Massachusetts job candidate demands $900 for unpaid interview project assignment: 'The scope of work produced holds legitimate commercial value'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Mar 26, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

This interview candidate felt that the so-called "assignment" he was given warranted payment, and after reviewing Massachusetts labor statutes, he felt that he had a strong case.

Many job applicants have come to expect having to complete some kind of project in order to prove that the skills outlined in their resumes and/or portfolios are up to par for the position. These assignments can range from hypothetical scenarios or problem sets to be completed during an interview to full-blown presentations to prepare within a short period of time. 

Completing these projects to the best of one's ability can be difficult to manage, especially if you're currently employed and have limited free time. One might assume that hiring managers are accepting of these limitations, but then again, one would be wrong to make said assumption. After all, recruiters are far more likely to respond to the highest quality project, but isn't it a moral conundrum if the work it takes to produce that high quality starts to feel like work that deserves compensation in and of itself? 

Sure, an optimistic candidate might think that all this work will be worth it in the end once they land the position. However, there is absolutely no guarantee that things will shake out that way. Statistically, it's probably unlikely that you'll get the job. And if there's no clause in the prompt stating that the company cannot and will not manipulate your work for business use, who's to say that they won't do just that?

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  • A job candidate sits across from a hiring manager in an interview.
    via Unsplash+ (Ahmet Kurt)

    A job candidate sits across from a hiring manager in an interview.

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

  • After several rounds of interviews culminating in the submission of the completed project, the applicant sent the following email and invoice to the hiring manager. Below is their back-and-forth correspondence, which ultimately resulted in the CEO of the company weighing in with the most standard legal response you can imagine. 

  • I sent an invoice for a 9-hour interview project and the CEO replied with the most AI email I’ve ever read

    His I hope you're doing well. I'm reaching out regarding the take-home project I completed as part of the interview process with your team. The assignment involved substantial research, analysis, and design work, resulting in a six-page professional deliverable. I've attached the project for your reference. Given the time and expertise invested, I've attached an invoice for the project in the amount of $900, with payment due within 14 days (April 6, 2026). Please let me know if you have any ques
    via No-Street-6651
  • Hi Thank you for your email and for taking the time to complete the interview assignment. I want to clarify that the project provided was part of our standard interview process and was intended solely to evaluate candidates' approach, creativity, and strategic thinking. The scope of the assignment was outlined in advance and was not presented as paid work or consulting services.
    via No-Street-6651
  • We do not use or implement candidate-submitted materials in our business operations, and your submission has only been reviewed internally as part of the hiring process. As there was no agreement or expectation of compensation associated with this assignment, we are unable to process the invoice submitted. We appreciate the time and effort you put into the process and wish you all the best moving forward. Best,
    via No-Street-6651
  • Dear I appreciate your response. After reviewing it alongside the original assignment and Massachusetts wage and labor statutes, I respectfully disagree with your position. The work submitted was substantive, skilled, and time- intensive. The framing of an assignment as part of an "interview process" does not, in itself, exempt a company from compensation obligations when the scope of work produced holds legitimate commercial value. That distinction has been tested in both state and federal cour
    via No-Street-6651
  • I have documented the assignment brief, all correspondence, my deliverables, and a full record of hours worked. I am prepared to act on that documentation if necessary. My preference remains a simple, private resolution. I am open to a conversation about the invoice this week. If I do not hear back by April 6, 2026, I will proceed accordingly. Thank you,
    via No-Street-6651
  • Hi As noted in our original communication, the assignment was clearly presented as part of our interview process: "If you are interested in moving forward, the next step in our interview process is a project, which we've outlined below." Additionally, as part of the application process, candidates were asked a series of questions, including whether they were willing to complete a project as part of the interview process. Participation in the project was therefore voluntary. The project was inten
    via No-Street-6651
  • At no point was this project presented as paid work or consulting services, nor was there any agreement-written or implied-for compensation. The assignment was structured to assess general marketing thinking through ideas, sample content, and strategy, rather than to produce work for business use. Additionally, as a reminder your submission has not been used for any commercial purpose.
    via No-Street-6651
  • We understand your statement that the interview process alone does not exempt a company from compensation obligations. There are situations where that may apply, such as when submitted work is used commercially, replaces actual business needs, or is completed with an expectation of compensation. However, none of those conditions are present in this case. For these reasons, we are unable to process the invoice. We acknowledge your statement and will respond as appropriate to any further action.
    via No-Street-6651
  • > Project Guidelines Content Ideas Brainstorm • Provide a bullet list of 10-15 marketing/content ideas to promote (our mortgage brokerage providing residential loans). • From your list, choose one idea and create two social posts based on it. Two Canva Posts • Create 2 posts for • a (format is your choice). We'll share a Canva brand kit (fonts/logos) you may use, or you can build your own file. (Link attached below) One Email Draft • Draft a marketing email that extends the same idea. • Include
    via No-Street-6651
  • The candidate hands over a portfolio of work from his assignment.
    via Unsplash+ (Ahmet Kurt)

    The candidate hands over a portfolio of work from his assignment.

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

  • Zhuljin_71 It would be a shame if you named this company and out them for this "practice". It would only be fair that this company expects free work under the guide of an "assessment" without fair compensation.
    via No-Street-6651
  • Background_Future656 I would pay close attention to any social media posts by the company, if you can catch them using your work, then you can claim the money in the invoice
    via No-Street-6651
  • The candidate awaits a response after demanding payment for his work.
    via Unsplash+ (Ahmet Kurt)

    The candidate awaits a response after demanding payment for his work.

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

  • Bad2bBiled The fact that the CEO is responding rather than handing it over to legal shows how rinkydink the company is.
    via No-Street-6651
  • bustaone They were 100% looking for free consulting work and your billing is appropriate. It's probably a scheme to train their marketing Al using cheap labor. Not acceptable.
    via No-Street-6651
  • spatula This is pretty amusing, and of course they're never going to pay you anything. It's still pretty. entertaining to bait them though. But more seriously, having seen so many posts from people who did interview "homework" and then later caught a company in the act of using the work they did, I wonder how long it'll be before legislatures begin to notice companies fraudulently obtaining work for free from candidates under the false pretense of it being part of the hiring process (which they
    via No-Street-6651
  • III-Bullfrog-5360 Nothing stopping you from escalating. Continue to invoice.
    via No-Street-6651

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