Am I Being Interviewed or Exploited? (The Fine Line Between Assessment and Free Labor)
Updated January 28, 2026
The Quick Answer:
Core Question: Is it normal to be asked to do large assignments or "homework" during a job interview, and should I charge for it? Direct Answer: While small skill assessments are standard, requests for comprehensive strategies, extensive coding projects, or fixing real-world company problems are considered "unpaid labor." If an assignment takes longer than 3 hours or produces usable work for the company, you should either decline, request a paid "contract trial," or copyright your work. Key Takeaways:
The "3-Hour Rule": Any assignment taking longer than 3 hours is a red flag.
Real Problems = Real Pay: Never solve a company's actual current problem for free; solve a hypothetical one.
Meeting Fatigue: If a process exceeds 4 rounds, it signals internal indecision, not high standards.
It starts innocently enough. You crush the first interview. The recruiter calls you back, excited.
"The team loves you. We just have a small 'take-home' assignment to see how you think. Can you put together a go-to-market strategy for our new product launching in Q3?"
You spend your entire weekend building a beautiful deck. You present it. They nod, take notes, and keep the slides.
Two weeks later, you get the rejection email. Three months later, you see them launch the exact strategy you pitched.
You weren't interviewed. You were strip-mined for ideas.
In a tight job market, the line between "verifying skills" and "soliciting free consulting" has blurred. Here is how to spot the difference and protect your Intellectual Property (IP).
The Red Flags of "Free Work"
1. The "Real Data" Trap
Shutterstock
If a company sends you their actual, messy sales data or asks you to fix a bug in their live code, pause.
The Healthy Ask: "Here is a fictional dataset. Tell us what trends you see."
The Exploitative Ask: "Here is our actual sales slump from last month. Tell us how to fix it."
Your Move: Offer to do the assignment on past data or a hypothetical competitor. If they insist on real-time solutions, ask for a consulting contract.
2. The "Endless Meeting" Loop Google famously reduced their interviews to a maximum of 4 because their data showed that after the 4th interview, the quality of the hiring decision did not improve by even 1%. If you are scheduled for Round 7, you are not being vetted. You are being used to soothe the hiring manager's anxiety.
Should You Send an Invoice?
This is the controversial question. Can you charge for interview work?
Technically? Yes. Realistically? You likely won't get the job if you lead with a price tag.
However, you can use the "Consultant Pivot."
If a company asks for a massive project, try this script:
*"I am very interested in this role and confident I can solve this problem. However, a comprehensive strategy like this typically requires 10-15 hours of deep work, which is how I operate as a paid consultant.
I am happy to do one of two things:
We can do a shorter, 1-hour whiteboard session where I walk you through my framework for solving this.
We can treat this as a paid freelance project to test our working relationship."*
If they get offended, you dodged a bullet. A company that doesn't respect your time during the interview will not respect your time during employment.
Cheat Sheet: Interview vs. Exploitation
| Feature | Normal Interview Process | Exploitation / Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Rounds | 3–4 Meetings max. | 6+ Meetings or "Meet the whole team." |
| Assignment Time | 1–3 Hours. | "Over the weekend" (10+ hours). |
| Subject Matter | Hypothetical or Past Case Studies. | Current, live business problems. |
| Outcome | Proves your skills. | Produces usable work/IP for them. |
| Feedback | Constructive or Decisive. | "We need to see one more iteration." |
FAQ
Is it legal for companies to ask for unpaid work during an interview? In most jurisdictions, yes, as long as it is classified as a "skills test." However, if the company uses your work for commercial gain, you may have grounds for a claim depending on local labor laws.
How do I protect my ideas during an interview presentation? Add a copyright symbol (© 2026 Your Name) to every slide. Send the file as a PDF, not an editable PowerPoint. Explicitly state in the meeting: "This is a high-level strategic overview; the execution plan would be part of my first 90 days."
What is the average number of interviews for a Director/VP role? While data varies, 3 to 5 rounds is industry standard for executive roles. Anything exceeding 6 rounds suggests a lack of organizational alignment or decision-making authority.