Box Executive Requires AI Side Projects for Hiring

Vice President Rand Wacker is dropping traditional case studies in favor of hands-on AI prototyping for job candidates.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Job Search

Box Executive Requires AI Side Projects for Hiring

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Do you believe personal side projects are necessary to advance in your professional career?

Box executive Rand Wacker now expects job candidates to showcase personal side projects as a testament to their AI literacy and passion. The company has officially removed traditional case study requirements from its interview process.

Why it matters

Wacker believes that hands-on software development serves as a superior benchmark for a candidate's practical skills compared to standard interview methods. This shift prioritizes technical agility in an era where AI tools are rapidly changing standard workflows.

Rand Wacker draws on a 30-year career in product strategy and software to evaluate talent. He notes that the current media landscape offers 20 million titles across various platforms, necessitating the use of AI tools to navigate choice.

The players

Rand Wacker

He is the vice president of product strategy at Box and has a professional history spanning 30 years in the software industry.

Box

This is a cloud content management and file sharing service for businesses that is currently modifying its recruitment procedures.

The details

Candidates demonstrate their competence by building products or prototyping ideas rather than completing canned case studies. Wacker personally models this approach by using AI coding tools like Cursor to build applications, such as a tool designed to reduce streaming decision fatigue.

October 2026: Rand Wacker outlined his updated approach to assessing job candidates and shared his personal AI coding projects.

Market Landscape

This pivot reflects a broader shift in the tech sector toward valuing AI-augmented proficiency over traditional academic or theoretical assessments. By emphasizing active building, companies are positioning themselves to outpace rivals who rely on legacy interview models.

Prospective employees aiming for roles at innovative firms should prepare to present a portfolio of active projects rather than just a resume. This approach likely means job seekers will need to spend time mastering AI coding tools to remain competitive in the current market.

The takeaway

Developing a side project using new tools is an effective way to prove your technical competence to potential employers. Professionals should consider using AI assistants to build small, functional solutions that highlight their ability to solve specific problems.