Let’s talk about spec work as a requirement for interview processes. Do you feel this practice has merit or does it set the stage for exploitation and IP theft? Is there a certain seniority level where this is no longer viable or has it never been?

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I won’t do any work on spec—the only time I can see myself doing that is if I were unemployed for over a year and I had no other prospects.

Even then, before saying yes to doing free work, I would tell them my hourly rate and say I normally only do pro bono work for charities and that I would like to know if it’s possible to do a paid project or work freelance to see if we’re a good fit.

Whenever a company has asked for spec work during the interview process, I’ve shared that same offer above and all ghosted after that. Which works out for me, because I don’t want to work for a company that has no qualms amassing a ton of free ideas for no money via the interview process. It’s gross.

I blame the entire advertising industry’s RFP process for interviewers thinking it’s okay to ask for “design tests” when the applicant has a portfolio of work that speaks for itself. Also, I don’t want to work for anyone that isn’t intelligent enough to be able to extrapolate what they see in a portfolio and be able to discern if someone is capable of doing the job without making them do a very specific project because their imagination is that limited.

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I guess I’m punk rock and call them out for it🤘🏻

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I did a design case study as the last round for my current job, and it was a true test in just seeing how I would work with brand elements on basic tasks & designs rather than solving any real marketing/creative issues for them. if it had been anything else, i would’ve dropped out of the running tbh.

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