In today’s competitive job market, candidates are often asked to “prove” their skills through interview assignments. But when these tasks begin to resemble unpaid work, the line between fair evaluation and exploitation becomes dangerously thin.
Navneet Upadhyay, a seasoned Head of Design and Creative Director with over 16 years of experience, shared a frustrating experience while applying for a senior role at a beauty and wellness organization.
After applying through LinkedIn, he was promptly contacted by HR and asked to complete an initial task: design a new product launch strategy and roadmap for digital and print media. Despite hesitation, since senior creative leaders are usually assessed through vision, portfolio, and discussions, he completed the project in three days.
This led to an in-person interview with the HR Head, followed by yet another assignment: a product rebranding exercise with social media creatives. Upadhyay delivered three concepts by the end of that week.
A week later, after hearing nothing, he followed up, only to be told:
“I’m so sorry Navneet, your profile is not shortlisted for the final discussion.”
Reflecting on the process, he concluded:
“They were never hiring. They just wanted someone to do their launch strategy and rebranding work in the name of ‘interview tasks.’ Some organizations, especially startups, exploit job seekers’ desperation. Behind every candidate is a human being, with EMIs, families to support, and months (sometimes years) of job struggle. Taking advantage of that, without even basic courtesy, is not just unprofessional; it’s inhumane.”
He ended his post with a critical question:
Should there be boundaries or guidelines around interview assessments, especially for senior leadership roles?
Upadhyay’s story is not an isolated one. In a Forbes article, Rebekah Bastian highlights how unpaid work during interviews is becoming alarmingly common, especially in technology and creative industries. She notes that these assignments often range from “a couple of hours to several days of work” and, in many cases, feed directly into company projects.
A LinkedIn poll cited in her article found that 85% of 150 respondents had been asked to complete unpaid tasks during interviews:
21% spent up to 2 hours
44% between 3–5 hours
19% over 6 hours
That’s not candidate evaluation, it’s free labor.
Upadhyay’s post struck a nerve, drawing comments from professionals across industries who have faced similar situations:
Jason Bekiaris, with 25 years in senior management, recalled being asked to do a five-hour assignment despite his extensive track record:
“If my experience, results, and portfolio aren’t enough, then you’re not looking for a leader—you’re looking for free project work. That’s a line I’m no longer willing to cross.”
Garima Tuteja, a UI/UX designer, called for a revamp of design hiring:
“Design hiring needs a revamp. Just like tech has coding rounds and management has case studies, design deserves clear, structured assessments. Real change will only happen when design roles are evaluated by design leaders, not HR or sales.”
Across these voices, one theme was consistent: creative professionals are disproportionately exploited through “assessment tasks” that double as unpaid project work.
As Bastian concluded in her Forbes article, "Unpaid labor is a blatant disregard for fair labor practices, disproportionately affecting the same people that have already been harmed by existing inequities in the workforce."
Upadhyay’s experience and the wider conversation it sparked, underscores an urgent need for reform. Organizations must set ethical boundaries around interview assignments, especially for leadership roles where strategic vision and proven portfolios should speak louder than speculative tasks.
Candidates are not free consultants. They are professionals whose time, skill, and dignity deserve respect.
Reference:
1. Bastian, R. (2024, April 5). The Cost of Getting Hired: Unpaid Labor in Job Interviews. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebekahbastian/2024/04/05/the-cost-of-getting-hired-unpaid-labor-in-job-interviews/
(Rh/VK)