Company demands job applicant purchase their product as part of their assignment, applicant refuses, accusing the company of scamming: ‘I will not partake in this assessment’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Aug 21, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Finding a new job is an annoyingly scrutinizing process, and the biggest pain in the whole ordeal is probably the assignments companies tend to give their applicants. While they are a necessity, as they can supply a workplace with a rather good idea of their candidates' abilities, they are a lot of work for the candidates themselves. One assignment is fine, but when one looks for a job, they probably end up completing dozens, if not hundreds of assignments before actually securing a job.

The company in this Reddit story decided to take advantage of people in need of a job, using their job assignment as a practical scam. The company decided to make their candidates not only work for free in their assignment but also force them to buy their product in the process. OP (original poster), got the email with the details about the assignment and immediately refused to partake in this scam. By doing so, OP proved to everyone on Reddit that sometimes it is okay to be the one who says no.

Keep scrolling to read the full interaction, and the rest of the story in the comments section of Reddit. Once you are finished, scroll back up and click here for a story of a business owner who got back at a client who disappeared before paying for their service.

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  • 01
    "Only the most desperate candidates will complete this assessment"
    via Canva
  • 02
    We...don't do that here.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 03
    Dear Thank you for your application. The next step in the process is to complete the following assessment, which will help us better evaluate your qualifications for the position Assignment: What Can We Do Better? As the Executive Director of Retention & Monetization, you will be responsible for owning and relentlessly improving the customer journey. In order to see how you think, we need to see how you think. Here's what that entails... 1. Go to product(s). and purchase any 2. Create a document
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 04
    3. Summarize those notes into no less than 10 things that you would work to change to make an immediate impact on CLTV Rank them based on what you believe would be the easiest to implement (lowest cost/difficulty) with the highest impact Email the full assessment t "Subject: Director of retention and monetization/ First and last name* We remain attentive TODAY 3:30 PM Hi Thanks for reaching out regarding my candidacy. I would love to speak more about the role in detail. However, I will not be ab
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 05
    notarealgrownup • 3d ago Am I reading this correctly? They expect you to make a purchase??
    via notarealgrownup
  • 06
    No-Candle-4443 OP 3d ago yup and then do a homework assignment. GT O.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 07
    bigmacmc 3d ago Please tell me you ghosted? Lmao.
    via bigmacmc
  • 08
    No-Candle-4443 OP • 3d ago Told them I'm not doing an assignment.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 09
    winterbird • 3d ago Send them your amazon wishlist, and instruct them to make a purchase of a minimum of three items to proceed.
    via winterbird
  • 10
    No-Candle-4443 OP 3d ago (C D d I should've done it
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 11
    BrainWaveCC 3d ago Information Technology I just love "...I will not be able to partake in this assessment." C D I can imagine them getting the response and thinking, "What? Why? What's preventing OP from partaking?"
    via BrainWaveCC
  • 12
    No-Candle-4443 OP • 3d ago Be as passive aggressively professional with asks like this.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 13
    wesblog 3d ago Only the most desperate and under-qualified candidates will complete this assessment... but maybe that is who they want to hire.
    via wesblog
  • 14
    No-Candle-4443 OP 3d ago And spoiler...they're not going to hire anyone. Just get free work and maybe a purchase or two. :-p
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 15
    EnvironmentalGift257 • 3d ago That's my theory on video interviews. I'm not desperate for work so if I can't talk to a human, I'm out. If applicants stop agreeing to video interviews, they'll stop doing them.
    via EnvironmentalGift257
  • 16
    No-Candle-4443 OP 3d ago I tried a video interview. I was about 5 minutes in and decided that it's not and will never be my tempo!
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 17
    SketchAinsworth • 3d ago I work in marketing and had a company whose "project" was to create an entire 2025 go to market plan and also come up with a Q4 2024 event...like tell me you want hours of free labor for your 2025 plan without telling me....
    via SketchAinsworth
  • 18
    No-Candle-4443 OP 3d ago As a former marketer, I've come across this a number of times especially in the startup field. Needless to say those companies have gone under since or have stayed at a Series A/B for 10+ years.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 19
    Burt1811 3d ago Is this in the US?? This is for a director position!! I've never seen anything like this before. I've had to prepare and present business development strategies for a final presentation
    via Burt1811
  • 20
    to an interview panel, which I consider standard, and also with their presumption of my competence and experience. But this is call centre training There's no arrogance in knowing that you're above this
    via Burt1811
  • 21
    No-Candle-4443 OP • 3d ago Correctamundo. Though it is an "executive" in title it would probably be nothing more than a junior level, admin assistant esque role.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 22
    Detection-k9 • 3d ago Wish EVERYONE would push back on this , but people are desperate. This free labor scam is just latest chapter in employee abuse in American companies. I can just see the HR people sitting in a conference room thinking this one up.
    via Detection-k9
  • 23
    No-Candle-4443 OP 2d ago In my experience I've seen this WAY more in the startup and small biz space vs the large companies. They want free ideas to get profitable. I've encountered this 2x with S&P and at Reuters. But the role was within a startup they just recently acquired.
    via No-Candle-4443
  • 24
    zomgitsduke • 3d ago I would start making stuff up. "When I bought the product, the price changed twice between adding to my cart and buying it."
    via zomgitsduke
  • 25
    "My tracking number for shipping was inaccurate and showed up at my neighbor's door." "The product arrived broken. I've figured out 3 ways to drastically improve this product in terms of materials needed, durability, and aesthetics."
    via zomgitsduke
  • 26
    YakLazy3338 • 3d ago "In order to see how you think, we need to see how you think." Well, that clarifies the process. I wonder if anyone's bought something, then promptly returned it, giving the reason as how horrible the experience was.
    via YakLazy3338
  • 27
    junegloom 3d ago I'm not against assignments to test people's qualifications, but this is just such a pathetic scam. It's even poorly written with spelling and grammar problems, a hallmark of scams. You submitted an application and got this back? They really think people are this stupid.
    via junegloom

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workplace-stories job hiring manager email assignment work reddit story hiring workplace scam Reddit company job interview job application
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