I recently applied for a job that I felt I was overqualified for, but given the current job market, I decided to go for it. I had what I thought was a great interview with the team, but then I was asked to complete a skills assignment, which I found frustrating since my resume should have already showcased my qualifications. The assignment was given a 10-day deadline, which seemed excessive compared to typical hiring processes. When I finally opened it, I realized it was far more complex than I anticipated. It required extensive research and multiple documents to produce a quality response, and it didn’t even align with the job description responsibilities. I completed enough of the assignment to demonstrate my capabilities but held back my best ideas intentionally. After everyone submitted their assignments, the company canceled the position altogether. This experience left me feeling uneasy. It felt like the company might have been collecting free ideas under the pretense of a hiring process, which is disheartening, especially coming from a reputable organization. Am I the only one who finds this concerning?