That’s a great point — if someone only offers free work without clear signals of fit, it probably won’t help. I see this less as a value flex, and more as a tr

That’s a great point — if someone only offers free work without clear signals of fit, it probably won’t help. I see this less as a value flex, and more as a trust accelerant — especially in cases where the work is exploratory, multi-layered, or where cultural fit really matters. Totally agree this wouldn’t change much for “clear-cut” hires where a quick repo scan or question is enough. But when the match is more ambiguous — or when you're competing with a hundred devs on credentials alone — sometimes doing the work is the shortcut. Appreciate your insight. Sounds like you've been on both sides of the table too.