I ran into exactly one company that attempted to get me to do a take-home; they were gibbering idiots, statistical imbeciles, and their company proved it in the

I ran into exactly one company that attempted to get me to do a take-home; they were gibbering idiots, statistical imbeciles, and their company proved it in the 5-6 years since then. They're still around: a clown car run by frauds and mountebanks, powered by gas, hype and free labor. The right way to do a take home exam if you must do this: give them something real and pay them consulting rates for it. If the result is good, you've hired a great worker. If the result is bad, you will know, they'll get a few bucks for their time, and no hard feelings. If you can't screen them to the point where you you can't screen for decent odds on a take home, you should consider a new career. Maybe picking potatoes.