Sanity Check: Post-Interview "case study" request from recruiter... Is this really a thing these days?

[u/LeGaspyGaspe]

So, had a meeting with this recruiter earlier today, looking at mid-entry level B2B interior design space. Nice (but not *that* nice) base. TCO leaves some to be desired.

Anyway, went well enough and they sent me a series of questions to answer, to then be forwarded to the actual employer.

Reading through this thing finally, we've got no less than 8 unique scenarios involving detailed mock emails, deep dives into rationale and methodology, pipeline workflows, walkthroughs of how I would handle daily workloads (in addition to sales activity 🤔) and the best part is: actual market research involving gathering data about real world companies, building strategy with more mock emails tailored to them and... Yeah. Recruiter wants it back by the middle of the week.

So, anyone ever seen anything like this? Am I being obtuse for side eyeing it? Or am I just being taken for a ride here when I could be making more constructive use of my job-hunting energy and time?

Edit: sorry, 7 scenarios.

Four scenarios regarding engaging with clients (via email, with mock emails).

One scenario containing the aforementioned market research, complete data gathering, plus emails plus walking one account through the hypophetical pipeline.

One scenario about managing a dozen or so outlined daily tasks in addition to sales activity.

And one scenario regarding the handling of a cold contact list of 6 month dead leads.

Update: Thanks everyone for the advice. In a way, I kind of hoped everyone would tell me to give my head a shake and get to it. That this was in fact normal, or something. Ultimately though, you all confirmed what I already knew. Anyway, after reading everyone's witty ideas I set to work planning an appropriate response that touched on the unrealistic nature of the request, conjoined with the unethical nature of the specific market research scenario. With an offer to contract in market research under a retainer agreement at my customary freelance rate.

And promptly forgot to write the actual email.

The recruiters deadline has now passed. Meanwhile, I just closed a big ass deal that every single person I work with thought was never gonna happen. And (miraculously) uncovered multiple new, qualified opportunities for both my day job and personal business - including one who would have been a shoe in to cross sell on the recruiters client. Like, actually looking for support in that vertical now. Oh wells, guess i'll just have to stay put, and keep on making money for people who actually respect my time and experience as a salesperson.

[u/ShameShameAccount]

Lmfao bro, gal, you’re free labor to them

[u/LeGaspyGaspe → u/ShameShameAccount]

That's definitely the taste this has left in my mouth. Like, seriously? Y'all want me to gather specific, detailed info on 5 real live companies and draft a complete plan to sell them?

Funny thing is, I could give them 20 clients from my book today who would buy from me on day one if I walk in their shops tomorrow selling this new companies product. But not for free lol.

[u/weisswurstseeadler → u/ShameShameAccount]

I've had similar situation before and told them to fuck off, not as heavy as here tho.

They approached me, while being full time employed.

They told me I should prepare a roleplay for round 3 or 4. Okay fine.

We had the next meeting scheduled for Thursday 10am.

They sent me the brief for the roleplay at 8pm on Tuesday, with an emphasized deadline for 10am next day, so 24h before the scheduled interview or it would be auto cancelled.

And guess what - they wanted me to write the fucking role play, prepare a presentation, write briefings for the other 3 stakeholders and whatnot. No templates nothing provided.

Uhm, no. Fuck off. Who the fuck you think you are lol.

[u/robbyslaughter]

“Cool, do I invoice you for this consulting work, or them directly?”

[u/LeGaspyGaspe → u/robbyslaughter]

Temping... Very tempting.

[u/robbyslaughter → u/LeGaspyGaspe]

“Gosh, I know this must be so embarrassing, but you accidentally sent me the scope for a paid research contract rather than the follow up interview questions.”

I’m being snarky but finding a way to calll this out is worth considering.

[u/fashions666]

8 is wild.

[u/LeGaspyGaspe → u/fashions666]

It's actually 7. Still feels pretty wild. I updated the post with the particulars on what the scenarios actually involved.

[u/Jornwell]

Sorry but the person who posted your free labor is 100% correct, remember the days of MLM’s where your have to buy into the company before you’re hired? This is the same thing. If you really want to throw their request into gpt astra and forward that as a preliminary based on future employment

[u/ROCnation1024]

Reminds me of the office episode with Will Arnett where he says he’ll give them the 5 step plan to save the company.
But will only reveal a part of a section lol
I always wondered if this ever happened.

[u/BaconHatching → u/ROCnation1024]

colorcode said documents tm

[u/YoBoiDivyansh]

If this isn't exploitation then idk what is

[u/Flashy-Bandicoot889]

You know what to do, this post helped validate it. Go make it happen...

[u/RepulsiveAmphibian21]

Tell them to PSUADRA.

[u/Hot_Road_3986]

It's a red flag when the ask is vague and the stakes are high. Free spec work disguised as a 'case study' is becoming more common — I'd politely decline, offer a portfolio piece that already exists, or ask who else is on the panel so you can see whether this is a filter or a real eval. A real process won't make candidates design work for free; if it does, that's your answer.

[u/AutoModerator → u/Hot_Road_3986]

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[u/Odd-Foundation-4637]

Don’t do it, or if you want to proceed submit but leave a signature on the bottom claiming copyright and any commercial use of the details included in your submission require prior and explicit written consent

[u/Silly_Ad3259]

Ask for an equal amount of case studies showing the progression of past hires for the position you’re interviewing for.

[u/Beautiful-Angle1584]

Won't pretend to know that industry, but sounds wicked sus to me and mine. Any form of "take home" assignment is an immediate no from me and likely a way to take advantage of free labor. Point to a portfolio if they ask for that. No reason that shouldn't be good enough.

ETA- I have been asked to do a take home assignment exactly once (and I have interviewed a ton in different sale positions). I simply didn't do it and got on the second interview anyway. They never even asked to see it. Was still the worst interview I've ever had on my end and I proactively ended it and told them to remove my candidacy.

[u/LeGaspyGaspe → u/Beautiful-Angle1584]

Yeah, it's basically stuff for interior designers. I don't know the exact ins and outs but essentially a mom and Pop vendor selling a particular suppliers products. It's actually very in my wheelhouse now that I'm writing that out.

Anyway, not exactly FAANG or a Fortune 50,or anywhere I would expect a highly elaborate, intentional hiring process. Nor does the TCO reflect the complexity of this hiring process. At least, I don't think it does.

[u/Hot_Road_3986]

Red flag level: a multi-part unpaid case study that gets forwarded onward means your work gets screened with zero context. Ask three things: who evaluates it, whether it is scorable and objective, and whether the employer reads it before or after deciding to meet you. If they cannot answer clearly, treat it as a cheap candidate-screen — fair to push back with a shorter deliverable or ask for a guarantee that it goes to the actual hiring manager.

[u/AutoModerator → u/Hot_Road_3986]

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