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A huge debate has broken out after a Gen Z jobseeker knocked back a standard part of the hiring process. An American-based CEO was interviewing people for an investment analyst position at his company and a young candidate came across really well during the call.

However, when it came to the next step of the process, a financial modelling test, the candidate said it looked like too much work. Recruitment expert Graham Wynn told Yahoo Finance tasks like these are very common and it can make or break an applicant.

“If you want the job, you do what you have to do,” he said.

“I just can’t get my head around it at all because this happens all the time.

“We’ve all been through it and it still happens today. It’s not a generational thing, it’s still happening today. And you just have to do it.”

The CEO, who only goes by the name of M. Stanfield on social media, posted their interaction with the jobseeker on X.

“Me: really enjoyed the call. Please see attached financial modeling test,” the company chief executive said.

“Gen Z applicant: this looks like a lot of work. Without knowing where I stand in the process, I’m not comfortable spending 90 minutes in Excel

“Me:…well…I can tell you where you stand now.”

Who was in the wrong here?

The CEO said it wasn’t necessarily the complete rejection of the task, it was more how the applicant worded it. If they told him they would only do it for $1,000, he said he would have “gladly paid and probably hired” them.

The company boss also said the test was discussed early in the interview process, so it wasn’t like the task was sprung on them at the last minute.

“I’m hiring an investment analyst. Underwriting potential real estate investments is the bulk of the job. No one was surprised when I sent the test,” he said.

But his post on social media sparked a huge debate about who was wrong in this situation.

“So they didn’t want to give their time away for free for a job they have no idea if they’re even close to getting, so you ruled them out? Capitalism is grim,” added another.

A third wrote: “We just hired a guy without a technical interview and now we have to deal with the aggravation of training someone from zero.”

While a fourth commented: “Having made applicants do intense case studies when I was at a boutique I bank, I’ll tell you they’re 100 per cent worth it. I don’t care if it’s a lot of your time. It’s unreal how hard it is to find good people.”

Know your worth, but there is a limit

Graham Wynn said it’s understandable jobseekers might not have time to bust out multiple tasks if they’re submitting applications across the market.

These tests can sometimes take hours and the recruitment expert believes in the principle that time equals money. However, sometimes you have to put in a bit of elbow grease to set you apart from other candidates.

“You’re gonna know your self-worth in this generational thing coming through about the value in themselves, but don’t push them too far,” he told Yahoo Finance.

“They are only worth what someone pays.

“Employers will still want a certain type of person only and will pay a certain wage for it. I just think that pushing the envelope a little bit too far can backfire.”