AIBU to think this is an unreasonable request from a potential employer?

[Relentlessrelentlessrelentless]

I'm a longstanding freelance with a ton of experience in my industry. I was approached by a potential employer to work with them. I was pretty clear about the way I work and whilst it didn't quite match their model, they wanted to pursue things.

They asked me to do an assessment. Said it would take half a day (it won't, it will take longer - it says, 'leave hours' on the instructions). When they originally mooted it, I asked if this was paid. I thought they said 'yes.' Now I'm starting the assessment, I've gone back through and I realise I've misread and it says they don't pay for the assessment.

I'm meant to be doing it this week and now I'm fucked off. I realise I misread but I feel angry that at my level of experience, I still have to prove myself like this.

Am I being unreasonable? I feel like telling them - but I'm also someone who doesn't like to burn bridges.

I wouldnt do an assesent if they came to me unless it was financially really worth it

What exactly does this assessment assess? Is it a test of your competence?

My initial reaction is that while this sounds like a PITA and I'd probably bristle at it too if its part of the threshold of getting employed by them and is applied to all contractors and freelances you just have to suck it up. You may be as experienced and in demand as you say you are but they don't know that and also that doesn't mean you're necessarily the best candidate for the job.

I think its a bit unreasonable to ask to be paid for doing an assessment. Maybe travel expenses but if they everyone to do the test they're effectively paying extra to recruit. If you want the work I think you have to crack on.

What sort of assessment, having experience doesnt matter, they still need to go through the pre employment oroc process I have 30 years nhs experience but every new job I arill need to do drug , language and maths assessments for the interview.

If the work is worth having then do the assessment.

I don't think you can say that you're too experienced to do an assessment, it sounds a bit like you think it's beneath you (even if it might be)

I would want to be sure that this was the last hurdle and that they weren't also asking other people to do the assessment for the same role.

I've never heard of being paid for a recruitment assessment.

Yabu

They were upfront about needing to do an assessment. It sucks but a lot of places require it.

You've a leg to stand on with the amount of time it's taking, but I agree about burning bridges.

Chalk it up to experience, you don't have to take the job.

They're not an employer if you're freelance. I'd just say no to it. You might find they still want to work with you anyway

Work out how much time this task will take and multiply by your hourly rate.
Then decide if you would be happy to give them that amount of money to possibly secure this work.
I have been a freelancer and beyond 1 initial meeting nothing I did was free, value your time properly

If the way you work doesn't match their model, it makes sense I suppose.

I’ve always done any assessments at the time of interview. Are you in a very senior role as I think it’s normal then to do multiple interviews and assessments (but salary would be in the 6 digits)

Another longstanding freelancer here with a ton of experience in my field.

When I was starting out I expected to do assessments to secure jobs, now I expect my track record to speak for itself. I guess it might vary depending on what field you are in, but personally I would just politely say that I don't do assessments – you don't need to be bolshy about it, just call them and say thanks for considering me, but I'm not interested in doing an assessment. Can you point them towards your past work instead? Is it online or can you send them your portfolio?

Think it depends on your industry - mine is marketing and I would never do an unpaid assessment. Learned the lesson the hard way... handed a company a bunch of free ideas that took me a day to put together, only for them to steal them, feature them in a public campaign and decide not to work with me.

Just depends how much you want the work I guess. You could, as a PP has suggested, just politely say you don’t do unpaid assessments as you get lots of offers of work and usually your track record is enough to demonstrate your skills. If this one assessment could lead to a lot of work though, it might be worth considering doing as a one-off?

Is it like a pre-employment everyone they employ must jump through this hoop, thing? Or is it a genuine assessment of your skills i.e. they’re still not sure if they want to employ you yet?

If it was me, and I wanted to work with them (interesting project/s or influential company) and it was a standard employment thing they required (bureaucracy) but job was pretty guaranteed I’d do it. If it was that they were genuinely assessing me and might not lead to anything concrete anyway I’d politely decline if you don’t need them.

it's not clear what's going on here OP.

If you're freelance with your own services (outside of IR35-type setup), have you been asked to pitch as a new potential supplier? i.e. maybe a procurement assessment? (in which case that would be normal to some level e.g. if you're trying to get on a procurement whitelist or preferred supplier list)

Or are you pitching for new freelance work directly to do the work and this is some blanket assessment?

Or they've suggested you apply for a permie in-house role? In which case it depends on grade/level/culture/sector surely.

There's loads of unknowns here - we don't know if you're a security analyst who's been asked to pitch to get onto a supplier list for the MOD, or you're a junior copy editor who has a handful of clients and has been asked to apply for a permie role and this is a group assessment similar to what the big 4 do, or a lawyer who works on international human rights cases as a barrister or something.

without context, no one here can really tell you much more.

YANBU to pull out if you think you don't want the opportunity and you won't burn bridges/if you do and you don't care.

They've got a ruddy cheek. Either they want to use your business or they don't.

By the way, you need to stop thinking about them as being a potential employer. They most definitely are not. They are a potential CUSTOMER for your services. They will be your client.

That's what I'd be worried about too. I'd be asking more questions about how exactly the assessment would be conducted.

If you don't want the work then don't do it. If you do want the work, then do the assessment. Very simple really.

Hi, thanks all.

It's a pitch for new freelance work. It's not something that they can use/pass off as their own - well, not in any way that bothers me.

It's just how time consuming it is and how resentful I am that there's no money involved. But either I suck that up or I reject it. A clear path!

Pitches are never paid- or at least not in
my sector.

So it’s more of that they got in touch and asked if you’d like to pitch/tender, potentially against others? Yeah, I think you have to suck that up if it’s a worthwhile project, or just decline if you aren’t that fussed about the work (pay/prestige etc)