The test project has a suspiciously real launch date

The fictional hiring exercise needs a campaign concept, finished social assets and a presentation. It also has a product launch attached. What a remarkable coincidence.

A work sample can help people understand how you think. Before agreeing, ask what is being assessed and how much time the exercise is expected to take. Clarify whether the work is hypothetical and how it will be used.

Suggest a smaller exercise or a discussion of existing work when the request is broad. A focused conversation about a real decision can reveal more than an exhausted weekend spent polishing a pretend brief.

If the organisation needs substantial custom work, discuss compensation and terms before starting. Get the arrangement in writing rather than relying on a reassuring sentence delivered during a call.

You can decide whether an opportunity is worth pursuing without defending your entire professional history.

An interview should help both sides learn something. Discovering how much free production you can survive is a rather narrow curriculum.