sleepinginboothill's journey

Today, I completed an assessment for an entry-level digital marketing and social media position I applied for in the construction and real estate industry. I've already had two interviews, and they sent me this assessment to complete before a potential third interview. The request caught me off guard, especially since it was due today. The assessment required me to perform a competitive analysis, including a SWOT analysis of two competitors' social media channels, and to identify opportunities and strategic recommendations for their current social media strategy. I also had to create two social media posts that fit their brand, complete with copy and creative concepts. While I understand that assessments can be part of the hiring process, this felt excessive and like free labor. I have a portfolio and examples of my previous work that could demonstrate my skills, so I’m unsure why they wouldn’t just ask me about my ideas in the interview. I feel like this type of analysis is something I would typically do after being hired, not during the application process. Now I’m debating whether to just throw something together quickly or withdraw from the application altogether. Is this a normal practice, or should I see it as a red flag?