Unreasonable pre-interview task?

Cheeky_Wee_Lassie

Hi, I'm applying for communications jobs with charities at the moment and the usual pre-interview task is something like writing a press release. No problem.
However, I've been invited to an interview for an NGO, and they want me to write an entire one-year media strategy as the pre-interview exercise.
This is a huge piece of work that should normally take weeks, and involve several members of staff.
They've sent me three briefing documents, plus asked me to do additional research using publications on their website, and from outside sources. They want my submission to be on three pages of A4.
I don't know much about this organisation so it's all new to me, and it will take ages to digest it all. It is a huge imposition on my time. To add to that, I also just feel it's really unfair, as if they join together all the submissions from all the candidates they have a ready-made media strategy to work with, without needing to do all the hard graft themselves.
I'm tempted to tell them to shove off as I feel angry every time I look at the task ahead. I still have to do the 'write a press release' exercise when I go for the interview, so this feels like taking the p***.
Any thoughts?

alison999

if its not a job you particularly want, why not try for another? if you did get the job, would you hold it against them for making you do it?

londondulwich

I associate an unusually onerous task with an expectation of failure.

If I want to get rid of someone or eliminate them from a list I would ask them to do the impossible and wait for them to give up or make a mess of it.

Maybe the shortlist is fixed in favour of an internal applicant and for sake of appearances (they have to be seen to go through the throes of an interviewing process) they have a documented 'short-list'.

Contact HR in writing and ask how many shortlisted candidates there are for the position.

Oldernotwiser

londondulwich wrote: »

Contact HR in writing and ask how many shortlisted candidates there are for the position.

And whether any of them are internal candidates. (They may not tell you but there's no harm in asking.)

Just a thought; is there any way you can copyright your work if you do decide to go ahead with the application?

Zazen999

Would the job be in a role that would end up with you having to write the strategy? If not, then they are definitely taking the p. But, if it is of Director level then not unreasonable. However; it would be better to ask for your pre-work to be HOW you would go about writing a strategy, not to actually write one.
Typical QUANGO working if you ask me [having worked for one at senior management level]...and if you got the job they would probably stop you doing any of the things that you suggest at interview anyway.

Use this as a red light, and steer clear. I would suspect that the person who was instrumental in writing the strategy is also up for the job, and they are unfavourably comparing you to them by using this method.

Incidentally, the way my QUANGO worked was - if it seems logical, then do the opposite. This worked in any team/dept and as I am still in touch with old friends there, still seems to be the model they work to.

It does sound SO much like my old QUANGO I am almost tempted to PM you, ask who it is and do some digging to find out who is in line for the job. But it can't be - surely???

Cheeky_Wee_Lassie

[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book, sans-serif]Thanks for the replies everyone. [/FONT]It is so not a Director level job. It's for a lowly press officer.
I dug these bits out from the job description:
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Book, sans-serif]"Working in collaboration with the Head of Fundraising and Communications and the Communications Manager lead the development and implementation of the media and communications strategy"[/FONT]

So yes, there is work to be done on a strategy.....but why does it have to be done now?! Interesting comments about internal candidates. It was also my first thought that they already have someone lined up for this, and they are using this exercise a) to get rid of most people at the first hurdle, b) to have them look second-best compared to the internal candidate, and c) to steal any good ideas they get from any strategies they receive and merge them into the final template.
Still not sure what to do about it though. The job looks interesting, it would be a new challenge, and it would not involve re-locating. I'm waiting to hear the outcome of other things, but probably won't hear before this deadline arrives.

Zazen999

Hi

Why would you do a whole year's work in one pre-interview task?

DKLS

I have to give the Charity some credit, rather than go to an agency, get candidates to supply the good ideas for free :T

Tell them you withdraw your application, reading between the lines, it could be a nightmare organisation to work for.

LittleVoice

You would be providing free consultancy. If you want to do that for the good of your soul, fine. If not ........

ceebeeby

Sounds like a lot of work - interviews I go too usually involve a lot of research and presentations ... can take a long time. I don't begrudge the work if I really want the job.

OH had to do FOUR different presentations at four separate interviews for his current job!! I wonder what the candidates that didn't get it felt afterwards!!

glossgal

I wouldn't waste my time or energy on this kind of thing, prospective employers with delusions of grandeur really wind me up! It also gives a clue that they may have a bit of a chip on their shoulder and be a pain to work for too.

I applied for a post recently and was surprised to be invited to an assessment. Fair enough, but I discovered I would be one of about 40 people working on a 'group task'. . I really couldn't see the need for all the hoopla as it was not a senior, unique or particularly well paid position and the job description was not relevant to team work at all. To add insult to injury I would've had to pass a further test at some future date to even be in with a chance of interview! The thought of taking 3 days/half days off work killed it for me, it just wasn't worth it given my chances of actually getting the job. They've since re-advertised so I suspect over egging the pud has backfired on them lol