Post-interview assessment

Anonymous

July 5,2023 at 10:20PM UTC

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Post-interview assessment

I work in a highly technical role and industry, and last year I interviewed for a role much like the one I am in now. After the interview the "potential company" sent me an assessment which would essentially be like doing my entire job and not get paid for it. So i prioritized my current work and let it go. Recently potential company sent the assessment again, enquiring if I am still on the market. It is highly complex and to do it I would essentially need substantial time taken away from my paying job. However, I am very desperate to leave my current employer as the CEO has become severely toxic. What should I do. I am so anxious about this as I know i need it, but i also don't want to spent too much of my time on something that may not prove to be fruitful ultimately.

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AnonymousJuly 5,2023 at 11:24PM UTC
Is it honestly an assessment, or are they trying to get you to solve their problems for free? If you suspect the latter, huge red flag.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJuly 5,2023 at 11:58PM UTC
How long to you estimate the assessment will take? Why wouldn't you be able to do it on your own time and not take time away from your paying job?
AnonymousJuly 6,2023 at 12:54PM UTC
I'm a single mom and also working part time after hours lecturing online.
AnonymousJuly 6,2023 at 12:58PM UTC
I've already spent a week on it after both my work is don't.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJuly 6,2023 at 4:35PM UTC
Already spent a week on it? Ok, that's not just a no that's a hell no. Personally, there's no job I want bad enough to spend that kind of time on an assessment.
AnonymousJuly 6,2023 at 6:06PM UTC
Hence I am reluctant about it. What they are requesting rightfully we would allocate 2 weeks to if I was speaking to the client. They initially wanted it in 3 days last year hence I let it go.. when they came back again I realized I can take my time with it so I can deliver good work.
AnonymousJuly 6,2023 at 12:42AM UTC
When I was trying to leave my previous toxic workplace (also a technical role), I set aside 2 specific days each week that were dedicated to job applications.
I made it clear to my friends and family that I was unavailable Tuesdays and Thursdays. I went straight to Starbucks after work and worked on applications and tests/projects for hours. This went on for a few months until I finally landed my dream job. Persevere, there is better out there.
AnonymousJuly 6,2023 at 12:57PM UTC
I will capitalize on the days that my helper comes by and do that.
Barb HansenJuly 6,2023 at 4:39PM UTC
Ah, assessments. Great for the company hiring us, but crappy for us to complete.
Here is my experience with assessments:
If I need the job, then I bite the bullet and do whatever assessment is sent my way.
If I don't need the job but am interested in continuing the process yet the assessment is stupidly long and annoying, I have a conversation with the hiring manager or recruiter expressing my concern that the assessment seems too involved, but I would consider doing part of it or taking another assessment. Side note, if you are a developer, coding assessments are common place and just part of the hiring process, so pushing back on a code assessment would be counter-productive.
If I'm so-so about the job and a long assessment has been sent to me, I email the hiring manager or recruiter and tell them that I won't be doing the assessment but I'm happy to continue with the interview process. Sometimes I explain why I won't do the assessment (it's too long, the assessment would give you actionable items that you could use without hiring me, or whatever the issue is).
If the assessment has turned me off working for the company, I remove myself from the process.
Good luck, I hope you're able to find a happy balance between the assessment and your desire for the job.
AnonymousJuly 6,2023 at 6:04PM UTC
This is so helpful, thank you! I am a struct eng, so it's a very involved task that really demands on my mental capital.
This actually gives me good direction as to what I should do next: I will complete the task to the best of my time and ability.. What I cannot do I will be honest and leave out and discuss it in the email.
Barb HansenJuly 6,2023 at 6:14PM UTC
Good luck and trust your gut. :)
On a side note, are there standard assessments for structural engineers or is this assessment created by the company you're applying too?
I work for a startup that is in the industrial occupational space and how we assess the skills of engineers is coming soon to my product strategy. I haven't started this work but since you said you were a structural engineer who is doing an assessment, I thought I'd ask you if that assessment is "off the shelf" or created by the company.
Thanks in advance and I'd love to connect with you on LinkedIn.
AnonymousJuly 7,2023 at 12:38PM UTC
as a person that had to administer assessments, they can be valuable however, I have seen people with the most experience do poorly on tests, and it was because the questions weren’t directly related to their specific position in many ways, so I had to tell the manager the changes that needed to be made in the assessment to see the best of the best within the actual job specifications . And hiring managers get very creative with some of the things you can choose to ask and it’s all very legal and very professional. As long as everyone is tested, you can’t test one applicant and not another if you were audited, it would be discriminatory. Good luck. If you need the job I agree you have no choice..
AnonymousJuly 7,2023 at 5:16PM UTC
Do it, don't do it, most of them are not time stealers and go fast. What's going to hurt to check them out? You just never know.
AnonymousJuly 9,2023 at 9:26AM UTC
Thanks everyone. I am almost done, and more than anything I have learned so much from this exercise. Someone suggested that I put a watermark on the report so it doesnt get used directly for submission to said client. Even if they copy it, I have learned and grown through the process and it can only make me a better candidate even for future roles. Sidebar: A recruiter called this week to pitch a firm that would be fitting to my profile (as they have different roles open that would fit my skills) and it turns out to be the exact same one I am currently doing the assessment for. Hoping for the best!
AnonymousJuly 9,2023 at 1:59PM UTC
Run. This is a huge red flag. The company likely has no intention of filling the position.
Job assessments can be a valid part of the interview process, but if they take more than 1-2 hours of your time, there is something seriously wrong. My response to the recruiter would be more along the lines of “This ask is a substantial body of work - more than is appropriate as part of on interview process. If you are interested in having me do this work for you, my hourly rate would be x.”
in most cases they are looking for free ideas they can pass off as their own. I suspect that is what is happening here.
Sadly, I have heard of this type of behavior with increasing frequency.
AnonymousJuly 9,2023 at 6:42PM UTC
Unfortunately, that is highly possible. I am however willing to do it as its the chance I am willing to take. If it works out, it would truly be in my favor. if not, I would have learned alot.