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How many of you have done work assignments as part of the job interview process?
Some of them I don't mind doing as they are simple and straightforward. I've had a couple, though, that were really extensive and required a lot of time. One was a 7 page proposal. I didn't get the job but I felt like I just gave the company free labor.
If it takes more than a couple hours, I think they should pay you for the time. Some tech companies will do this... as part of the interview, they hire you on a contract for say a day and have you do actual work.
How many of you have done work assignments as part of the job interview process?
Some of them I don't mind doing as they are simple and straightforward. I've had a couple, though, that were really extensive and required a lot of time. One was a 7 page proposal. I didn't get the job but I felt like I just gave the company free labor.
What do you do for a living? You did give them free labor. Suppose they use your idea?
I had a company once ask me to present to them. They stated I could use a current or old work presentation which I did. They kept adding on to the project and eventually asked me to put together an entire proposal how to run the department, and what resources would be needed. At that point I said thanks but no thanks. You need to hire me for my ideas.
In my recent job search I had to complete a coding assignment in my own time that took at least a full day to complete (which I worked on over a weekend). I worked hard on it to make sure I tested it thoroughly, and that it was clearly documented. I had already had a face to face interview prior to this with two people from the company.
In reward, I got absolutely no feedback on how I did on the assignment and after a long time, all I was told was that they had decided to hire a graduate instead. Pretty rude, and of course I'll never have anything to do with that company ever again. I got another job though which is much better so just as well that I didn't get that job.
In my field they are not so much assignments as they are tests. They will send you a file and ask some questions that you should be able to answer with the information contained in the file. One took about 3 hours but I wasn't giving any ideas away. I think 3 hours was OK and since it wasn't a "project" I didn't mind doing it. If I had to come up with ideas etc, I wouldn't have done it. I'm the same as coffee18 though, this company is on my black list now. I did the tests, they said in the face to face that I did well on it - the face to face was about 5 hours and they never got back to me. I followed up with HR, the hiring manager, not even a word. Very unprofessional in my opinion and they reached out to me, I didn't apply for the opening. If they reach out again, I will tell them all this and tell them thanks but no thanks.
If it's a company you really want to work for, just suck it up and do it.. even if they take advantage of you, at least it builds your reputation - go apply again in a year or so since if you did really well, they might remember you.
If you just need a job to pay bills and are ho hum about the company, don't put an excessive amount of effort in.
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I have used them several times, I call it a "work sample project" and it takes only 15-20 minutes. I use it to test whether the applicants actually have the knowledge/skills that they have given on their resume. It's not anything useful to me or anyone else here in terms of the "work", just a hypothetical scenario. It definitely separates the qualified from the exaggerators.
Nope, they want me to do work for them then they can hire me.
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