The interview exercise looks like a real campaign brief. How much would you do?

After a good second interview, the company sent me an exercise: a launch plan for a new service, three sample posts and a rough budget. They estimate it will take four hours and want it by Monday.

The brief uses the company’s name, a launch date next month and a customer group we discussed in the interview. It might just be a realistic way to assess my thinking. It also looks close enough to live work that I’m uncomfortable handing over a complete campaign without knowing how they’ll use it.

I’m applying for a marketing coordinator role. I can see why they want more than a polished CV, and my existing portfolio is mostly work where several people contributed. I’d welcome a chance to explain which decisions were mine.

The practical problem is that I’m already working full time. Four hours would take most of my free Sunday, and I suspect making the brief look finished would take longer. There’s no payment mentioned. I haven’t asked whether a shorter presentation or existing work would be acceptable.

Would you complete it, offer a limited outline, or ask to demonstrate your thinking another way? How would you raise the scope and use of the exercise while staying interested in the job?