Job seeker flawlessly redesigns company's app for job interview, company uses their design but refuses to hire them: 'It was 85% my work. I got a generic rejection email.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jan 14, 2026 8:00 AM EST

No good deed goes unpunished.

There is a growing group of professionals who go online to proclaim that they don't do any free labor, not even for a job interview. It might sound like a strict rule, especially if the "labor" in question is a test assessing whether they have the skills to do the job, or even the "labor" of doing the interview itself. The definition of labor can get a little lax in online circles. Emotional labor used to mean the act of displaying a certain emotion at work, which can be exhausting and subject to excessive scrutiny. If you've ever had to make your voice higher-pitched and "nicer" on the job, you've performed emotional labor. But these days, emotional labor refers to any act of emotional support to a family member or friend. If your friend needs your support regarding their unrequited crush, some would say that giving them comfort and encouragement is an act of emotional labor. Household labor is another type of labor that doesn't generate income but still creates economic value. 

If you've never had your work stolen without any money or credit, you might not understand why someone would draw a line in the sand about doing "free labor" for a job interview process. The guy in this story had no problem putting in hours and hours of work, far more than the company asked him to do, for an interview assignment because he was extremely hungry to get a new job and would do anything to secure this position.

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  • Program codes is everywhere bearded man in white shirt works in the office with multiple computer screens in index charts
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • This job applicant did everything right, and the company loved his ideas so much that they used his ideas without hiring him. Luckily, his roommate spotted the theft and went online to see what steps he could take to get credit or compensation for his hard work. 

  • A company stole my interview project and launched it without hiring me

    sorry if this is all over the place i just need to get it out back in october i applied for a senior product designer role at a fintech startup.
    via u/kubrador
  • not gonna name them but they have around 2 million users, just raised a series B, seemed legit.
    via u/kubrador
  • i'd been job hunting since september and this felt like the one first two rounds were normal.
    via u/kubrador
  • phone screen, portfolio review, whatever. round 3 they asked me to do a take-home project. prompt was "redesign our onboarding flow to improve activation rates." they said it should take 2-3 hours i spent probably 25 hours on it.
    via u/kubrador
  • i know. i KNOW. but i really wanted this job. i redesigned their whole first- time user experience.
    via u/kubrador
  • added a progress indicator with 5 steps instead of their wall of text. changed the primary CTA from that weird teal they had to a warmer orange because their data (which they shared in the interview) showed mobile users weren't clicking it.
    via u/kubrador
  • made a component where users pick their goals upfront so the dashboard could be personalized. built an interactive prototype in figma with like 40 frames.
    via u/kubrador
  • even specified easing curves for the microinteractions presented it over zoom to 4 people including their head of design.
    via u/kubrador
  • i asked if i could record for my notes (i started doing this after getting burned in a previous interview where they misquoted what i said).
    via u/kubrador
  • they said sure they asked so many questions. "how did you decide on 5 steps vs 3?" "can you walk us through the goal selection logic again?" the head of design said "this is really impressive work" and smiled at me.
    via u/kubrador
  • felt amazing two weeks later. generic rejection email. "moving forward with candidates whose experience more closely aligns" whatever.
    via u/kubrador
  • it sucked but fine. i added the project to my portfolio and moved on last thursday my roommate texts me a screenshot.
    via u/kubrador
  • Woman in glasses is looking at her phone
    via Antonio Verdín (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • she uses their app for budgeting. "hey didn't you interview here? look at this" their new onboarding.
    via u/kubrador
  • the EXACT 5-step progress bar i designed. the orange CTA. the goal selection component with the same three options i mocked up (save more, pay off debt, build credit).
    via u/kubrador
  • even the microinteraction where the progress bar fills in uses the same easing curve i specified i screen recorded their app and put it side by side with my figma file.
    via u/kubrador
  • it's like 85% my work. they changed some copy and moved one button. that's it i emailed the head of design.
    via u/kubrador
  • Man in black crew neck t-shirt wearing black framed eyeglasses using computer
    via Magnus Andersson

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • said i noticed the new onboarding looked familiar and asked if we could talk. no response.
    via u/kubrador
  • it's been 6 days. i followed up yesterday. nothing. checked her linkedin and she's been posting so she's definitely seeing her messages i have timestamps on everything.
    via u/kubrador
  • my figma file with version history. the email where they sent me the prompt. the zoom recording of me presenting it.
    via u/kubrador
  • screenshots of their old onboarding vs the new one vs my design is this worth talking to a lawyer about or am i gonna spend $500 to find out i signed something in the application that says they own anything i submit-
    via u/kubrador
  • kawaeri I think there was a recent post from someone that did an interview test like this, and was rejected. I don't think they used the product but the OP sent them and invoice and a statement about it was labor for them and he doesn't work for free. They paid. I say get a lawyer, write an invoice send it to them, take them to court or hell I don't know maybe even small claims court. Hell if you're in the US I'd call your states labor department and even ask if this falls under their scope. Bec
    via u/kawaeri
  • Latter-Risk-7215 lawyer consult is usually free, just get the offer in writing first. but yeah, they stole it. and finding work now sucks
    via u/Latter-Risk-7215
  • Mostly_Satire Send them an expensive invoice. Follow up with a letter of demand. Create a site showcasing your work and their site. Create a Linkedin post, tagging the company, the individuals, and your site with the recording. Add that you are offering 25% discount for the next three enquiries, up to the value of $$$$$
    via u/Mostly_Satire
  • IceQueen TigerMumma Oh wow, that is shit. I'd find it hard to stay quiet about that. Hell yes go do a lawyer consult. No one should be doing that much work for a job interview.
    via u/IceQueenTigerMumma
  • Phi_fan At a minimum, use it as a selling point on LinkedIn for why someone should hire you. Show yours and their site side-by-side and tell people, "See what amazing work I can do for you.'
    via u/Phi_fan
  • Somethink2000 You have to do something. I don't know what. But please ignore the people on here implying this is normal or acceptable. No way.
    via u/Somethink2000
  • Consistent_Sector_19 Contracts aren't valid without consideration, so if they didn't pay you anything, there's no contract and no right to your work regardless of what the application says. File for copyright on your work immediately and then see a lawyer. The penalties for copyright infringement are pretty steep, so there's a good chance you can get a lawyer to take it on contingency.
    via u/Consistent_Sector_19

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color lawyer work apps job seeker coding designer company hard work job interview
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