Is this a trend?
I have to first admit, I haven't been in a real "job search" mode in over a decade. Job changes were almost always due to a former colleague in an influential position as someone who knew my work.
The last several interviews (2nd and 3rd rounds) required obscene amounts of work to produce some kind of documentation for the next interview- whether a 1-year plan, example of work product (not examples of anything I have done, but they would give a topic and then ask for a deliverable specific to the topic.)
Now, to the point: some of these take hours and hours to produce a quality deliverable. Topics are deep and require significant market or legal research. Documents are well-evolved (accurately branded, links to other locations in the document, fully linked TOC, "return to top of section", "return to top of document", etc), contain edited/redacted images, and accurate subject content. Basically, publishable. One potential employer interviewed me for 3 different positions: 3 colossal document packages requested and delivered; and all 3 positions were promoted from within.
Granted, I am a writer (makes sense they want demonstrated skill - because 15 years of history isn't enough?) but when I was in their seat, I had a test (15 min) for applicants.
Is this "work for free just to get an interview" the new norm?
As an artist I can say it’s not uncommon to do an art test to see where your skills are and to determine if your style is compatible.
It’s unfortunate they can get away with doing this without compensating applicants.
Talk about abuse. I have had to take some tests and do something that took an hour once and nothing came of any of them. Make them sign a non disclosure agreement. They took you plan and gave it to the brother in law or village idiot.
As a graphic designer, I've done work like this, however, I delivered nom-editable locked PDF files and / or JPG's which were watermarked. I also have an internal ethical compass which when I feel that I'm being taken advantage of, I deliver an invoice before beginning the work. If they have a conniption, I know I'm about to be taken advantage of, and I bail.
I don't think anyone should ever do any work for free Christine Ladd but yes some employers will require writing samples despite how much experience you may have. As for the "obscene amount of work: they are requiring I would look into their hiring process first on Glassdoor to see what others have said. Don't get roped into that, especially if they can use your work for free!
Well.. you would be the authority to answer that.
Have you read any other posts on this site before asking that question?
Lol ...