Lindsay Olson

When is a company asking for too much during the interview process?

Here's the true story situation from one of the reader's of this blog:

Candidate gets a call from a small start-up company to interview for a part-time marketing contract position. After a one-hour phone screen with the company's recruiter, the next steps are set up for an in-person meeting. The interview was a grueling 6-hour affair that did not even allow the candidate a bathroom break. Towards the end of the interview, the company mentioned they would like the candidate and three other contenders to spend the next week preparing a full one-hour live presentation outlining a marketing plan for the company.

While a writing test and sometimes even a mock presentation is common practice in evaluating a candidate for a position, at what point does a company cross "asking too much" line?

I have my answer which I'll share in tomorrow's post. In the meantime, I would love to hear what you think.

Do you think that a request for a marketing plan and a presentation is a realistic request for a contract or full-time permanent position? What is appropriate to ask and to not ask of a candidate during an interview process for a PR or marketing position in your opinion?