'Withdrew my application and told them to...': Candidate gives strongly worded response to recruiter's unreasonable request

Candidate assignments during the interview process are a constant source of derision in online discussions. While we frequently rant against them, it's logical to reason that there is some reasonable requirement for an employer to be certain that their new hire is capable of doing the job and that they're not likely to become a sticky cog or a liability. Thus, interview assignments make sense to the extent that they test a candidate's aptitude in the knowledge and skills required to do the job.

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There's a possible argument for and a bit of a grey area around where the line is. That's where it should end, and without a doubt, asking a candidate to complete an entire presentation or project on real company figures is well across that line.

During the interview process, this candidate found themselves asked to complete a 10-20 minute presentation of the company's earnings report. Baffled by the interviewer's request to analyze real-life company data without being asked to sign an NDA—and for free—the candidate was quick to respectfully but tersely decline the invitation. They shared their experience with this popular online community.