Some background:
I am a Graphic Designer. I graduated from college 4 years ago, and am currently in the market for a new full time position.
In my recent job search, I've noticed a trend of companies asking potential candidates like myself to participate in a “homework assignment”. Essentially asking the candidate to put in work before anything like a job offer has been brought to the table. It's a terrible practice, and rife with the opportunity for employers to basically steal the work of people gunning for the role.
I had been in talks with a really cool organization who's work I'm very passionate about, and have already had three separate interviews with multiple people at the company. I hadn't expected any kind of assignment for this hiring process, as it's for a senior position. Today I got an email requesting I complete an assignment over the weekend. It is the worst assignment I have ever received, and on top of that, they only are giving me 5 days to complete it.
I know people on this sub are passionate about these kinds of things, but I will be redacting the company's name with ***, as their goals as an organization are truly righteous.
Here's their ask (again, as a assignment for them to consider hiring me, after three rounds of interviews):
Provide a comprehensive product overview—given your research and acquired knowledge of the brand—by completing the following:
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Create a hero image using the proper brand lockup based on the brand guidelines provided
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Create high-resolution mockups of each product with strategic branding and appropriate recoloring
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Craft a go-to-market creative strategy launching this partnership by:
• Writing (at least) one paragraph that explains your go-to-market strategy, and why it works for (***)
• Turning the partner’s homepage (***)
• Creating two (2) social media posts that announce the product launch
Using the *** one-pager, please create a summer activation plan for this brand by completing the following:
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Write (at least) two paragraphs that outline your summer activation ideas, and why they work for (***)
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Draft a partner-collaboration concept with one of (***)’s current partners (i.e., Apple, Beats, Bank of America, etc.)
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Create a celebrity/influencer engagement social strategy that incorporates creative product promotion
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Design an idea that incorporates emerging technologies. Consider gaming, AR/VR, and the Metaverse
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Include one big idea that is completely yours
This is a ridiculous amount of work. Anyone in this industry would understand that work of this scope would likely take somewhere from 20-30 hours on the low end, if it's to be done properly. Companies or freelancers would likely charge in the thousands of dollars for it. I'm not being offered anything to do it, not even a job.
To take things one step further, I've been sent this assignment at 4pm on a Thursday, and was told it needs to be completed by the end of the day next Monday. This is without having first been told there would be an assignment in the hiring for this position, and without any consideration for my time or other responsibilities. Seeing as I haven't been given any consideration for my own time, I asked for a two day extension to that deadline (again, I still appreciate this organization, and would have hoped they would be at least a little considerate).
Email giving me the assignment
my response to their response to my response
So the real kicker of all of this, is that the assignment document they sent explicitly states that those receiving it would have a week to complete it. This is still a massive ask for something I'm not being compensated for, but I am only getting five days (more like four) and on a weekend? it's ridiculous. They haven't responded yet to my last email, pointing out the discrepancy in how long the assignment actually states I'll have to complete it, and what I was told over email. I'll update the post if I receive something back.
Regardless, this is a part of the hiring processes of my industry (and a few others) that I've incredibly been noticing in my recent job search. This assignment in particular is the worst I have received, and is reasonably making me reconsider my entire interest in the role.
I am livid.