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Topic: When writing assignments are part of the interview
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| moon | Posted – 9/12/2006 5:37:53 PM | show profile So here's the scenario: Went in for an interview and it went well. Was given a written assignment to turn in a few days later. Was told that the interview process would include a second round, afterwhich, a decision would be made.So I'm thinking in the back of my mind, why give the written assignment after the first round and not the second? Kind of bothered me but the person interviewing me gave me the impression that I was in the running to be invited back for another round. Worked my ass off on the assignment (although I was under the weather) and turned it in.After a good first interview and a well thought out written submission, no invite back to the second round. Okay, I can accept that. But what I don't like is that I put so much time and energy into the assignment and for nothing. But the real issue is that I am suspicious that this person who interviewed me will possibly use my ideas in the assignment for themselves.The assignment was just not some arbitrary writing test. It was more like an assignment that related to a future project in the very department of the company in which I was interviewing for. I mean, I've heard of Editors stealing ideas from the writing samples that many of us writers submit when applying for positions, so this scenario isn't so far fetched...is it? |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/12/2006 6:20:44 PM | show profile This, in my view, is a learning experience. You choose to do the writing assignment. You could have declined. Or negotiated to make it a real assignment and be paid for it. Now, they might have said no, and then you would have have to decide if it was worth the effort to get the job. From the way you have phrased this, I am guessing this is for a company rather than a publication. It would not surprise me if this person had a number of job candidates do this. And it also wouldn't surprise me if this person took ideas from the resulting work. Unless this is published somewhere you'll never know. Such i is life. |
| ISR | Posted – 9/13/2006 12:13:15 PM | show profile I've done a lot of writing and editing tests. Really irritating, but in this field you have no choice. You can offer, instead, a sample edited work or clip, but that's all you can do. I wouldn't worry about the theft issue---sounds like you're just pissed about not getting the second round and looking for a way to vent. I would try to move on and forget it. Similar things have happened to me, and there's nothing to be done about it. |
| moon | Posted – 9/13/2006 1:58:51 PM | show profile Not just venting... I've been on a few interviews this summer for positions that I didn't land so I'm not too "pissed" about not getting to the second round on this particular position. And although I do realize that writing and editing tests are the norm, I was only required to take them in the past when I've applied for positions in publishing or public relations. And even in those instances, the tests were not given before a second round of interviews. This particulare position was in a communications department of a company that does not specialize in publishing or public relations...totally unrelated to "the business." And because the manager who conducted the interview issued a writing assignment that was directly related to some future objective of her department and she specifically referred to this in the interview as being an area that needed more organization, this causes me to be a little suspicious. And besides, this wasn't just a test to measure writing ability alone, it was an assignment where you were required to conceptualize and present ideas. Sure, I'm bummed that I spent precious time brainstorming, doing research, and synthesizing my ideas and putting them on paper all the while being sick as a dog and for an assignment that delivered no tangible rewards. But I think it's fair for me to feel this way. I will not dwell too long but if I don't "vent" about it, how will I be able to move on? |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/13/2006 2:25:00 PM | show profile You know, I don't think what this company did was wrong in the least. If you are thinking about hiring something, there is nothing wrong with asking them to put some thought into your future plans and present their ideas in writing in order to win the job. . You are perfectly free to decline this request, though of course that will probably affect your chances of getting the job. --This particulare position was in a communications department of a company that does not specialize in publishing or public relations...totally unrelated to "the business." And because the manager who conducted the interview issued a writing assignment that was directly related to some future objective of her department and she specifically referred to this in the interview as being an area that needed more organization, this causes me to be a little suspicious. And besides, this wasn't just a test to measure writing ability alone, it was an assignment where you were required to conceptualize and present ideas. Sure, I'm bummed that I spent precious time brainstorming, doing research, and synthesizing my ideas and putting them on paper all the while being sick as a dog and for an assignment that delivered no tangible rewards. But I think it's fair for me to feel this way. I will not dwell too long but if I don't "vent" about it, how will I be able to move on?-- |
| moon | Posted – 9/13/2006 2:52:30 PM | show profile I never said that this was "wrong" just suspicious! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/13/2006 3:06:37 PM | show profile I am not sure what's suspicious about it. It strikes me as a reasonable thing to ask applicants to do. And, sure, if some good ideas came out of it, the company would use them, whether or not they hired the person the idea came from. Why not? I would. It's only unethical if the company asked people they were absolutely positive they had no intention of hiring do the project to get free ideas. But I don't know how could ever know that. --I never said that this was "wrong" just suspicious!-- |
| moon | Posted – 9/13/2006 3:30:24 PM | show profile Well, everyone who interviewed in the first round was asked to do the assignment. So technically, the company IS asking people they have no intention of hiring to submit ideas. That's why, in my opinion, it makes more sense to make this request after the second round because at least they've narrowed down the candidates to those whom they are serious about hiring. And honestly, if I had made it to the second round and THEN asked to do the assignment, afterwhich I didn't land the job, I wouldn't feel quite as slighted. Like I said, this is a first for me. Whenever I've done writing assignments in the past, the writing assignment WAS the second interview. Meaning they conducted an initial interview and a final decision was made after accessing the writing assignments. A job I landed with a major publisher was conducted in this exact same fashion. Different strokes for different companies but I would definitely put this company in the category of companies with a questionable interviewing process. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/13/2006 4:15:56 PM | show profile Not necessarily. You are assuming that if the company interviewed eight people in the first round, it already knocked out four based on that interview, but decided to ask those four to do the assignment anyway. Maybe the interviews alone didn't knock anyone out, so the company decided to ask everyone to do this assignment and used that, along with the first interview, to decide who to invite to the second interview. Really, there's nothing wrong with that. It seems you knew that all the candidates in the first round were doing the assignment, and you decided that doing the assignment was a reasonable use of your time in hopes of getting to the second round. If I was hiring, my feeling be, "Hey, this will show me who really wants this job and will put in some extra work to get it. If anyone doesn't want to do assignment, they certainly have that choice to say so or to say they will only do it if they know they are one of top two or three candidates." I mean what if the company told you: "OK, here are the top three issues that concern our department. For your initial interview, I want you to come in and make a presentation on how you could assist us in those areas." Is that reasonable? I think so. --Well, everyone who interviewed in the first round was asked to do the assignment. So technically, the company IS asking people they have no intention of hiring to submit ideas. That's why, in my opinion, it makes more sense to make this request after the second round because at least they've narrowed down the candidates to those whom they are serious about hiring. And honestly, if I had made it to the second round and THEN asked to do the assignment, afterwhich I didn't land the job, I wouldn't feel quite as slighted. Like I said, this is a first for me. Whenever I've done writing assignments in the past, the writing assignment WAS the second interview. Meaning they conducted an initial interview and a final decision was made after accessing the writing assignments. A job I landed with a major publisher was conducted in this exact same fashion. Different strokes for different companies but I would definitely put this company in the category of companies with a questionable interviewing process.-- |
| fareenuf | Posted – 9/13/2006 4:17:32 PM | show profile I can empathize somewhat... Just went through a similar ordeal with a consumer mag. My first interview went well and I was asked to submit a writing/editing assignment on about 4 separate topics. I took about 2 days to flesh out the assignment and put my "all" into it. Just as I submitted the assignment, I received an e-mail from the Exec Ed and was told "Thank you very much but we've decided to promote our Associate Editor to this position." Kind of a bummer that I went through all that trouble when I think their intention all along was to promote from within. I'm sure they may have been interviewing outside to fulfill some legal requirement. I chalk it up to another experience and look forward to seeing my ideas used in upcoming issues in the mag. ; - ) |
