Has anyone ever been approached by an in-house recruiter about a position and then been given a test-project to do before salary range is brought

9 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 28,2024 at 10:04PM UTC

   No is a complete sentence.

   Why would you do pro bono work without something in return? Ask for the salary range before investing time in the project! Don't do free work if you're not in the same ballpark with salary. Make the project contingent on them providing you with the salary range. Are you concerned they're going to rescind the invitation to do free work for them?

2. AnonymousApril 28,2024 at 11:29PM UTC

   this sounds so shady and tells you their culture up front. the hiring manager is likely controlling and/or incompetent. i wouldn't complete a project unless i'm being formally interviewed, i really WANT the job, and that project shouldn't take more than 20 minutes.

3. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 29,2024 at 2:26AM UTC

   When you say you've "been approached by an in-house recruiter", what specifically does that mean?

   Does that mean that you have had a preliminary conversation where you discussed the position and you know it's something you're interested in pursuing or did you just get invited to do free work for them?

   Depending on what you do and what industry you're in, projects can be the norm. Personally, I'm a hard no on working for free - unless I know enough about the position to make it worth my time. And that includes compensation.

   Companies should be on their best behavior during the interview process - trying to convince you to come work for them. How many posts do we see on here and on other forums that start with some variation of "I should have know what this company would be like to work for when they did XXX during the interview process".

   Pay attention - this may BE their best behavior.

   GOOD LUCK and please keep us posted!

4. AnonymousApril 29,2024 at 2:29AM UTC

   I'd pass.

5. AnonymousApril 29,2024 at 12:18PM UTC

   To all of the people who have been approached like this, I would ask some more questions. but basically, I would be on Glassdoor posting about the requests ( not specifics) and letting the whole world know what kind of company is XXX . Approaching you blindly, asking for free work, etc.

6. AnonymousApril 29,2024 at 12:47PM UTC

   Look at it as a stretch assignment if you're looking for growth. And yes, of course.

7. AnonymousApril 29,2024 at 12:58PM UTC

   If this is an internal recruiter from the company you currently work for, then go ahead. If it is anything else, offer something from a portfolio of what you have done in the past unless it is benign and only proves you have the skills to do what is required. Otherwise, you are offering free work product. Be sure that anything you give them has your name watermarked on the page(s) and "print" them to a PDF so it isn't easy to remove it.

8. AnonymousApril 29,2024 at 1:22PM UTC

   Doing too much work upfront is usually a sign that they are looking for a bunch of free info and will use that to inform their staffing requirements. Who knows if it would actually result in a legit offer.

9. Kimberley Ferretti HammettApril 29,2024 at 2:05PM UTC

   When you say in-house, do you mean the company you currently work for yourself, or just the recruiter works directly for the company hiring but you are not part of that company currently?

   If not your company, I would be wary.. they are potentially soliciting a lot of free work. Would they be able to benefit from the project work you're doing directly? I would ask for an agreement to be compensated like contract work if they use any of your project without hiring you.

   Your own company? I'd still take some thought and conversation into the mix. Usually they have some sort of range in mind so I could be wrong but on the surface it seems like they are trying to get the best "value" hire that will low-bid themselves but still have quality work. THey need to pay fair market value.

   I once did a project for an internal promotion and wasn't chosen, then they wanted to use my work in their programs AND asked me to cover the person they did hire when she went on maternity leave. It was still good experience and I think it was valid of them to ask for a test (part of the role was instructional design and facilitation) but extremely disrespectful in the way they handled it. Maybe ask upfront if you will be able to get in-depth feedback on your project regardless if you are chosen, ask if job description and pay grade are already decided on the role or if it's still being structured into the pay architecture, and explore what other potential opportunities could stem from this project (maybe you're not right for THIS role but the project shows some skill that might make you a valuable add to other projects that could expand your reach and responsibility?)

   Good luck!