Process:
First Interview was screening one with HR, then two design interviews. 1st design interview covered team structure, product context, and test assignment briefing. Second interview was test assignment presentation and feedback.
Test assignment:
Redesign of a trade-in service page. During the briefing, I was told that "there's no access to developers or business analysts, and that's completely normal for a test assignment." I was given flexible timing and clear constraints (mobile-first, stay within current user flow logic).
I delivered a full product design process: competitor analysis, user journey mapping, problem statement, prioritization framework, and wireframes with rationale for each decision.
What happened:
During the review, I was told my work was insufficient because I didn't visit a physical store to interview sales staff — a requirement that was never mentioned in the briefing. When I pointed this out, I was told a real product designer would have understood this implicitly.
The feedback was delivered in an unprofessional and dismissive tone.
Advice to candidates:
Clarify expectations about user research scope explicitly. Ask whether they expect field research for test assignments. In my experience, conducting in-person user interviews is not a standard expectation for unpaid test assignments — but here it apparently is, even if not communicated upfront.
