A recruitment assignment can demonstrate how you think, but unclear instructions can turn a small exercise into an open-ended project. Asking focused questions is a sign of planning, not a lack of interest. Discuss the assessment criteria as well as the deadline. This guide offers an organisational approach, not legal advice about a particular employer or a guarantee of an offer.
Identify the skill being assessed
Ask whether the employer wants to evaluate reasoning, writing, calculations, design or implementation. A focused answer is usually easier to review than unrelated extra features. If information is missing, clarify which assumptions are acceptable. List those assumptions in your submission so that the reviewer understands why you made particular choices.
Separate the deadline from working hours
A deadline three days away does not necessarily mean three full days of work. Ask for an estimate of the time expected and whether meetings, presentations and revisions are included. Offer a realistic schedule around existing commitments. If the scope changes, discuss the additional work before starting it rather than silently expanding the assignment.
Clarify how the work will be used
For an exercise involving a live product, ask whether the result is only for assessment. Access to production systems, personal data or paid accounts needs a separate conversation. An anonymised demonstration may be sufficient. Do not include confidential information from a previous employer or customer, and do not present another person's work as your own.
Make the handover easy to review
Provide the main file and a short explanation of the goal, approach, limits and untested parts. Code benefits from clear setup instructions; design benefits from an explanation of decisions. Open shared links without your own account to check access. Give reviewers the material they need without sharing unrelated documents or editable folders unnecessarily.
Agree on the next step
Ask when feedback is expected and whether you will discuss your solution. A polite reminder after the agreed date is reasonable. When exploring Workly vacancies, assess the assignment as one part of the hiring process, not a promise of employment. Keep the agreed brief and the version submitted so that later discussions refer to the same work.
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