Company wants me to work a day first before contract

[touch7]

The title might not be clear enough but I was recently at an interview and the test they gave me was too easy, I am one of those guys who have only worked for about 7 months now but from what I can tell I am at the same skill level as guys with 5 to 6 years experience. It's a whole other story on its own.

But after writing the easy test, they told me I would have to:

• come again to meet the manager
• then come in to work a whole day with them to see how I work
• come in one more time to meet the CEO

All these seem like a process to me. Why didn't the manager come to my interview? I am already working and so why the hell would I want to take a day off to go work for some company that has no guarantee they'd hire me? Why don't I meet the manager and the CEO at the same time? The point on working with them the entire day gets to me as they could have made their test more technical and interacted with me more.

And another thing about the industry is there are many people that have been working for 5 years or more but don't seem to have progressed in my opinion. The number of "frontend developers" that have worked for more than 4 years and don't know how to use either grunt, gulp or webpack is a lot. The amount of time something like live-reload or browser-sync save is a lot in my opinion but some don't know them. If you know javascript how do you not know how to use NodeJS?

Maybe it's because I work at a consulting agency but South Africa has very little to teach. Or maybe it's because I take initiative on my own by watching conferences to keep updated and learn more that many don't do.

Back to the question: has anyone ever had to work for a day at a company before they got hired? I am already employed and just don't like taking a day only to go work at some other company.

 

[Raithlin]

You want me to work? Pay me. Or better yet, hire me.

 

[porchrat]

Never been asked to work for a day. Seems very weird.

 

[Batista]

I started a day before i was officially supposed to start.Didnt get compensated, but its one day dude, you are making a big thing about nothing really.You obviously wanted the job and now that you get called back you dont want to go? Make your mind up.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I started a day before i was officially supposed to start.Didnt get compensated, but its one day dude, you are making a big thing about nothing really.You obviously wanted the job and now that you get called back you dont want to go? Make your mind up.

This isn't quite the same. Sounds like they want to interview him for a day THEN only offer him the job.

I know some American companies are pushing this kind of thing but then you usually get paid a set fee and it's more a case of X amount of hours to complete a task and get money for it.


In this case sounds more like a small business approach to broken logic.

Unless there is a truly spectacular offer on the table here to justify the drama I would simply tell them to **** off.

In general I don't even entertain interviews where a company expects me to take time off from my current job to attend them...especially not at short notice as many do. "Can you come in tomorrow at 11?" erm...no, but I can pop around at 17:30 or over lunch time if you really want to see em.

If they don't want to take special time out to see me, then I don't see why I should either. Again unless there is really something spectacular on the table.

But oddly enough the jobs I've applied for that I've really wanted these things have never been an issue for HR and the like to be accommodating. It's always the **** ones that expect miracle from you.

 

[SBSP]

Does this not sound like a conflict of interest problem in the making ? What will happen if your current company finds out you went to work for another company whilst on leave. And also what will happen if they fire you and the other company don't hire you.

Sound's a bit unreasonable of them to ask this.

 

[touch7]

@Batista. Exactly what "SauRoNZA" said.

@SBSP. You are spot on. It's crazy what their asking for, of course the guy was just giving me a heads up of the process.

 

[bwana]

Sounds like a great opportunity to spend a commitment-free day at a company you may, or may not, enjoy working at. The meetings with the manager and CEO should be done during that time, can't see the point of drawing out that part of the process over so many days.

TL;DR - it's a day, do you want the job or not?

 

[IndigoIdentity]

I would say if they won't pay for the day then no ways but then thinking about it and putting myself in your shoes with 7 months of working experience (albeit very good knowledge of how things work) then I mean... Do you have lots of other options to look at?

I think I can understand their point of view, they want to see who you are and what your ability is within a working environment, likely they have been burned before taking on devs without checking out their capability and hence the wariness when it comes to taking on any new staff?

If you like the company, if you feel that you will get the chance to grow there and if the remuneration is good in general and this would be considered a better job than your current... It's one day, go for it and maybe it will be the start of something new for you.

I'd also take into consideration your current work situation and if it will cause problems there if you go for the day and work somewhere else then i mean... The call is yours but in all honesty, your employer pays you for your time at work and what you do in your time off is none of their damn business... Unless you're going to other companies with the intention of providing them with the inside info gained at your place of employment then i don't see any issue with this.

 

[skimread]

It sounds that you are so much better than their other employees. If you were worse it makes sense to come a day earlier, but you are better. Why don't you make a counter offer of going a day later than when you should have started? He will then realize you have balls.

 

[shooter69]

I worked for a company that did crazy stuff like this. Because of my personal experience with said company I will not do it.

 

[skeptic_SA]

This employment model (try before you buy) is usually reserved for escort agencies afaik

 

[crackersa]

You want me to work? Pay me. Or better yet, hire me.

Agree. Stand on the desk and yell...show me the money

NB - OP...please don't do that. You may not get the job

 

[IndigoIdentity]

Also, if you are as smart as you're making out to be... You will spend one day there, they will realise this and then you've got yourself a new job? What is the issue, isn't that what you wanted?

 

[saor]

I am already employed and just don't like taking a day only to go work at some other company.

Tell them you don't feel right doing it but would be happy to do it on a Saturday?

 

[IndigoIdentity]

He will then realize you have balls.

Or they will stop consideration on this potential employee... Fine line to cross.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

That's why probationary periods exist. If they don't want to hire you they can let you go after this period.

In fact, this makes me wonder about their HR policy, do they even make provision for probation? If not, run forest, run!!!

 

[scudsucker]

I am one of those guys who have only worked for about 7 months now but from what I can tell I am at the same skill level as guys with 5 to 6 years experience. It's a whole other story on its own

I'm sure you are wrong about this.

I'd welcome the opportunity to spend a day at the company before I commit. Also it is pretty standard practice to have several levels of interview, meeting more and more senior people each time.

 

[Raithlin]

Tell them you don't feel right doing it but would be happy to do it on a Saturday?

This could work.

 

[IndigoIdentity]

That's why probationary periods exist.

Yeah but he's got 7 months of work experience, why would they want to commit to that without an understanding regarding his level of experience.

I see this as a risk for them, take on guy with 7 months exp, he totally sucks and then you have to put up with him and pay him for 3 months... Could be avoided with a 1 day demo right off the bat, yes or no?

EDIT: (not saying you totally suck at all just a possible scenario)