Should you ask to be paid for a benchtest?

Ive taken a few bench tests over the past few years and have never
been paid nor asked to be paid for the time i spent. Recently i
talked to a few people that said i should have asked to be
compensated seeing as at most of the bench tests i have actually been
completing jobs that are actual customers pieces. So is it common
practice to ask for compentaion? How should i go about this if it is
common practice?

Kjell Hansen

Ive taken a few bench tests over the past few years and have never
been paid nor asked to be paid for the time i spent. Recently i
talked to a few people that said i should have asked to be
compensated 

I have employees and they usually have some skill but not much
practice, so I don’t have to do a bench test. I have usually relied
on references or resume when more skilled help was needed.

I have bench tested, and I was not paid and I did not expect to be. A
bench test is an audition. If I was looking for a job, I would want
to bench test so my employer was pretty clear what the quality of my
work is so I can get paid what I am worth. When I looked for
employment, I was pretty clear that although they were interviewing
me, I was interviewing them.

Richard Hart

I generally do not pay someone for a bench test. I am upfront about
it during the first interview and consider it part of the interview
process. I tell them that typically people are nervous and
uncomfortable at an unfamiliar bench and so the work they do is
usually not quite “deliverable”. Even if it is well done we will
pull it apart to check their work anyway (particularly check how the
seats were cut). So there is no money being made on the work that is
done, usually its a bit of a loss.

We do offer to by them lunch and give them valuable tips that relate
to the particular jobs they are doing, but no moo-lah. After the
bench test they come back for a third interview with the whole shop.
If everybody signs off, then we hire them.

Mark

If you are not very serious about wanting a job, then ask to be
compensated. I am a shop manager and I cannot tell you how many
“bench jewelers” have wasted my time and materials. If you want to
get your foot in the door, get a Bench Jewelers Certification. Asking
for a paycheck before even being hired would be absurd.

Pineforest Jewelry Inc./PFJ Inc.
Gary L. Mills