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Traditional interviews often fail to reveal a candidate's true capabilities in a technical role like BIM Specialist. While a candidate might eloquently describe their experience with Revit or their approach to clash detection, only hands-on exercises can demonstrate whether they can actually execute these tasks effectively. Work samples provide a window into how candidates think, how they approach problems, and how they apply their technical knowledge in realistic scenarios.
The exercises outlined below are designed to evaluate the core competencies essential for BIM Specialists: technical proficiency with modeling software, knowledge of industry standards, problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and communication skills. By implementing these work samples in your hiring process, you'll gain valuable insights that standard interviews simply cannot provide.
Moreover, these exercises simulate the actual challenges a BIM Specialist will face in your organization, allowing both you and the candidate to assess mutual fit. For candidates, these exercises offer a glimpse into your company's projects and expectations. For hiring managers, they provide concrete evidence of a candidate's capabilities rather than relying on self-reported skills.
By incorporating these practical assessments into your hiring process, you'll significantly increase your chances of identifying and selecting BIM Specialists who will drive project success and innovation within your organization.
Activity #1: Clash Detection and Resolution Exercise
This exercise evaluates a candidate's ability to identify and resolve conflicts between different building systems in a BIM model—a critical skill for preventing costly errors during construction. It tests technical proficiency with BIM software, attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge of construction systems integration.
Directions for the Company:
- Prepare a pre-built Revit model containing intentional clashes between structural elements, MEP systems, and architectural components. Include at least 5-7 significant clashes of varying complexity.
- Provide the candidate with access to the model file and any necessary project information (building type, project phase, etc.).
- Allow 60-90 minutes for this exercise.
- Have a BIM Manager or experienced team member available to observe the candidate's process and evaluate their approach.
- Prepare a simple rubric to evaluate efficiency, thoroughness, and the quality of proposed solutions.
Directions for the Candidate:
- Using Autodesk Revit or Navisworks, perform a clash detection analysis on the provided model.
- Document each clash you identify, including its location, the systems involved, and the severity of the conflict.
- Propose resolution strategies for each clash, considering project constraints and best practices.
- Implement solutions for at least two of the clashes directly in the model.
- Prepare a brief clash report summarizing your findings and recommendations.
Feedback Mechanism:
- After the exercise, the interviewer should provide feedback on one aspect the candidate handled well (such as their thoroughness in identifying clashes) and one area for improvement (such as their resolution approach or documentation).
- Give the candidate 15 minutes to revise one of their proposed solutions based on the feedback, observing how they incorporate the suggestions and adapt their approach.
Activity #2: BIM Execution Plan Development
This exercise assesses a candidate's understanding of BIM standards, protocols, and best practices—essential knowledge for ensuring consistency and quality across projects. It evaluates their ability to develop clear guidelines, their familiarity with industry standards, and their strategic thinking about BIM implementation.
Directions for the Company:
- Create a brief project description for a mid-sized commercial building, including key stakeholders, project timeline, and specific BIM goals.
- Provide information about your company's existing BIM capabilities, software environment, and any current standards.
- Allow 60 minutes for this exercise.
- Prepare evaluation criteria focusing on comprehensiveness, practicality, and alignment with industry best practices.
Directions for the Candidate:
- Review the project information provided.
- Develop an outline for a BIM Execution Plan that addresses:
- Project BIM goals and uses
- Level of Development (LOD) specifications for different model elements
- File naming conventions and data organization
- Collaboration procedures and information exchange protocols
- Quality control processes
- Roles and responsibilities for BIM implementation
- Create a detailed section for one of these areas, showing specific standards or protocols you would implement.
- Be prepared to explain your rationale for the standards you've proposed.
Feedback Mechanism:
- The interviewer should highlight one strength in the candidate's BIM Execution Plan (such as their thorough LOD specifications) and suggest one area that could be enhanced (such as their collaboration procedures).
- Allow the candidate 15 minutes to expand or revise the area identified for improvement, noting their receptiveness to feedback and ability to strengthen their work.
Activity #3: Cross-Discipline Coordination Simulation
This exercise evaluates a candidate's ability to facilitate collaboration between different project disciplines—a key responsibility for BIM Specialists. It tests communication skills, technical knowledge across disciplines, problem-solving abilities, and conflict resolution approaches.
Directions for the Company:
- Prepare a scenario involving a coordination issue between architectural, structural, and MEP elements in a building project.
