Ethics of job-interview testing (cumulative reply)

[Doug Cuff <subscribe -at- cuff -dot- mailshell -dot- com>]

Evidently, I wrote up my experience too emotionally, and caused you to 
focus on the wrong thing. Let me try restating the problem, even though 
it's resolved, thanks to your help.

I don't mind showing samples of my technical writing. (Yes, I had 
brought several.) I don't mind taking a writing test for a theoretical 
product. (I prefer some sort of written test, in fact, precisely because 
it does help to level the playing field.)

However, I don't like being asked for a free sample. It bothers me. It's 
the first time it's ever happened to me, and because of that, I 
asked--tried to ask--if this were common and acceptable.

If you're a member of the WGA, the Guild protects you from yourself by 
stating that you are not allowed to write a screenplay "on spec." A 
producer isn't allowed to ask you, you're not allowed to say yes if 
asked, and you're not allowed to volunteer. Not even to get the job.

Even though I write manuals, not screenplays, and do not belong to any 
sort of union or guild, I think the analogy is valid. Particular thanks 
to David Locke for bringing up writing on speculation.

Here are the two questions I thought I was asking. (The variety of 
responses I got, public and private, indicate I could have done a better 
job by not bringing in the whole question of weird vibes.)

1. Have you ever been asked to write something for a company that they 
could theoretically use--that is, provide any kind of free sample? (The 
issue of whether they could/would actually do so is a quagmire I prefer 
to avoid.)

2. Is there any sort of informal ethical consensus on how to handle such 
a request?

The answers, if I have read your responses correct are No, you haven't, 
and No, there is no consensus. Thanks so much for your posts and e-mails!

And now, a few housekeeping matters:

I have submitted the sample they asked for, which I had intended to do 
unless at least two people here strongly advised against it. Again, 
thanks all 'round.

This is a small company, so the fact that I was interviewed by the 
president and CEO doesn't convey "status." The only actual employees I 
could swear exist were the receptionist who asked me to come in for an 
interview, the president, and the CEO.

Finally, one outright tangent:

The jocular reference to the luxury of turning down a job because of a 
weird vibe makes me wonder. If you interviewed at three companies, and 
got a strange vibe from one of them, how many would you consider 
eliminating that company from consideration to be a luxury? ;-)

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