It was an internship for a full-stack developer role. I was given two days - today is the final day, and I did not even start with the project as I was too stressed to complete the task, worrying about designing and modelling the database part, and because I have a really vague idea about system design. The skill requirements for the project are NextJS and MERN stack - which makes little sense. It said nothing about state management library, so I was also really confused about that.

Here are the requirement of the task project:

• make use of NextJS
• create a LinkedIn clone, without the feeds
• must have shareable short-link profile
• should be SEO-optimized
• should provide API for creating and editing profile
• should make use of good UI practices
• explain the reasoning behind the system design decisions
• explain the steps required to run this application
• use of ChatGPT was allowed
• share this on GitHub

I think that I was being fooled - that I was being made to work on a project for free, and that this test is very unreasonable and a big red-flag into the startup’s WLB. Just wanted feedback on whether I was being unreasonable?

Edit: Here’s what the listing says:

Are you a passionate Full Stack Development intern looking for an exhilarating opportunity? Look no further! <company-name>, an innovative company, is seeking a talented intern with expertise in Node.js, JavaScript, ReactJS, HTML, CSS, MongoDB, and Next.js. Join our fast-paced team and gain invaluable experience in a dynamic work environment.

Selected intern’s day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with the development team to design and implement user-friendly web applications using cutting-edge technologies
• Develop and maintain scalable backend systems using Node.js and MongoDB to ensure efficient data management and retrieval
• Create visually stunning and responsive frontend interfaces utilizing ReactJS, HTML, and CSS to deliver an exceptional user experience
• Conduct thorough testing and debugging to ensure optimum performance and seamless functionality across different platforms
• Assist in optimizing website performance by analyzing and refining code, and implementing best practices
• Contribute to the development of RESTful APIs, integrating with third-party services to enhance application capabilities
• Stay updated with the latest industry trends and emerging technologies, sharing insights and participating in team discussions to drive innovation

If you have a hunger for knowledge, a strong work ethic, and a desire to make a meaningful impact, apply now to become a part of the <company-name> team. Ready to revolutionize the world of web development? We can’t wait to meet you!