- Create role cards for team members who will play the parts of an architect, structural engineer, and MEP engineer, each with specific concerns and priorities.
- Provide relevant drawings or simplified model views showing the conflict area.
- Allow 45 minutes for this role-play exercise.
- Assign experienced staff members to play the roles of the different discipline representatives.
Directions for the Candidate:
- Review the project information and coordination issue provided.
- Lead a coordination meeting with representatives from architecture, structural, and MEP disciplines (played by company staff).
- Facilitate discussion to identify the root causes of the coordination issues.
- Use visual aids (sketches, model views) to communicate effectively.
- Guide the team toward a resolution that addresses the concerns of all disciplines.
- Document the agreed-upon solution and next steps for implementation.
Feedback Mechanism:
- After the exercise, provide feedback on one aspect of the candidate's facilitation that was effective (such as their clear communication of technical concepts) and one area for improvement (such as their approach to balancing competing priorities).
- Ask the candidate to reflect on how they would approach the meeting differently based on the feedback, observing their self-awareness and adaptability.
Activity #4: BIM Model Audit and Optimization
This exercise assesses a candidate's ability to evaluate model quality and implement improvements—essential for maintaining efficient BIM workflows. It tests technical proficiency, attention to detail, knowledge of modeling best practices, and ability to optimize performance.
Directions for the Company:
- Prepare a Revit model with intentional inefficiencies and quality issues, such as:
- Unnecessarily complex families
- Redundant or unused elements
- Poor file organization
- Inefficient modeling techniques
- Inconsistent parameter usage
- Provide access to the model file and a brief description of the project.
- Allow 60-90 minutes for this exercise.
- Prepare evaluation criteria focusing on thoroughness, technical knowledge, and practical solutions.
Directions for the Candidate:
- Perform a comprehensive audit of the provided BIM model, identifying issues related to:
- Model performance and file size
- Element quality and accuracy
- Organization and naming conventions
- Parameter consistency
- Compliance with BIM standards
- Document your findings in a structured audit report.
- Implement improvements for at least three identified issues directly in the model.
- Prepare recommendations for addressing the remaining issues, including potential time savings and benefits.
Feedback Mechanism:
- Provide feedback on one strength in the candidate's audit approach (such as their thorough analysis of family complexity) and one area for improvement (such as their prioritization of issues).
- Allow the candidate 15 minutes to implement additional improvements based on the feedback, observing their technical skills and ability to incorporate suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should we allocate for these work sample exercises?
Each exercise is designed to take 45-90 minutes, depending on complexity. We recommend scheduling them as separate sessions from interviews, either on the same day with breaks in between or on different days. For remote candidates, consider splitting the exercises across two days to prevent screen fatigue.
Should we provide candidates with access to BIM software, or should they use their own?
Ideally, provide access to your company's BIM environment to ensure a level playing field and to assess how candidates adapt to your specific setup. If this isn't possible, ensure candidates have access to the required software versions and clearly communicate technical requirements in advance.
How should we evaluate candidates who use different approaches than our standard methods?
Focus on the effectiveness of their solution rather than strict adherence to your methods. Different approaches can bring innovation to your team. However, candidates should be able to explain their rationale and demonstrate awareness of industry standards. Consider whether their approach would integrate well with your existing workflows.
Can these exercises be conducted remotely?
Yes, all these exercises can be adapted for remote administration using screen sharing and collaborative tools. For the coordination simulation, use video conferencing with breakout rooms. Ensure candidates have stable internet connections and appropriate hardware to run BIM software smoothly.
How do we balance evaluating technical skills versus soft skills in these exercises?
Each exercise intentionally combines technical and soft skill assessment. The clash detection and model audit exercises emphasize technical proficiency, while the BIM execution plan and coordination simulation focus more on communication and strategic thinking. Use the feedback portions to evaluate adaptability and coachability, which are crucial soft skills.
Should we share our evaluation criteria with candidates in advance?
Providing general information about what you'll be assessing helps candidates prepare appropriately and reduces anxiety. However, specific details about intentional model errors or coordination conflicts should be withheld to accurately assess problem-solving abilities in realistic scenarios.
In today's complex construction and design environment, finding BIM Specialists with the right combination of technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative skills is essential for project success. By incorporating these practical work samples into your hiring process, you'll gain valuable insights into how candidates perform in realistic scenarios, helping you identify the true standouts who will drive your BIM implementation forward.
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