More and more companies are require for free work during the software and interview process — and it needs to stop ASAP .
A few months ago I saw a job opening on Linkedin for a fully remote Content Strategist/Technical Writer position that listed a salary range of $140K to $160K. It was the perfect example of my weird half-and-half background of working as both a writer and engineer. So, obviously, I applied right there and then.
Days later I had an interview scheduled, with another follow-up interview a week after. Then, they hit me with ~The Catch~ — something they explained would be required if I wanted to continue to the next stage of the process.
They wanted me to complete an assignment. I was to write a blog post on a technical topic of my choice, create a content strategy around it, and travel to their office to present the project to a panel of interviewers. In all, the project would take me anywhere from four to eight hours to complete, plus additional time for travel and going into their physical office.
When I asked if I would be compensated for my time spent on the project, they said they didn’t have the budget to pay for interviewee projects.
I chose tonotcontinue forward with the assignment.
Their request for free work up front gave me a clear indication that I may often be expected to do extra unpaid work while on the job.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve been asked to complete free work during an interview process, either.
Shortly after that, I had another recruiter from a well-known tech company contact me on LinkedIn for another technical writing position.
Even after I applied with my resume and portfolio, and had the introductory interview, they asked me to write another sample that they could review.
This one I actually decided to do because they fit it could be a short guide . So , I write a short user guide that took me perchance 30 minutes . However , I did n’t terminate up getting the task — and that time spend could be deliberate wasted . One way that work can go unwasted is if I add it to my portfolio . That practice can also be considered acquisition - building .
But still , recreational travail is haywire . improper .
I’ve been working in tech and I.T. for the past decade and started writing about six years ago. Free work during applications and interviews is nothing new, but in my opinion, it’s getting out of hand.
Writing jobs are a different story. I normally see more unpaid work being requested for writing and creative positions — both for full-time, part-time, contract, and freelance work.
If a job interviewer requests me to complete any sort of free work, the first thing I ask is if the work is paid. If it isn’t, the only way I’ll do it is if it requires a maximum of one hour of my time.
Something is changing with company hiring procedures, and it’s not great.
It’s like the five-plus interview round process at some companies. Like, WHY!?
Did n’t that line itemization designate they want someone who can depart as soon as possible ? Their intention are n’t matching up with their action .
This had me thinking: how many of these companies are using an interviewee’s unpaid work for their own gain in their day-to-day business operation?
Everyone deserves respect for their intellectual property, especially in a job interview.
Companies need to realize this and have an denotative agreement go under up where they must compensate the chore applicant for their trial project . If they need to also use that project later on on , utilisation rights to that intellectual prop should be include in that accord .
In my opinion, unpaid labor has no place in the future of work.
Asking for work without pay, even in an interview process, is disrespectful and perpetuates inequities in the workplace. Just pay people for their work already.
