# Potential employer asking for "free" work as part of "interview" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112 "2015-05-29T14:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/1 "2015-05-29T14:10:31Z")
My wife has not been happy at her current job and has been looking for a new one. She’s gotten a lot of interviews, even several second interviews, but no job offer yet. She’s a horticulturalist, looking for jobs as a grower or plant specialist. One of her potential employers asked her to do some “homework.” Wanting badly to get out of her current job, she did the work, which took her 6-7 hours, and now the hiring person, who also happens to be the president of the company, has asked her to do another task, then he “will ask you for a second interview with more questions.” Is this a normal hiring practice these days? Seems to me like she’s already working for him, but for free. I told her she should tell him if he wants her to work for him, he should hire her, or fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/2 "2015-05-29T14:33:15Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Seems to me like she’s already working for him, but for free. I told her she should tell him if he wants her to work for him, he should hire her, or fuck off. It seems to me that he’s demonstrating that he’s not the sort of person for whom your wife should work. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/3 "2015-05-29T14:39:24Z")
Yeah, it sounds dodgy to me as well. Performing a small task to demonstrate that you really do know what you’re doing is one thing, but that should not take 7+ hours of work. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/4 "2015-05-29T15:22:07Z")
Yeah, I had that happen to me when I was job-hunting. I just said no, since I don’t believe in having anyone work for free. Think it the world operated that way. “I’d like you to be my hairdresser, but you need to give me a free haircut first, so I can see if you’re up to the job.” “I’d like to take you on as my housekeeper. As part of the interview process, clean the bathroom.” Seriously? Why would you do this? ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/5 "2015-05-29T15:29:28Z")
This seems shady to me. I take it the company is fairly small? It’s as though they have some work they need to get done quickly, but aren’t able or willing to hire a contractor or a full position to fill it, so they conduct “interviews” and assign “homework” with no intention of hiring the interviewee. The “second interview” may just be a lead-in for more “homework” or just to provide plausible deniability when they turn her down. “Yeah, the first interview and work were fine, but you flubbed the second interview so no job for you.” Even if your wife does get an offer from this place, I would advise caution. If this happened to me during an interview, I would consider it a huge red flag, very probably a deal-breaker. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/6 "2015-05-29T15:30:16Z")
It’s standard in some industries where you must physically demonstrate what’s involved in the job. It’s not unheard of, for example, in the food service industry. If they’re serious about you, they want to see if you’re potentially a good fit with the position and “know your stuff” before continuing with the interview process. I had to do this back when I interviewed at a wholesale bakery. I worked free for 2 days (one day decorating cakes the other day baking) before they offered me the position. I was paid for those days only because I commented on them a few weeks after I’d been hired. If I hadn’t opened my mouth I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have paid anything. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/7 "2015-05-29T15:40:22Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > This seems shady to me. I take it the company is fairly small? Actually it’s a pretty large wholesale perennial grower, and the reason my wife is willing to jump through a few hoops is this is one of the only places that’s called her back that could be able to pay her close to what she’d like. And the second task they’ve asked is much simpler than the first; it’s just neither of us has ever encountered this practice of getting “homework” from employers you don’t yet work for. On the face of it I understand why an employer would ask applicants to complete a small task, but OTOH it seems like there’s a lot of potential for needlessly stringing an applicant along, or worse, using applicants to do work for them for free. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/8 "2015-05-29T15:43:34Z")
In my industry (video game art), it’s fairly common for potential employers to ask for “art tests”. The problem is that the tools required for these tests are really freakin’ expensive- generally, at least three thousand bucks, and they need to be updated about every year or so. The tests generally take at least a day or so, as well. So now I just don’t do 'em. I’ve been doing this for over twenty years now. I’ve missed out on a few opportunities by refusing the tests, but I find them more than a little insulting now. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/9 "2015-05-29T16:03:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Actually it’s a pretty large wholesale perennial grower, and the reason my wife is willing to jump through a few hoops is this is one of the only places that’s called her back that could be able to pay her close to what she’d like. > > And the second task they’ve asked is much simpler than the first; it’s just neither of us has ever encountered this practice of getting “homework” from employers you don’t yet work for. > > On the face of it I understand why an employer would ask applicants to complete a small task, but OTOH it seems like there’s a lot of potential for needlessly stringing an applicant along, or worse, using applicants to do work for them for free. Ah. I assumed they were small because you said that the president was the hiring manager. How else does your wife feel about the place? Are there other red flags or is it generally good? Is her desire to leave her current job causing her to gloss over other red flags that she might otherwise consider? