It was an internship for a full-stack developer role. I was given two days - today is the final day, and I did not even start with the project as I was too stressed to complete the task, worrying about designing and modelling the database part, and because I have a really vague idea about system design. The skill requirements for the project are NextJS and MERN stack - which makes little sense. It said nothing about state management library, so I was also really confused about that.

Here are the requirement of the task project:

  • make use of NextJS
  • create a LinkedIn clone, without the feeds
  • must have shareable short-link profile
  • should be SEO-optimized
  • should provide API for creating and editing profile
  • should make use of good UI practices
  • explain the reasoning behind the system design decisions
  • explain the steps required to run this application
  • use of ChatGPT was allowed
  • share this on GitHub

I think that I was being fooled - that I was being made to work on a project for free, and that this test is very unreasonable and a big red-flag into the startup’s WLB. Just wanted feedback on whether I was being unreasonable?

Edit: Here’s what the listing says:

Are you a passionate Full Stack Development intern looking for an exhilarating opportunity? Look no further! <company-name>, an innovative company, is seeking a talented intern with expertise in Node.js, JavaScript, ReactJS, HTML, CSS, MongoDB, and Next.js. Join our fast-paced team and gain invaluable experience in a dynamic work environment.

Selected intern’s day-to-day responsibilities include:

  • Collaborate with the development team to design and implement user-friendly web applications using cutting-edge technologies
  • Develop and maintain scalable backend systems using Node.js and MongoDB to ensure efficient data management and retrieval
  • Create visually stunning and responsive frontend interfaces utilizing ReactJS, HTML, and CSS to deliver an exceptional user experience
  • Conduct thorough testing and debugging to ensure optimum performance and seamless functionality across different platforms
  • Assist in optimizing website performance by analyzing and refining code, and implementing best practices
  • Contribute to the development of RESTful APIs, integrating with third-party services to enhance application capabilities
  • Stay updated with the latest industry trends and emerging technologies, sharing insights and participating in team discussions to drive innovation

If you have a hunger for knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a desire to make a meaningful impact, apply now to become a part of the <company-name> team. Ready to revolutionize the world of web development? We can’t wait to meet you!

  • wise_pancake@lemmy.ca
    301·
    8 months ago

    Sounds unreasonable.

    A Twitter clone would be one thing (you need like two DB tables with four basic mutations, and the UI needs to serve create account, login, profile and timeline). I don’t know what a LinkedIn clone without feeds is.

    Two days though is ridiculously short.

    Edit: this also assumes the UI is very minimal and unpolished, just using a skeleton CSS layout and very basic divs

    • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
      51·
      8 months ago

      You should never do more than two hours of work for free. If a company legitimately needs a week long project to evaluate candidates they should hire them as contractors at market rate for that period.

      Any job asking for more than two hours of your time before paying you is scamming you.

    • yournameplease@programming.devEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      Pretty sure the company was just meaning a LinkedIn clone to “just” be a basic profile upload. Which is probably not that much more than your Twitter clone, just a few extra DB tables.

      Still sounds unreasonable for an intern for sure. But I’m sure a few desperate or skilled people would be able to get something meeting the rough requirements.