I applied through Linkedin, then had long detailed call with a recruiter, after another long and very detailed called with an alleged hiring manager (I wasn't entirely sure how a Senior Manager can be a hiring manager for Head of a department, but whatever). Then came task then the call presenting the task. The task consisted of several questions related to the excel spreadsheet with a bit of information that didn't make much sense on it's own and clearly signified that the hiring manager/s are not very good with data and any customer acqusition metrics whatsoever. 2nd part of the task was to write a one year strategy plan for Influencer Marketing for the company. I should have declined at that point but I didn't see the red flag. After having 2 interviews where we discussed every single detail about my work experience and expertise I would have assumed they know who they are working with and the task is to show my way of thinking and working. That's how it should be, instead they got a full on influencer marketing strategy, extremely detailed, very elaborate, very professional. It is something that I would have charged around 7-10K eur most probably if I was an invited consultant and not an interviewee. Tasks should not be like these, take home tasks must be generic, if they get tailored very specifically to your company then you are simply exploiting people. And that is exactly how I felt: exploited and used. After and during presenting the strategy the hiring manager and some other marketing person whose position i didn't really understand, they just were there, went on asking me dozens of questions that were IRRELEVANT to the position and to the task, I just mentioned a couple of things about that are slightly beyond that specific position but applicable to the overall strategy , and they went on asking everything I know about that and taking notes for themselves. Dear managers, if you don't know how to do your job, do yourself. favour and take some courses or something, don't embarrass yourself like that, you look very amateur and your incompetence is radiating through my screen. Anyway, after 1,5+ hours the CEO who was there too had to run and I didn't have much time to ask questions since half of the time those 2 were asking irrelevant to Head of Influencer Marketing position questions. They used me and got a free full on strategy from a professional with years of experience, something they should have paid for by the way. The CEO only asked me what would I do if I needed to hire a team, would I use my contacts and network etc, I said yes of course, I have a very broad network of professionals and recruiters in this specific sphere. I ended up being rejected because I "don't have experience hiring people and they need someone who does". Ehm, honey, this is your job, you are a recruiter, how about everyone learns how to do their job and not torture candidates for no reason? Long story short: the integrity of this company is clearly not at its best and if you are a person of high values and integrity this is not a place for you..