What Is a Work Sample? How to Choose the Right Work Sample

ByCaitlin Lemon

You’re applying for a job with one of your dream companies. You’ve uploaded your cover letter and carefully edited your resume. You’re almost ready to send in your job application.

However, on the last page, the company asks for one more thing: a work sample. But what is a work sample? And how can you choose one that grabs a hiring manager’s attention? Below, we share a few tips for choosing the right work sample for the job.

What Is a Work Sample?

A work sample is a single piece of writing, portfolio piece or physical product you’ve completed in the past.Usually, it’s something you’ve created from previous jobs or volunteer work. A work sample helps you show, not tell, how good you are at doing your job.

Someexamples of a work sampleinclude:

Blog posts or news articles you have written
Lesson plans for classes you’ve taught
Paintings or sculptures you’ve created for past clients
Product designs you’ve completed in the past

Why Employers Ask for a Work Sample

Awork sample helps employers evaluate the quality of your previous workin order to decide if they want to hire you. If you’re a freelancer, it’s common for employers to ask fora link to your portfolioor a work sample to view projects you’ve created with other companies. However, sometimes employers ask for work samples even if you’re applying for a full-time position.

How to Choose a Strong Work Sample

How do you determine the best work sample tosubmit with your job application? Below, we share a few tips to help you decide.

—Be Mindful of Nondisclosure Agreements (NDAs)

If you’re a freelancer, you may have signed an NDA before you started working with a client. Companies use these tokeep company information confidential. This might include client information, details about products or services being developed, or even customer personas.

If you’ve signed an NDA, read it carefully. Certain agreementsmay prevent you from featuring work with a particular organizationas a sampleor portfolio piece, or even mentioning that you’ve worked with the company at all. You may want to consult a legal representative to understand your obligations under the agreement.

—Choose a Sample From the Same or a Related Industry

Sometimes companies mayprefer a sample from the same or a related industry. For example, someone who has previously worked in the healthcare or pet care industries. If you have a sample related to the work the company does, go ahead and send it along.

—Keep It Current

With some industries, it’s better not to send a piece you worked on 15 years ago. Standards and best practices frequently change, andwork samples can quickly become outdated. To make a more favorable impression, make sure to choose something you’ve done in the last few years.

如果我没有工作样本呢?

If you’re an entry-level professional, career changer, or reentering the workforce after some time away, you may not have a work sample to show employers. That’s OK. There are other ways to get a sample to show prospective employers.

Considervolunteering your skillswith a local nonprofit.VolunteerMatch可以帮助你找到机会基于斯基尔吗l sets and location. You can use your talents to help make a difference and, at the same time, get a work sample you can use to apply for roles (you can even ask the volunteer supervisor to be aprofessional reference).

Choose the Right Work Sample for the Job

A work sample is a critical part of your job application. To choose the right work sample for the job, make sure you choose one that’s recent and in a similar industry. A strong work sample can help you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your skills to employers.

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