Comment by gwbas1c

This:

> If the very first thing in your application process is a 6 hour long unpaid assignment, then it’s hard to imagine you’re not wasting someone’s time because at this stage you’ve barely done any filtering.

I pretty much walk away at this point. It's like asking a person for sex after buying them a drink. (And if I have to explain why, you clearly don't get it.)

> But if the takehome is offered, say, after 3 rounds of interviews and will be discussed in detail during your final round with a panel of two senior engineers, I think that’s fair and provides a strong signal.

Exactly. That's the point that I'm willing to invest in a takehome.