> Offer $500 as a 1099 contractor to complete the assignment within the next 2 weeks or so.
Just as an aside, I would actually be more willing to undertake this type of interview if you weren't paying me. I don't have any ethical qualms about interviewing while working a full-time engineering job, but I'm not entirely comfortable taking a contracting job under the table. It may be something of a symbolic gesture given that it's such a small time investment and small amount of money, but it feels fundamentally dishonest, especially if you're a current or plausible future competitor to the company I currently work at.
The official policy where I currently work is that moonlighting is allowed but must be approved by our legal team, and while I could probably get away with not asking for permission, I'd be pretty uncomfortable in both cases (asking, or not asking).
Just FYI, "under the table" means getting paid without proper documentation or withholding of taxes, FICA, etc. Doesn't really apply to 1099 situations.
Blanket prohibitions on moonlighting are illegal in California AFAICT, unless it's framed as a conflict-of-interest avoidance issue. See http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/cacode/LAB/1/d1/4/s96, section (k).
Interesting and very ethical. Opposite of me. I don't see that a company should own your soul when you work for them. So doing a small amount of work for effectively beer money in your spare time is no problem. Even taking a second job is OK if it doesn't affect your first one.
> Just as an aside, I would actually be more willing to undertake this type of interview if you weren't paying me.
Sure, and I don't think I would force pay you. Would offer you the in person option, or the homework option without pay. Could maybe work it into a signing bonus if you took the job or something? Definitely not looking to put someone into an ethical dilemma, but not wanting to be one of those companies who makes candidates do really long take home interviews and then makes them mad when they don't extend an offer.
Just as an aside, I would actually be more willing to undertake this type of interview if you weren't paying me. I don't have any ethical qualms about interviewing while working a full-time engineering job, but I'm not entirely comfortable taking a contracting job under the table. It may be something of a symbolic gesture given that it's such a small time investment and small amount of money, but it feels fundamentally dishonest, especially if you're a current or plausible future competitor to the company I currently work at.
The official policy where I currently work is that moonlighting is allowed but must be approved by our legal team, and while I could probably get away with not asking for permission, I'd be pretty uncomfortable in both cases (asking, or not asking).