I applied for a Content Writer position through LinkedIn’s easy apply feature. Shortly after, I was asked to complete a timed cognitive aptitude test: 50 unrelated questions in just 15 minutes, with no calculator or online resources allowed. The test felt more like a stressful trivia contest than anything related to the role. For a writing position, this was frustrating and irrelevant. Content writing requires creativity, research ability, and strong communication skills—none of which were evaluated in this process. When I shared feedback, the company defended the test as “scientifically proven” to identify the top 1% of global talent. In reality, it only measures how well someone can perform under arbitrary, high-pressure conditions, while excluding many talented candidates who would excel in thoughtful, creative work environments. Overall, the interview process felt impersonal and dismissive, with more emphasis on filtering people out than actually identifying strong writers.