Been asked to do a presentation for a job trial, looked on their social media and I am writing their next “big” post for them for free

[Joined4this]

I am a little annoyed. Been underpaid for a year due to covid, leading to me working long hours which has affected my health badly so looking around. One great company has shown a lot of interest and asked me to write a presentation on an unpaid trial basis for interview.

When browsing their social media, I see that next month’s topic will be the topic they’ve asked me to present on. They are just trying to get free labour aren’t they?

@AlbertBridge

If you'd love to work there, I don't see the problem? Just WOW them with your absolute brilliance.

It's slightly cheeky of them maybe, but it's also a chance for you to impress them and get a job there.

Your brilliance is unlimited, so however much of it you give them will soon be replaced.

The problem is that there might not actually be a job. They just want someone to write something for free, and nobody will be offered the job.

@Joined4this

I’ve just had a presentation guidelines email which states that this presentation will be used n the company site so they are being upfront about it. I really don’t know what to do now. That’s incredibly cheeky.

I was thinking that it's far more likely they chose that topic because they feel they can have a good discussion with you as it's something they've been looking into a lot recently. But after reading this. Wow!

Using your presentation on their company site just takes the biscuit. That's not on. It's immoral. (Also, on a practical level, don't they have presentation style guidelines that include their company branding?!)

Do you have any alternative irons in the fire? These people are knob-heads, and working with knob-heads is not recommended. Your entire working life will be spent handling knob-headery. Don't do it unless your options are very limited.

Do they say they will use the presentation IF you are successful, or just that they will use it regardless?

OP that actually makes things easier as they won't be offended if you mention intellectual property rights.
Copyright as suggested, but say at the end that if they decide to employ you, you'd obviously be delighted if they used your presentation for their website.

Email them to clarify that they will only be using your presentation on their website if you get the job. Don’t give them a copy of the presentation until then, take it on a memory stick.

@bingoitsadingo

Email them to clarify that they will only be using your presentation on their website if you get the job. Don’t give them a copy of the presentation until then, take it on a memory stick.

This!

I would also rethink though. If they take such advantage of people who don't even work for them, imagine what they'll do once they're paying you.