This interview process started out really well and then things took an odd turn. I interviewed with Pop2Life's Marketing Manager on the phone about 10 days after I applied. It was a great conversation in which she asked me about my experience and spoke to me about the position, Community Manager for one of their major clients. At the end of the conversation she informed me that she wanted to pass me on to the next phase, a phone interview with the Director of Strategic Marketing. Please note, I am in the process of moving back to New York and they were aware and more than accommodating. I spoke with the Director the next week. The conversation was quite similar. Very friendly and personable. I was flying home to NY the next weekend and informed him I would be available for two days. The Marketing Manager contacted me on the day I was flying back out west. However, she informed me that they were working on a project for me to do, a test of sorts. After no word for about a week, I contacted her again and after two days she responded with the project for their client's music festival event. The assignment, due within 48-hours, included: 30-Day Content Matrix (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), Choose performers, create visual content for posts, (4) 150-Word summary of Blog posts that would be created, Write (1) 500-Word Blog post, Competitive Analysis and recommendations, social site recommendations with sources, and Analytical equations and KPI decisions. Now, maybe I should have known that this was a bit too much but I wanted to be back in the New York job market. This was an excessive amount of work that I would charge for when consulting. After turning the project in 4 hours late, because this was NOT my job and not the only thing I had going on, I apologized and asked for feedback whether or not I received the position. A week went by, nothing, another 3 days, nothing. I sent another email asking for feedback and again, being extremely polite, nothing. Another week past and the event that I worked on, with performers and hosts that I made up, was that weekend. Come to find out most of my ideas were made a reality. Now, none of my exact posts/words were used, but a lot of my recommendations and the exact strategy, down to hosts and performers, ended up being used by this national brand. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and emailed them again that Monday. I was kind and even thanked them for their time and consideration. I pointed out that I was aware of the similarities and requested feedback, regardless of the job. Nothing. I do believe in coincidences. I would never make an assumption or accusation; nonetheless, I do believe that appearance and perception can at times be as powerful as the truth. I am just leaving this here so you are wary. Be careful out there. A lot of companies smell the desperation because of the market. Not every job is worth it. A company should never ask you to work on a project that takes more than 1-3 hours, especially if they already have your portfolio.