Indian and global jobseekers are having a moment of collective pause online. A now-viral Instagram post has reignited a debate many employees say they have quietly endured for years. The post focuses on an email
exchange where a candidate is asked to “come in for a 1-week trial first” as part of the interview process. The catch? Full office attendance. Full employee-level workload. No pay.
The candidate’s reply didn’t mince words. Calling it “unpaid labour,” they declined the offer and ended the email by wishing the company “luck finding no one comfortable with that arrangement.” Screenshots of the exchange spread quickly, with users calling it blunt, fair and long overdue.
Check it out here:
Why The Post Struck A Nerve
The reaction wasn’t just about one company. It was about recognition. The post’s caption pointed out that this isn’t an isolated case. HR writers and recruiters are flagging what they describe as a growing trend – multi-day “working interviews” and 72-hour job trials where candidates are expected to function like regular staff.
According to the post, candidates are often asked to show up daily, complete real tasks, sit in on meetings and sometimes even take leave from their current jobs. All of it happens before an offer letter. All of it happens without compensation.
On paper, these trials are framed as “seeing you in action.” In practice, many workers say the experience looks and feels exactly like the job – minus a salary, benefits or security.
Not Just One Country, Not Just One Industry
What has made the backlash louder is how familiar the stories feel. In the comments section, variations of unpaid trials have been called out, and several internet users have shared similar experiences online.
Some described “three-day trials” where candidates shadow staff while handling actual responsibilities. Others spoke about “one-week assessments” sold as culture checks that quietly turn into full-time work. Take-home projects, too, were flagged for morphing into usable output for companies.
The common thread? Labour without guarantees.
Why Jobseekers Are Pushing Back
Online sentiment suggests patience is wearing thin. “I can agree to a half day shadowing, which should be an opportunity to learn more about the internal culture, but a 1 week unpaid trial is ridiculous and no candidate should accept this,” commented a user. “I know of restaurants overseas that hire students for job trials and unpaid labour, what else,” read another comment.
“Your time, skills and labour are not freebies, even in a tough market,” wrote a user.
Did you have any similar experience?
