The initial phone screener mentioned right off the bat that I’d need to complete a short task assessment before being considered for a second interview for this temporary contract role. The position would be responsible for coordinating branding updates to a large number of printed materials. The “short assessment” was to get a feel for how I would approach the project. I was asked to provide detailed annotations on two documents (one 38-page document and one 96-page document) which were emailed to me, along with one PowerPoint presentation. I was asked to provide recommendations for layout, composition, and graphic updates as well as text and editorial changes, considerations for in-person vs Zoom presentations, detailed process approach and time estimates for completion of each of the three documents. This struck me as extremely exploitative in that they are relying on the unpaid expertise of interview candidates to supply a fully fleshed out, comprehensive branding update plan without the prospect of even getting a second interview! I’ve never encountered anything like this in my career. Why bother hiring anyone for the role when the interview candidates will do the work for free? Unreal.