Dear candidate This is a response to the concerns and allegations about the written test assignment submitted for senior analyst position. We would like to address the specifics first and then present our take on the whole comment. The Excel spreadsheet work: Alchemy’s team has a completed spreadsheet of this task done and ready, which also stands approved by the client. We thus have a ready reference to compare any candidate’s submission whether the correct information was captured in available time. The output we received in the assessment was still below the requirement. No further queries were raised on this for the same reason. Such assignments are classified under ‘rapid research’ category and involve a fast turnaround of barely 2 working days. Using a recruitment test with uncertain results for an overseas client is thus out of question. PowerPoint work: Visually appealing PowerPoint-based submissions are core to Alchemy’s offerings. It is in this context that an emphasis is on candidates’ use of manual shapes and design features of PowerPoint to develop the frameworks and infographics, as needed. Copy-paste and direct lifting from other sources is discouraged. Alchemy’s website features some of the PowerPoint-based work, which should indicate the kind of projects that get accepted and paid for by the client. Alchemy’s clientele of UK and US-based investment banks and private equity firms won’t accept a generic PowerPoint, or else the company won’t be in operation, leave alone scale up like it has. Having addressed the specific points above, we would like to address this overall below. If the candidate prefers, we can upload the submission here for full transparency of all readers. This can help set some perspective, besides making the point about our own standard. It is an unfair and unfounded allegation that the company made money on a recruitment candidate’s submission, and we would like to be absolutely clear on our side of this story. We will however prefer taking a constructive route here. For instance, the candidate can always reach out for samples and inputs on PowerPoint-based reports work and rapid research work. We have had other candidates who made it to the shortlist in a second attempt (with a different topic) of written test assignment after due discussions and a time gap of preparation. The choice ultimately lies with the candidate. Innuendos and allegations can go only thus far. Our seven-year experience in business so far has been to work and grow by delivering excellent value to very demanding clients who offer zero margin for error or mediocre work.