> Nobody wants to do a take-home assignment that doesn't really impact their prospects of getting a job I spent a few days on one, sent it in and was told that

> Nobody wants to do a take-home assignment that doesn't really impact their prospects of getting a job I spent a few days on one, sent it in and was told that day that they had made an offer to someone who accepted the offer. Then I did another one over the course of a few days which was looked at, but a new VP came in and eliminated the opening. It's similar to asking me to come down for an interview for a few hours during the work day (and then to come back, because one person I had to talk to wasn't there). Or before I've even talked to anyone, they hand me a form asking for three references, preferably (or exclusively) former managers, and their current phone numbers. I don't mind them asking or me giving these things if they are near a decision about me, but almost every short phone screen I have nowadays is followed by a request for a work sample that in reality would take a couple of days to do (between my schedule, and wanting to send it in near-perfect). Something I think is preferable is for them to ask me for code I wrote. Then I can write something once and be done with it. As others on the thread have said, in a tight market, companies put up huge new barriers to getting a job with them like several days worth of free work, then bemoan the fact they can't hire qualified (young, SF local) people who "care about their mission" of selling advertising junk from one corporation to another corporation.