Don’t do any work for free. No ‘tests’ or ‘tasks.’ It’s bullshit. Real companies interview you and look at your work, they don’t ask you to perform tasks.
I did a task for my current job but it was just a flyer. They wanted to compare how the final few candidates followed brand guidelines and organized their work for in a non-destructive way.
I'm glad I did it because it's the best job I've had. It sounds like the task they're giving OP is way too much though IMO. And if that's exactly what they said to OP, then the brief was pretty vague too.
Yes that is the only thing they said! Even I have done tasks previously and they were something like a social media post or maybe just a logo. Having to revise the whole brand design with just a catalogue is pretty vague and way too time consuming. I was truly perplexed but I don’t think I’ll be doing the task ;-;
I mean it’s pretty common for junior roles when you don’t have as much proof of work. One of my earlier jobs (designer for a govt non-profit, 2010) had me perform a test in-person for 2 hours, after two interviews. Got the job because my process, speed, and attitude was a good fit.
The key is in how reasonable it is, and at what point in the interview process it was asked. I’ve hired someone based on portfolio (no test) just to find out they actually knew very little, their work was heavily AD’d.
I would agree to temp to perm to see if it’s a good fit, but not to a two hour test. Also I wouldn’t try to get an applicant to do free work. Or to take a test.
Temp to perm can be complicated and not very cost effective for govt work. Background search by itself, setting up computers/equipment, emails, etc for possibly just a few months isn’t realistic. Maybe a small print shop or family biz, sure.
Design tests have been the norm for a long time, back to when you would apprentice (before you could get a degree in design). It’s how you would decide on a final candidate when you have a few potentials (vetting, ranking).
Using them for free work is relatively new thing and not ethical.
I got asked to do a task by my current job, but it was very brief and done in person after the interview. They basically wanted to make sure that the candidates actually had basic skills, because they previously had issues with people talking big game but having no clue what they were doing when it came to actually doing the type of design work they were being hired for. That kind of assessment makes sense. These "do an entire project's worth of work for free" assessments feel incompetent at best and predatory at worse.
This whole 'test/task' phenomenon is relatively new and is only made possible and fueled by online applications which provide 100's of applicants for an open role. It's the very definition of the shotgun approach and rarely do you get qualified applicants.
The 'ask' by a potential client says volumes about who they are, what they know, what they DON'T know and perhaps more critically, how they will be to work with once you are hired. Honestly, nothing good to see here.
Conversely, a potential boss (and team) who first sees your CV, then your portfolio, then has possibly numerous face to face meetings and or calls with you, should be very well equipped to hire you or not.
In this case, run a way.
Sketchy for sure if they haven't even interviewed you yet and they can't assess your skills by reviewing your portfolio. The only time I did spec work was after I passed the first interview round, and I was paid for that time.
Unfortunately, design tests are becoming the norm. That said, some are realistic - e.g I was told to spend no more than 3 hours on one, while I've read about others asking for a full brand redesigns and website overhaul over a weekend.
Other things to consider that are more scammy -
If there's no face to face contact at any point of the process, it's a scam - I.e if you're directed to an 'interview' held over a messaging service or app.
What is the salary? Is it genuine for a junior or too good to be real - be realistic. Someone had one here paying 5x the average UK designer salary the other day.
Would you be the only designer? Not a scam as such, but as you're obviously inexperienced, you'll be treated appallingly, often with some carrot dangled like 'you'll be in sole charge of all creative'. Especially as it's a 'new' brand, they often hire juniors to keep wages low and pile on the work.
Edit-
Hang on, they haven't seen your portfolio? Huge red flag.
Did you actually apply or did they approach you?
If you applied, how quick did they respond? If it was very quick, like a few hours, then it's probably a scam.
It doesn't sound like a scam. If they capitalize OLD like that, they're telling you that what you're doing isn't actual client work. It would have been nice if they made that a little clearer, though.
Actually it’s not a client catalogue. The place where I applied is a protein supplement company looking for a graphic designer. The catalogue they sent is of their own brand and can very well be made out that it’s done on canva by a non professional. So it makes me wonder if they’re just trying to get their catalogue made professionally?
Nutritional supplement businesses are inherently scammy. I’m serious. I have been approached by several and I’ve learned this from experience. It’s not a good sector, it attracts snake oil types and get-rich-quick types. Don’t work with them, don’t jump thru their hoops.
Okay, then I would be sure to only do a small section if I was going to do it at all. If they really want to consider you for catalog work, which in my opinion is barely design and is brutally tedious, they should be able to assess that with only a few pages' worth of samples.
Doesn’t sound like a scam. I did graphic design tests like this to land two jobs I’ve had in the past. It’s pretty common, just a matter of if your willing to spend your free time on it
I don't have a problem with design tests, but this one is fishy. Any time they are asking you design fresh creative means there is a good chance they are just fishing for free design work. Even if you copyright and watermark your files and don't send editable files, they can easily remake them. And in this case, where they are specifically asking for Illustrator files, it sounds as if they are asking for editable content they can easily steal.
A design test should be something that doesn't take much time and is not for a piece they will use.
For instance, a more-reasonable request would be to supply all of the assets, including the brand style guide they want you to use, and ask you to design a flyer for an event that has already taken place. They might use this test to see how well you do at applying hierarchies in your layouts and if you know how to set up files properly, which is pretty much all you should really be asking of a fresh graduate.
The other problem with this is that you shouldn't be using Illustrator to set up a brand document or a catalogue. You should be using InDesign. These people don't know what they are doing which increases the chances that they'll be playing fast and loose with the ethical issues as well.
Don’t do any work for free. No ‘tests’ or ‘tasks.’ It’s bullshit. Real companies interview you and look at your work, they don’t ask you to perform tasks.
