Interview Assignments: Green Flag or Red Flag?
I see a lot of rants about interview assignments. Here's my take.
It’s rough out there, no doubt. And I have a ton of empathy for those going through the interview process on repeat.
We all know this can be a harrowing experience. From being ghosted, to being discriminated against (there’s a spectrum), to being asked to complete assignments that might take hours of your time.
These cycles can hurt our confidence and reinforce imposter syndrome.
For today, I’d like to focus on the assignments. Some are calling for them to be paid or removed from the experience altogether.
My advice to candidates? Let these people continue to champion for fairness, but embrace the likelihood that you will be asked to partake in some type of exercise that demonstrates your skills, knowledge, and strategic chops (critical thinking).
And, dare I say, maybe even look forward to that opportunity?
Mindset
I’ve completed several assignments onsite during interviews. I have also created several assignments (on the hiring manager side) and those were usually done async by the candidate during certain milestones.
One time as a candidate, I decided to complete a project that had not been assigned to me. Specifically, I brought in a complete redesign to the company's flagship newsletter, unprompted.
I did this because I was genuinely excited about the opportunity and wanted to make sure that it was my job to lose. I was also very nervous and wanted to make sure I could ‘show’ my ability and not rely solely on ‘telling’ my story effectively.
TIPS FOR APPROACHING ASSIGNMENTS:
Don’t overthink the format. Do what comes naturally to you. This is a chance to gauge compatibility, not to fake it.
If you are triggered by the scope of an assignment or feel like it’s out of your current range of abilities, then just drop out of the running. Protect your time and energy.
Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on scope/instructions before going in a direction you are unsure of.
Try not to view assignments as ‘evil’ by default. The hiring process is tough for everyone, and there is a lot on the line.
That said, if the hiring manager is not offering important context or encouragement around the task then this could also be a red flag.
The worst result is not showing an authentic version of yourself. Sometimes an assignment is the edge you need to make sure that you do.
What are your thoughts about assignments? Feel free to share in the comment section.