In the past, companies held a single hour-long interview to assess a candidate’s qualifications, expertise, and cultural fit.
Those days are over.
Most companies have expanded the hiring process into brutal multi-round sessions filled with assessments, interviews, and projects.
Some take it even further. They’re using interviews to extract free labor from desperate job seekers.
The New “Working Interviews”
Our brave new world sees companies asking for free work while calling it an “interview.” These so-called “working interviews” are designed to extract labor from candidates, who may or may not get an offer despite the hours of work they put into the project.
An ex of mine had to do one of these “working interviews” for a service industry job. They asked him to work an entire shift (FOR FREE!) to see if he could do the job.
Of course, the shift they asked him to work just so happened to be a busy party night. And of course, they no longer needed him after he provided hours of free labor.
I told him going in that it was a scam, but he was desperate for a job.
He’s not the only one – and companies know it.
Work Assignments During Interview Process
More and more companies are demanding free work as part of the hiring process.
And I won’t say they’re always wrong.
Some jobs and industries require fundamental technical skills, and the only way a hiring manager can suss out whether a candidate can perform the job is to ask them to do it.
For example, it wouldn’t be ridiculous for a panel to ask someone seeking an IT position to troubleshoot basic server problems. These tests are typically legitimate and specifically designed to ensure the applicant has the skills needed to complete the work.
However, companies are getting brazen in asking potential employees to do unpaid work under the guise of an interview.
So Many Companies Asking for Free Work
All too many companies are asking candidates to complete full, large-scale projects without a paycheck.
These projects range from massive social media marketing campaigns, building programs, streamlining processes, creating brand assets, and all sorts of things that take hours of manpower.
Job seekers are sharing their experiences all over the internet, helping us wise up to this insidious practice.
One man shared his story on the popular anti-work subreddit, and although his original post has since been deleted, we captured most of the story along with examples other users shared.
A Project is the Final Boss of the Hiring Process
The Original Poster (OP) shared that he’s well qualified for the role and has a lot of experience in the field. He completed both a phone interview and a Zoom interview, but then the company ghosted him for a week.
He thought that was it, but they magically reappeared. However, they didn’t bring a job offer, oh no. That would be too expensive.
Instead, they brought him a massive project disguised as a final interview, claiming they wanted to “test” his ability to perform the job.
But it wasn’t a test or a hypothetical; it was a real-world problem the company was facing.
Blatantly Seeking Free Labor
This company was so blatant that even a casual observer could see they were trying to trick him into fixing their issues without a paycheck.
OP clearly saw through their act. I mean, they were so obvious they couldn’t have even been trying to hide it.
Here are some of the ridiculous things they tasked him with:
- Providing recommendations for improving engagement
- Creating a new social media campaign for the busy season
- Providing feedback on a real analysis showcasing the company’s failings
They asked him to create a 30-minute presentation detailing this and more, including his sources, the resources he’d use, and every other detail imaginable – all without earning a cent.
Becoming More Common
OP declined the “generous” offer and even asked the hiring manager if they were serious. They could use all this work for their business without hiring OP or paying him for it.
And it’s not just one company. OP said he’s encountered this repeatedly during the job hunt.
Redditors from a variety of industries said the same thing happened to them. People in graphic design and marketing see it a lot, but it’s even happening in customer service positions.
“I am a graphic designer, and this has happened to me before with big brands,” shared one user. “I interview twice, and everything goes great, and then crickets until I get an email saying the third interview is completing a project FOR FREE.”
“I applied for an Ops Manager job. They wanted me to analyze 2 years’ worth of data and write a report on how I would improve logistics and processes,” added another.
“I’ve had companies ask me to do a sort of ‘test shift where they expected me to come in for 2-4 hours to work to see how I sell and how I’d fit,” said a user working in the customer service industry.
These “shift tests” showcase a lack of coverage and allow hiring managers to get free labor from desperate job seekers.
It feels like a scammy way for companies to get essential work done without paying
Signs a Company is Trying to Get Free Work
Most companies are a little more sneaky. But there are always signs that they’re just looking to squeeze free work out of you:
- They provide real data rather than test data
- They want you to work a test shift without paying
- The work will take more than one hour
- You can’t submit previously completed work samples
- The project will benefit the company (it’s not just mockups)
- You’re solving a real problem
What to Do When an Employer Asks Me to Produce Free Work As Part of the Hiring Process
It seems like so many companies are asking for free labor as part of the hiring process, and as jobs grow scarce, what can a candidate do?
I’m not going to tell you to never do the free work. I get that you need a job, and some folks are willing to do whatever it takes to get one.
However, I’d argue for caution. Companies keep doing it because desperate job seekers are doing the work. If we all collectively stop, they will also stop. In addition, they probably aren’t going to hire you anyway. If you do the work, they get what they want without paying, so why would they give you an offer?
A lot of candidates are simply saying no like OP, and that’s a great option. You could also tell them you don’t work for free, but you’re willing to solve the problem after you get hired (a risky move, but it could work).
You could even write up a business plan and offer to do it for a consulting fee. You never know – if they are desperate for the product, they might actually pay for it. They get the work, you get the money, and although it isn’t the job you wanted, it’s something to add to your resume.
Don’t Let Companies Steal Your Labor
Businesses will do everything they can to steal labor from employees and potential employees. Savvy job seekers must be on the lookout for these shady practices.
The less candidates give in to these unhinged demands, the less companies will try to pull a fast one on unsuspecting job seekers.
We collectively have the power to stop them.