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'How is this becoming so common?': Shocked social media manager declines after being asked for full list of list of tasks following interview

If you're free to work, you'll work for free… At least, that's what a lot of hiring managers these days seem to reason. If it's not asking you to develop a new sales vertical and make actual cold calls, it might be asking you to use your marketing expertise to develop an actual campaign—all with the assurance that you might get the job.

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Posted by Brad Dickson
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  • Really, opportunistic employers are just interested in capitalizing on candidates' desperation, hoping to crowd-source work and knowledge through candidates who are desperate enough for work that they'll do anything to please a potential employer. Sure, one of them might end up getting the job, but the employer will have tenfold the amount of free work and information that they would have otherwise.

    This social media manager was looking for a new role, and after two rounds of interviews with a prospective employer, they were then asked to complete a list of tasks in order to prepare for the interview. The employer provided them with the organization's actual ad campaign performance data, asking them to analyze it and provide feedback. Since this is something that any worker would expect to be compensated for, they declined.

    See their account of events below, along with the reactions from the community where they posted their story.

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  • 1
    Computer - 20 O 2 www. www 1₁. 101R 1 TODO xa
    Via Campaign Creators
  • 2
    Font - Posted by u/Reign_World Today, I was asked to produce a full list of tasks for a follow up interview. I kindly told them to stick it up their a Context: Had a phone call interview and then a full 1 hour interview with two of the managers via Zoom. It went well. I'm over qualified for the role and a very good fit for the company due to my previous experience. This is for a company who rents out short term lets, similar to Airbnb. They then vanished for a week despite me following up twice.
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 3
    Font - They finally got back to me today. No apology for disappearing or explanation. Just a full list of completely free, unpaid tasks they want me to do for the third interview. I firmly and categorically DECLINED. I emailed them asking if they're actually joking. They could easily steal these ideas and use them for their social media then vanish again. I've seen it happen numerous times to job seekers. Here is the full list of free, unpaid tasks they want me to produce for the sake of an inte
    Via u/Reign_World
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  • 4
    Font - Following the culture interview last week, we think you'd be a good cultural fit for the company and would like to invite you to a technical interview which involves a task. This exercise will give us an idea of how you would approach a project in a real-life work situation. Below is a brief containing a few questions we'd like you to answer and present back to us with the presentation lasting no longer than 30 minutes. We'll then use the remaining 30 minutes for questions relating to wha
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 5
    Font - The brief: 1 - Based on our current social presence, what would be your top 3 recommendations for improving engagement. Give examples or visuals where relevant. 2 - Based on seasonality, our peak period is January. We'd like you to draft a social media campaign for this time frame aimed at attracting our new short-term vacation rental hosts and capturing the increased demand.
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 6
    Font - Please detail your approach to the following: • The platforms and placements you would use and why ● Content ideas/recommendations ● How you would monitor and report on the performance of the campaign
    Via u/Reign_World
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  • 7
    Font - 3 - Attached is a paid performance report from Meta. Please analyse the data and feedback 3 key takeaways or recommendations. (Yep they've literally sent me a copy of their real ad campaign data where they've clearly failed to get a decent amount of clicks and want me to tell them how to improve it - for free. Something an ad campaign manager would usually get paid to do. Which isn't even the role I am going for.) I'm staggered. This is the third time in a row I've encountered this now. H
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 8
    Font - I_Am_Dixon_Cox Do a 30 minute slide show on how you don't work for free. 45.3k ↓ idahononono Oh oh, add in why employers who don't value your time during interviews should evaluate their HR structure and "culture". 1.8k Reply Share 278 Reply Share Exciting Meet2443 Lol, I read 'evaluate' as evacuate Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 9
    Font - silverkernel 18 hr. ago This is becoming more common. My wife had it done to hear. Not doing the same work, but work for improvements etc. Then they ghost you. Its literally just a way to get free work done 1.5k Reply Share ●●● Reign_World OP. 18 hr. ago I've had it done 3 times in a row now, all by media agencies / actual companies that seem very reputable, with good clients, and they're all friendly enough during the interviews. Then they suddenly spring these long lists of unpaid tasks
    Via u/Reign_World
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  • 10
    Font - nerdybirdeee. 17 hr. ago I am a graphic designer and this has happened to me before with big brands. I interview twice, everything goes great and then crickets until I get an email saying the third interview is completing a project FOR FREE. Like no- you aren't getting free design work out of me just so you can turn around a hire someone else? The gumption these places have. Good on you for recognizing it. 41.3k Reply Share Reign_World OP. 17 hr. ago Good on you for saying no too. I think
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 11
    Font - frys_grandson 18 hr. ago Reply with a contract for Consultant work with a nice hefty rate 901 Reply Share MD1980 17 hr. ago This, 100%. And let them know what your requirements would be if they wish to bring you on as an employee after being a consultant. It's like renting before buying. 232 Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 12
    Font - Few_Blacksmith_8704 18 hr. ago They probably sent this to 100 individuals and they know there's a few suckers that will do it and then they'll be ghosted. Good on you to stand your ground. 175 Reply Share EitherContribution39 16 hr. ago That's why they ghosted you for a week... Cause they were busy typing up hundreds of emails for potential suckers--I mean new "candidates" 63 Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
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  • 13
    Font - RunningPirate · 18 hr. ago "Consulting work starts at $250/hr, minimum 4 hours. Please send a PO." 461 Reply Share unicorn8dragon · 16 hr. ago In this instance I'd also require a retainer. Likelihood of collecting without litigation seems low. 109 Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 14
    Font - ehalright 19 hr. ago I work in a related industry and accepted my current job because they required a presentation from me. I'd been burned at my previous job where they pretty much only hired unqualified people so they could underpay them, so the extra ask was a good sign for me personally. That said, they only asked for recycled material; I could just block out identifiers from any old work, school, or personal project of my choosing. These guys sending you REAL DATA is such an unprofes
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 15
    Font - Fearless-Outside9665 18 hr. ago 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. This was unpaid, so I always declined. If you wanna see how I fit, ask better questions at interview, so you can judge better. Or hire me, and you'll see that I'm quite easy to get along with, and also, know how to sell. But asking me to come in for free, for specific hours tells me that you've probably got a gap
    Via u/Reign_World
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  • 16
    Font - Reign_World OP. 17 hr. ago I've done a few of those free trials for bars and restaurants back in the day. Literally none of us got the job at the end of it. It was a fake ad posting. They just needed extra hands during a busy schedule they had in the run up to Christmas. Man I felt violated after I left. 74 Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 17
    Font - thedudeabidesOG 19 hr. ago FQ. That. And what the fois a cultural fit?! Reply Share 182 ehalright 19 hr. ago Buzzword that should mean "you align with our core values and will flourish in our company structure" but usually they say it as "we think you'll get along well enough with your coworkers not to complain when we abuse you." 202 Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
  • 18
    Font - CrusOetheClown 18 hr. ago They sent you actual data and materials before you were contracted with them? Hah! 79 Reply Share Reign_World OP. 17 hr. ago Yep. They sent me their Meta ad campaign data and results, even how much money they spent on each ad and how much revenue it generated. It's staggering. 74 Reply Share
    Via u/Reign_World
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  • 19
    Font - Toolatrecrew. 18 hr. ago Dear scummy company, The cost to produce this presentation at my current consulting rate is $10,000. Please sign the attached contract for services and return with a $5000 deposit. The balance to be paid upon competing the presentation. Upon the successful completion and payment we can negotiate a permanent employment agreement if you wish. Reply Share 211
    Via u/Reign_World

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