Take-Home Assignment Scope Decision Tree
Decide how much to do and how to protect your time.
The Open buttons send the prompt text as currently shown below to that site only when you click. Fill in the placeholders first.
Help me decide how to handle a take-home assignment. Role and company: [ROLE_AND_COMPANY]. The assignment brief: [ASSIGNMENT_BRIEF]. Stated time expectation: [TIME_EXPECTATION]. My current availability: [MY_AVAILABILITY]. How far along the process is: [PROCESS_STAGE]. Walk through this tree: 1. Is the task reasonable? A good assignment is relevant, limited to a few hours, clear in criteria, and not a real work product the company will use. IF it looks like free labor (large scope, real data, a live business problem) THEN ask questions or decline politely. 2. Is the time expectation realistic compared with the scope? IF not THEN propose a limited scope in writing. 3. Are the criteria and deliverable format clear? IF not THEN list clarifying questions. 4. Is the process fair (compensation for long tasks, clear next steps, feedback)? IF not THEN consider. 5. If I proceed: plan a time box, start with the core requirement, state assumptions, document trade-offs, and record the hours. Provide a template email to ask clarifying questions and to propose scope, a decline message that keeps the door open, a work plan with checkpoints, a README/summary template for the submission, and a final checklist. Don't copy unauthorized work or use confidential material from other employers. Advise me to keep a copy of my work.
Fill in before use
Optional: type your details and the prompt above updates. Nothing is saved or sent.
Replace each bracketed placeholder with your own details, then paste into Any AI or another assistant.