple. Human. Effective.
Final thought
Your hiring process is a reflection of how you treat people.
And if the first thing someone gets from you is homework, don’t be surprised if they ghost you – or worse, complete the task and still walk away.
Start with a chat.
The bar’s so low right now that just treating people like humans will set you apart.
Need help improving your hiring journey?
Let’s talk about how we can reduce your time to hire and increase your offer acceptance rates – while delivering a candidate experience that sets you apart.
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