I got a callback from one of the many job application (finally), had to complete a task (I didn't even get started), and I think that the requirements were pretty unreasonable?
It was an internship for a full-stack developer role. I was given two days - today is the final day, and I did not even start with the project as I was too stressed to complete the task, worrying about designing and modelling the database part, and because I have a really vague idea about system design. The skill requirements for the project are NextJS and MERN stack - which makes little sense. It said nothing about state management library, so I was also really confused about that.
Here are the requirement of the task project:
make use of NextJS
create a LinkedIn clone, without the feeds
must have shareable short-link profile
should be SEO-optimized
should provide API for creating and editing profile
should make use of good UI practices
explain the reasoning behind the system design decisions
explain the steps required to run this application
use of ChatGPT was allowed
share this on GitHub
I think that I was being fooled - that I was being made to work on a project for free, and that this test is very unreasonable and a big red-flag into the startup's WLB. Just wanted feedback on whether I was being unreasonable?
Edit: Here's what the listing says:
Are you a passionate Full Stack Development intern looking for an exhilarating opportunity? Look no further! <company-name>, an innovative company, is seeking a talented intern with expertise in Node.js, JavaScript, ReactJS, HTML, CSS, MongoDB, and Next.js. Join our fast-paced team and gain invaluable experience in a dynamic work environment.
Collaborate with the development team to design and implement user-friendly web applications using cutting-edge technologies
Develop and maintain scalable backend systems using Node.js and MongoDB to ensure efficient data management and retrieval
Create visually stunning and responsive frontend interfaces utilizing ReactJS, HTML, and CSS to deliver an exceptional user experience
Conduct thorough testing and debugging to ensure optimum performance and seamless functionality across different platforms
Assist in optimizing website performance by analyzing and refining code, and implementing best practices
Contribute to the development of RESTful APIs, integrating with third-party services to enhance application capabilities
Stay updated with the latest industry trends and emerging technologies, sharing insights and participating in team discussions to drive innovation
If you have a hunger for knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a desire to make a meaningful impact, apply now to become a part of the <company-name> team. Ready to revolutionize the world of web development? We can't wait to meet you!
A Twitter clone would be one thing (you need like two DB tables with four basic mutations, and the UI needs to serve create account, login, profile and timeline). I don't know what a LinkedIn clone without feeds is.
Two days though is ridiculously short.
Edit: this also assumes the UI is very minimal and unpolished, just using a skeleton CSS layout and very basic divs
You should never do more than two hours of work for free. If a company legitimately needs a week long project to evaluate candidates they should hire them as contractors at market rate for that period.
Any job asking for more than two hours of your time before paying you is scamming you.
Pretty sure the company was just meaning a LinkedIn clone to "just" be a basic profile upload. Which is probably not that much more than your Twitter clone, just a few extra DB tables.
Still sounds unreasonable for an intern for sure. But I'm sure a few desperate or skilled people would be able to get something meeting the rough requirements.