I did a task for my current job but it was just a flyer. They wanted to compare how the final few candidates followed brand guidelines and organized their work for in a non-destructive way. I'm glad I did it because it's the best job I've had. It sounds like the task they're giving OP is way too much though IMO. And if that's exactly what they said to OP, then the brief was pretty vague too.
Yes that is the only thing they said! Even I have done tasks previously and they were something like a social media post or maybe just a logo. Having to revise the whole brand design with just a catalogue is pretty vague and way too time consuming. I was truly perplexed but I don’t think I’ll be doing the task ;-;
I mean it’s pretty common for junior roles when you don’t have as much proof of work. One of my earlier jobs (designer for a govt non-profit, 2010) had me perform a test in-person for 2 hours, after two interviews. Got the job because my process, speed, and attitude was a good fit. The key is in how reasonable it is, and at what point in the interview process it was asked. I’ve hired someone based on portfolio (no test) just to find out they actually knew very little, their work was heavily AD’d.
I would agree to temp to perm to see if it’s a good fit, but not to a two hour test. Also I wouldn’t try to get an applicant to do free work. Or to take a test.
Temp to perm can be complicated and not very cost effective for govt work. Background search by itself, setting up computers/equipment, emails, etc for possibly just a few months isn’t realistic. Maybe a small print shop or family biz, sure. Design tests have been the norm for a long time, back to when you would apprentice (before you could get a degree in design). It’s how you would decide on a final candidate when you have a few potentials (vetting, ranking). Using them for free work is relatively new thing and not ethical.
I got asked to do a task by my current job, but it was very brief and done in person after the interview. They basically wanted to make sure that the candidates actually had basic skills, because they previously had issues with people talking big game but having no clue what they were doing when it came to actually doing the type of design work they were being hired for. That kind of assessment makes sense. These "do an entire project's worth of work for free" assessments feel incompetent at best and predatory at worse.
This whole 'test/task' phenomenon is relatively new and is only made possible and fueled by online applications which provide 100's of applicants for an open role. It's the very definition of the shotgun approach and rarely do you get qualified applicants. The 'ask' by a potential client says volumes about who they are, what they know, what they DON'T know and perhaps more critically, how they will be to work with once you are hired. Honestly, nothing good to see here. Conversely, a potential boss (and team) who first sees your CV, then your portfolio, then has possibly numerous face to face meetings and or calls with you, should be very well equipped to hire you or not. In this case, run a way.
Sketchy for sure if they haven't even interviewed you yet and they can't assess your skills by reviewing your portfolio. The only time I did spec work was after I passed the first interview round, and I was paid for that time.
The funny thing is they haven’t even seen my portfolio
Either scam or completely inept. Treat either the same (either decline the opportunity or ignore them entirely).
Unfortunately, design tests are becoming the norm. That said, some are realistic - e.g I was told to spend no more than 3 hours on one, while I've read about others asking for a full brand redesigns and website overhaul over a weekend. Other things to consider that are more scammy - If there's no face to face contact at any point of the process, it's a scam - I.e if you're directed to an 'interview' held over a messaging service or app. What is the salary? Is it genuine for a junior or too good to be real - be realistic. Someone had one here paying 5x the average UK designer salary the other day. Would you be the only designer? Not a scam as such, but as you're obviously inexperienced, you'll be treated appallingly, often with some carrot dangled like 'you'll be in sole charge of all creative'. Especially as it's a 'new' brand, they often hire juniors to keep wages low and pile on the work. Edit- Hang on, they haven't seen your portfolio? Huge red flag. Did you actually apply or did they approach you? If you applied, how quick did they respond? If it was very quick, like a few hours, then it's probably a scam.
Sounds like they want free work, not a legit evaluation process.
It doesn't sound like a scam. If they capitalize OLD like that, they're telling you that what you're doing isn't actual client work. It would have been nice if they made that a little clearer, though.
Actually it’s not a client catalogue. The place where I applied is a protein supplement company looking for a graphic designer. The catalogue they sent is of their own brand and can very well be made out that it’s done on canva by a non professional. So it makes me wonder if they’re just trying to get their catalogue made professionally?
Nutritional supplement businesses are inherently scammy. I’m serious. I have been approached by several and I’ve learned this from experience. It’s not a good sector, it attracts snake oil types and get-rich-quick types. Don’t work with them, don’t jump thru their hoops.
Okay, then I would be sure to only do a small section if I was going to do it at all. If they really want to consider you for catalog work, which in my opinion is barely design and is brutally tedious, they should be able to assess that with only a few pages' worth of samples.
That makes sense, gonna do that!
Don’t!
Doesn’t sound like a scam. I did graphic design tests like this to land two jobs I’ve had in the past. It’s pretty common, just a matter of if your willing to spend your free time on it
I don't have a problem with design tests, but this one is fishy. Any time they are asking you design fresh creative means there is a good chance they are just fishing for free design work. Even if you copyright and watermark your files and don't send editable files, they can easily remake them. And in this case, where they are specifically asking for Illustrator files, it sounds as if they are asking for editable content they can easily steal. A design test should be something that doesn't take much time and is not for a piece they will use. For instance, a more-reasonable request would be to supply all of the assets, including the brand style guide they want you to use, and ask you to design a flyer for an event that has already taken place. They might use this test to see how well you do at applying hierarchies in your layouts and if you know how to set up files properly, which is pretty much all you should really be asking of a fresh graduate. The other problem with this is that you shouldn't be using Illustrator to set up a brand document or a catalogue. You should be using InDesign. These people don't know what they are doing which increases the chances that they'll be playing fast and loose with the ethical issues as well.