I applied for a Graphic Designer role with Development & Alumni Relations at VCU. As the first step in the interview process, I was invited to complete a fairly in-depth design assignment: create a postcard for a specific event using provided content, then adapt that design into three social media sizes and six web ad dimensions.
This is already a significant amount of work — and even more so when you consider the prep required just to begin. I had to thoroughly review VCU’s brand guidelines to ensure consistency, source my own photography, and design with the constraints of extremely awkward sizes (any designer knows the near-impossibility of making a photo work at 300x90 pixels).
I submitted the assignment by the requested deadline and received a confirmation email stating it had been received and that submissions would be reviewed the following week, with next steps to follow soon after.
Two weeks passed with no response, so I sent a polite check-in. Then a month went by. I followed up again, this time expressing my frustration and asking when I could expect to hear back — and within nine minutes, I received a brief reply stating they had “gone in a different direction.”
While I fully understand that not every candidate will be selected, this process was frustrating and disheartening. I had the exact experience and qualifications outlined in the job description — including having held the same role in a similarly structured department at MIT. I had hoped that, at the very least, the time and care I put into the assignment would merit a conversation.
Requesting extensive unpaid design work before any personal interaction, then failing to follow up in a timely or respectful manner, sends a discouraging message about how applicants’ time and labor are valued. I hope the team revisits this approach because creative professionals deserve better.
