I applied for the job online, and one of the co-founders reached out via email within a few days. I submitted a portfolio of past work and we scheduled a phone interview for the following week. Less than 24 hours before the scheduled interview, they asked me to create a custom social media plan & content strategy which needed to be submitted before our initial call. This was a red flag to me, as no reputable company would require free labor from applicants (it’s scammy, and also illegal). Fast forward to the day that the interview is scheduled to take place. I’m waiting by the phone, and the interviewer never calls. I didn’t even receive a courtesy email about running late or needing to reschedule - just silence. While the whole experience was incredibly annoying, I’m definitely grateful to have dodged a bullet.