test projects? 1515 Responses

Last post: 10 months ago | Thread started: Jul 19, 12, 9:19 a.m.

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• Aa77

  I am in the running for a fulltime position and the employer has asked me to do a test project for them to see the way I work.

  I completely understand the reasoning behind this and have done this in the past, but usually I am asked to do something that would only take a few hours at most. For this job, they basically want me to create a micro-site which could easily be 2 full days of work with no pay and no guarantee that I even get the job.

  What's your take on a test project of this scale? does it seem a bit excessive? should this already be a red flag for the type of employers I will be working for?

  Jul 19, 12, 9:19 a.m. – Permalink

• prophetone

  there are many factors at play here that only you know that determine whether or not you are willing to jump thru some hoops for the position.

  • yup– moldero

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 9:24 a.m. – Permalink

• lvl_13

  I've had to do this several times. although annoying, it shows them upon completion that you really want the job. we are currently hiring for a dev, and half the people applying just give up. it weeds out the hacks really quickly.

  • i think thats my issue...not 100% sold on the job, if it was a dream job I would have no issue with this– Aa771/2

    i hear ya'– lvl_132/2

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 9:24 a.m. – Permalink

• omg

  If they don't hire you, make sure you send them an invoice for the work you did.

  • hahahah– pango

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 9:25 a.m. – Permalink

• Morning_star

  Ask them to pay you and suggest that you reimburse them if you get the job.

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 9:25 a.m. – Permalink

• albums

  No pay, no work. I've been paid for my "trial time" we all should be.
  Border line spec-work comes across as "Dance monkey, dance".

  • <<<– timeless1/5

    +1– alicetheblue2/5

    please provide company info on who actually paid you for doing work for a potential job. bullshit.– lvl_133/5

    well, two companies in KS, one in orange county and another in SF which also covered the plane ticket.– albums4/5

    FACT.– albums5/5

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 10:20 a.m. – Permalink

• lvl_13

  it's not spec work you ninnies. if you want to work for an agency/studio/corp environment you will no doubt face some sort of test/project you will be faced with if you really want a job. if you haven't faced this, you are either in a non-competitive city (ie. boring), or you have just created the new look for nike. i'm assuming most of us fall into the first category.

  depending on the city you are in, go for it and get over your ego (said to half the people in this thread).

  • interview "projects" is the quickest way to weed out the bullsiht and unfit.– lvl_13

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 10:15 p.m. – Permalink

• wordssssss

  Of all the jobs I have applied for I have never been asked to do this. I think it's less the city or your skill level, and more the type of studio.
  Generally a portfolio, some fairly specific interview questions and some references will tell you alot.
  If they don't mind asking you to do a bunch of work before you are even hired, what do you think is in store for you if you get the job.

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 10:35 p.m. – Permalink

• Douglas

  i think a more reasonable solution would be to book you as a freelancer for a week. put you on an actual project and see if it's a good fit.

  • << THIS. I've had two fantastic full-time jobs that have begun this way...– RIZ

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 10:36 p.m. – Permalink

• JackRyan

  My history is that most big places still pay for the work. They hire you as a freelancer and see how you do. But if your working, you should always get paid. Test/trials are a red flag for me...sketch.

  • ^– JackRyan

  

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  Dog-earJul 19, 12, 10:55 p.m. – Permalink

• maikel

  The whole pose "I'm hiring you so do the fuck I want" is BS. Any decent manager should be able to tell from a CV + Portfolio + interview if a guy is up for the role or full of s****

  At least here in UK you have a mandatory trial phase of 3 months -now has been extended for 6 month- that allows precisely this: testing the candidate(s).

  In this way you do not even have to pay bloated contractor's rates, but the actual wages that you are willing to pay.

  I strongly believe It is unfair to transfer all risks to the new employee, and certainly talks poorly of the hiring company.

  

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  Dog-earJul 20, 12, 1:12 a.m. – Permalink

• moldero

  i did that for a startup 10-ish years ago, they didn't hire me but i seen the version of the logo that I made them for that "test" a few times on some of their shit. I didnt really care because I was too busy trying to become Valentino Rossi, thought i was gonna quit design, get all famous n crap. man,,, if I had a time machine, ide go back, and take state,,, and right now I'd be sitting in a hot tub, with Natalie Portman.

  

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  Dog-earJul 20, 12, 1:29 a.m. – Permalink

• ItalianStallion

  If you need money get up and work.

  • ?– maikel1/4

    for free– moldero2/4

    ;)– moldero3/4

    if it is for free it is not work.– maikel4/4

  

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  Dog-earJul 20, 12, 1:34 a.m. – Permalink

• formed

  If you do it, make sure that you make it clear you own the design.

  What colleagues of mine have done is to do a trial period of working, say 3 weeks. Not hired, just hourly, no committments. Gives both parties time to determine if there is a good fit, they get work done, you don't get screwed.

  I can understand the logic if there is something very specific that might not easily be shown in a port, but if it isn't something unique and specific to their clientele, then I'd at least express your reservations.
  If it was a 6 figure salary with dream opportunities, that's different.

  

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  Dog-earJul 20, 12, 7:06 a.m. – Permalink

• spendogg

  Why can't these agencies just fucking contract you for 2 days even if you do it on off hours? That's what we do where i work.

  

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  Dog-earJul 20, 12, 7:42 a.m. – Permalink

• qTime

  No pay = no work. Simple
  I'm guessing this company is based in the USA?

  

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  Dog-earJul 20, 12, 7:49 a.m. – Permalink