DuckDuckGo: To apply, first do some work for free. Is this ethical practice?

Re:DuckDuckGo: To apply, first do some work for free. Is th... by notoriginal on Sunday February 08, 2015 @01:55PM (#9018100)

I have an interest in many things, especially privacy. I've used DDG primarily for years (even before the NSA leaks). I do like the idea of improving the product, but as another commenter pointed out, one can have many passions with much more limited time.

While applying for a job doesn't guarantee a return like you said, it's necessary investment so that companies can pick the best fit. This extra requirement, working on their platform to directly improve their service with no compensation before you can even apply, is what I view as bad practice. People can be deeply interested in something without having already directly contributed to it.

Would you view this in the same way if Google started adopting this process?

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Re:DuckDuckGo: To apply, first do some work for free. Is th... by sospep on Monday February 09, 2015 @12:39PM (#9022432)

When i submit a "resume, coverletter, interview answers, ..." all of my personal info(PI) goes into a black hole at company {X}. I don't know what they do with my PI, dont know how they determine who is a match and who is not, essentially I am giving up my time and my PI to a process I have 0 control over.

If I were to submit some "actual work" and that "work" was assessed and evaluated by {any} company in relation to others submitting "work" in what I believed to be a fair and open process, I don't think that I would have a problem using this process with any company.

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