Hiring Tests Under Scrutiny: Are Take-Home Assignments Penalizing Diverse Candidates?

Design · 3 min read

Industry conversations around hiring fairness have intensified, with evidence that long unpaid take-home tasks filter out otherwise strong candidates. Hiring teams now experiment with shorter exercises, paid research tasks, and collaborative design workshops during interviews to reduce bias and improve candidate experience.

Companies piloting paid take-homes report higher acceptance rates and more diverse shortlists. Others replace solo assignments with pair-design interviews where candidates can demonstrate thinking in real time, and recruiters can evaluate communication and collaboration skills as well as craft.

Designers facing the market should inquire about the hiring process up front and request time limits or paid alternatives if studio asks for significant unpaid work. Employers that make the hiring process equitable often attract a broader pool of qualified designers.