It was an internship for a full-stack developer role. I was given two days - today is the final day, and I did not even start with the project as I was too stressed to complete the task, worrying about designing and modelling the database part, and because I have a really vague idea about system design. The skill requirements for the project are NextJS and MERN stack - which makes little sense. It said nothing about state management library, so I was also really confused about that.
Here are the requirement of the task project:
- make use of NextJS
- create a LinkedIn clone, without the feeds
- must have shareable short-link profile
- should be SEO-optimized
- should provide API for creating and editing profile
- should make use of good UI practices
- explain the reasoning behind the system design decisions
- explain the steps required to run this application
- use of ChatGPT was allowed
- share this on GitHub
I think that I was being fooled - that I was being made to work on a project for free, and that this test is very unreasonable and a big red-flag into the startup’s WLB. Just wanted feedback on whether I was being unreasonable?
Edit: Here’s what the listing says:
Are you a passionate Full Stack Development intern looking for an exhilarating opportunity? Look no further! <company-name>, an innovative company, is seeking a talented intern with expertise in Node.js, JavaScript, ReactJS, HTML, CSS, MongoDB, and Next.js. Join our fast-paced team and gain invaluable experience in a dynamic work environment.
Selected intern’s day-to-day responsibilities include:
- Collaborate with the development team to design and implement user-friendly web applications using cutting-edge technologies
- Develop and maintain scalable backend systems using Node.js and MongoDB to ensure efficient data management and retrieval
- Create visually stunning and responsive frontend interfaces utilizing ReactJS, HTML, and CSS to deliver an exceptional user experience
- Conduct thorough testing and debugging to ensure optimum performance and seamless functionality across different platforms
- Assist in optimizing website performance by analyzing and refining code, and implementing best practices
- Contribute to the development of RESTful APIs, integrating with third-party services to enhance application capabilities
- Stay updated with the latest industry trends and emerging technologies, sharing insights and participating in team discussions to drive innovation
If you have a hunger for knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a desire to make a meaningful impact, apply now to become a part of the <company-name> team. Ready to revolutionize the world of web development? We can’t wait to meet you!
Stopped reading there because that’s absolute insanity to ask as an ‘application test’, no matter what your level is. If they ask you for more than a few short programming challenges it’s a scam. I like to provide a bit of unoptimized code and ask the applicant to refactor it, added bonus: I learned a trick or two from some of our applicants.
My rule of thumb: if it takes me more than an hour to complete their tests, they should be paying me.
I thought it was going to be something like creating a profile page with a bit of reactiveness. But there’s no way this is 2 days of work for an intern with little to no experience. Every bullet point after that made it crazier.
Fuck people like this
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I was applying to do video editing for a consulting firm and the test they wanted me to do was absolutely absurd. Graphic design work, animation, photoshop, all independent of an actual 60 second video edit. The job also expected the candidate to handle producing and editing their in-house weekly podcast.
I had like 48 hours to do the video edit, animations, and photo edits. I just turned in the video edit (showing I can do photoshop as well in it) and said “graphic animation is well outside the scope of an already broad job. If that is a requirement, then you should probably look for another candidate.“ I did not get a call back, and honestly? I can’t imagine they found it easy to find somebody who is an experienced video editor, camera operator, audio producer, photo editor, and animator, all in one package, who is willing to do all of those things as one person. That’s just too much, especially for the salary they were expecting to provide. Basically a “full stack” artist lmao
I would like to take this time to point out that I am a professional shooter and editor, both for video and audio production, with over a decade of experience on commercials, Hollywood sets, live national productions, and more. I can also write (I believe to be) quality copy. I feel like I bring plenty to the table to warrant a hire like that lol