Sample work without hiding failure
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
A quality sample should expose the process, not showcase its best examples. Define the population, time window and selection method. Include ordinary cases and targeted high-risk cases, but keep their results distinguishable. A risk-weighted sample cannot be treated as an unbiased estimate of all work without adjustment. Record defects with severity, cause hypothesis and correction. Small samples are useful for learning but may be too unstable for precise performance comparisons. Protect personal information when sharing examples. An audit should improve the service rather than encourage concealment.
Worked example
A team reviews five randomly selected summaries and every complaint case. It reports the random sample separately from the complaint review, avoiding a misleading combined defect rate.
Put it into practice
Design a weekly sample for 100 fictional candidate summaries with a separate risk review.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
Specify selection, reviewers, severity rules and handling of disputed findings. Explain the sample’s limits. Do not compare individual recruiters on tiny, differently selected samples.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- CIPD: Recruitment
Professional context for the recruitment lifecycle.