Strange 'Interview' - Setting up their shop.

bevanuk

I doubt its a scam. It's clever yes, but not illegal. They are looking for grafters. It's a great way to find hard working memeber of staff. Yes slightly unethical.
Work yourself hard, worst case senario you have lost two days and got a little bit fitter. I doubt you had any big plans anyway?

InsideInsurance

It could be a scam or it could be a genuine test which has some added benefits to them.

Not had the exact same happen but have been told to calculate or prepare something for what was given as a scenario (they technically didn't say it was fictitious but obviously you assume it was) then after getting the job given it back and told to simply transfer it into their corporate standard templates and send it off to the CFO/ CTO/ COO etc for them to deliver at a board meeting or steering group etc

smileylondongal

Thing is, if it really were a test they would have been up front about it and also to tell this person they will be interviewed and then nothing to be said of it after a hard day's work (yes it is illegal to think you're working and not be paid), strikes me that it cannot be a test.

I am sure the OP could go in and do another day's worth but personally I know how I'd feel if I felt like I was being taken for a ride.

katerinasol

That does sound really weird. But in any case, I would go and work hard but also ask if they're planning on interviewing people.

Idiophreak

an9i77 wrote: »

it does not say much about how they would treat you as an employee if this is how they treat you as a candidate!

This, exactly...but then I can afford to be fussy....

TeaCake

Its not that strange, a large pizza restaurant chain makes the applicant work two, three hour shifts before they say if they have a job or not and only offers a small pizza at the end of each shift as 'payment'. Lots of interns work for nothing for months in the hope of getting a job.
Suppose it depends on how much you need a job, I would go even for the slimmest chance of work but then I can't afford to be fussy.

strawbz

I suppose there's a good chance that some of the other candidates have the exact same misgivings as you so some of them might not bother to turn up tomorrow. The odds of you getting a job would be higher in that case.

Good luck.

EconomicsGirl

If you don't have a job at the moment then I would go back to see if there's a job for you tomorrow - its only a day so its worth taking a chance on. I do find it worrying they weren't honest with you in the first place though but it may be a test to see who is the hardest worker/wants the job most plus 2 days free for them. Hope it works out.

sjbrun

I know some retailers who do this but they always pay everyone for setting the shop up on min wage and then who ever they keep are paid normally.

A lot of temp xmas shops do this as a way to set the shop up fast with lots of help.

I just wonder if you are getting paid for your time or not.

LadyMissA

bevanuk wrote: »

I doubt its a scam. It's clever yes, but not illegal. They are looking for grafters. It's a great way to find hard working memeber of staff. Yes slightly unethical.
Work yourself hard, worst case senario you have lost two days and got a little bit fitter. I doubt you had any big plans anyway?

Someone who does your dirty work for free? People are desperate and companies take advantage.