Several years ago, I applied for a web design position with a college 2 states over; I had an extensive design portfolio. Before ever meeting anyone on the hiring team, I was sent an assignment to create a landing page in live html and with scripting for a carousel and responsive css, plus create a marketing piece. I was told I couldn’t put the work in my portfolio, and it was clear they would be using this for an actual part of their website if they liked what I did. They offered a discount on a hotel room in the small town they were located in, so flying up there would have cost me several hundred dollars. The homework was described as “fun” to do and shouldn’t take much time. When I proposed coming up for interviews and talking through my extensive portfolio in lieu of doing basically spec work, I was told no, that everyone, no matter how senior or experienced, had to do the homework. I declined to move forward—as they say in HR speak.