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/10 "2015-05-29T16:12:32Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Yeah, I had that happen to me when I was job-hunting. > > I just said no, since I don’t believe in having anyone work for free. > > Think it the world operated that way. “I’d like you to be my hairdresser, but you need to give me a free haircut first, so I can see if you’re up to the job.” > > “I’d like to take you on as my housekeeper. As part of the interview process, clean the bathroom.” > > Seriously? Why would you do this? Someone who was confident in their ability to demonstrate their superior skills might be happy to do this, with the proviso that, the job being won, they would then be paid for their pre-hire work on the same basis as the post-hire. I actually _offered_ such a deal to a prospective employer myself. We didn’t end up doing it, but the offer impressed him. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/11 "2015-05-29T16:34:56Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > …now the hiring person, who also happens to be the president of the company, has asked her to do another task, then he “will ask you for a second interview with more questions.” Sounds like a bunch of horseshit. > [@](#): > > Seems to me like she’s already working for him, but for free. I told her she should tell him if he wants her to work for him, he should hire her, or fuck off. 100% agree, though at this point, I think I’d skip ahead to just telling him to fuck off. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/12 "2015-05-29T16:38:15Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Someone who was confident in their ability to demonstrate their superior skills might be happy to do this, with the proviso that, the job being won, they would then be paid for their pre-hire work on the same basis as the post-hire. > > I actually _offered_ such a deal to a prospective employer myself. We didn’t end up doing it, but the offer impressed him. I had someone who really wanted to work for me offer to work 2 weeks free in order to prove herself. I turned down the offer due to concerns over employment law and insurance. My insurance covers employees, with “employee” strictly defined. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/13 "2015-05-29T16:55:56Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Ah. I assumed they were small because you said that the president was the hiring manager. > > How else does your wife feel about the place? Are there other red flags or is it generally good? Is her desire to leave her current job causing her to gloss over other red flags that she might otherwise consider? She hasn’t mentioned any other red flags to me besides this; she thinks it could be a good place to work, but this is definitely giving her pause. The problem at her current job is her direct supervisor is a sexist, micromanaging ass, and the upper management is both aware of this and doesn’t really care. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/14 "2015-05-29T17:46:01Z")
She wants the job? _Just do it._ What can it hurt? This is a industry about which few or no posters here know anything about. What would justifiably get a “fuck off” in one industry may be perfectly normal in this. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/15 "2015-05-29T17:59:41Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > She hasn’t mentioned any other red flags to me besides this; she thinks it could be a good place to work, but this is definitely giving her pause. > > The problem at her current job is her direct supervisor is a sexist, micromanaging ass, and the upper management is both aware of this and doesn’t really care. That sucks. How long has she been in the field? Does she have any colleagues to bounce this off of? > [@DrDeth](#): > > She wants the job? _Just do it._ What can it hurt? > > This is a industry about which few or no posters here know anything about. What would justifiably get a “fuck off” in one industry may be perfectly normal in this. I think most of us were assuming that she has a reasonable amount of experience in her field, and since she was surprised at the treatment, that it was unusual. The OP also mentioned that she’s had several interviews, and if this was common, it would have probably shown up in more than one interview. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/16 "2015-05-29T18:13:32Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > That sucks. How long has she been in the field? Does she have any colleagues to bounce this off of? MS in horticulture, almost 20 years of experience all over the country. In her opinion, and others we know in the field, her resume should speak for itself. Problem is, there’s not a whole lot of jobs in the field to be had, particularly those that could utilize her level of expertise, and the people who already have those jobs tend to _never_ retire. ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/17 "2015-05-29T18:17:24Z")
I had one of these back in the 1980s before changing careers. There are just some jobs which can’t be filled without knowing if the person has the dexterity needed, or to see if the person’s work style would blend in with a situation. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/18 "2015-05-29T18:17:45Z")
About 7-8 years ago, a Security company I applied for tried to make out how elite they were and blah blah blah,. then said that they required new people to go through a two-week unpaid training class before being allowed to start. Pretty much said “Fuck you very much” and walked out the door. I don’t even think that arrangement is legal in my state. The wages they were offering weren’t anything special either, so I have no idea why people would be stupid enough to go through that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/19 "2015-05-29T18:22:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > MS in horticulture, almost 20 years of experience all over the country. In her opinion, and others we know in the field, her resume should speak for itself. Problem is, there’s not a whole lot of jobs in the field to be had, particularly those that could utilize her level of expertise, and the people who already have those jobs tend to _never_ retire. So, _do it_- what can it hurt? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112/20 "2015-05-29T18:25:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, _do it_- what can it hurt? 😕 Working without remuneration. It’s a job, not a hobby. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-employer-asking-for-free-work-as-part-of-interview/721112.md?page=2)