Company does "Staff Augmentation" for companies in the US. Was contacted from an application only found on a university career site, did a brief call then was send a "test project" from a client to test my skills. This was supposed to be followed by a more complex test project that was to be compensated with $500. As well, they said the client was impressed with my resume, but as a junior I know I have nothing impressive about my resume. The initial test project deliverable was a fully developed, deployed application with regular standups with the client and recruiter. This is an absolutely ridicilous ask for an interview or take home assignment, let alone as the initial test of skill to be followed by something more complex. I estimate this project would have taken me 40 hours to complete, unpaid. Thus I can only imagine how little $500 is to compensate one for the next, more complicated project. While the CEO seemed nice enough to try and find middle ground, and said he had no scope of the project as it was from the client, it is obvious enough that people with no technical experience should not be facilitating the hiring of developers for these clients with no idea what they're giving the interviewee. This was a complete waste of my time and I warn anyone who does not want to be exploited for a chance at a placement with a client company.

I was tested on my real world development capabilities and skills with practical testing process rather than pointless Q&As. I felt that this was the only best way to bring out an applicant's potential out as an interview process. One of the most effective hiring processes I've been put through and was also connected to a hiring team in case of any doubts during my testing process. Which was very helpful. Honestly a very convenient, to the point (straight forward) and efficient way an interview could go.