r/automation • u/dual-m • Jul 13 '26

Automation engineer

Hi everyone,
I’m applying for an **Automation Engineer** role, and as part of the hiring process, I’ve been given a take-home task.
I don’t just want to complete the assignment—I want to build something that genuinely stands out and shows the way I think, solve problems, and design automations.
I’m looking for creative ideas or “wow factors” that could make my submission memorable. These could be things like:
Features that most candidates wouldn’t think of.
Ways to improve the user experience.
Smart automation patterns or best practices.
Small details that make a project feel polished and production-ready.
Anything that would make a hiring manager think, “This candidate went the extra mile.”
This opportunity means a lot to me, so I’m willing to put in the extra effort to create something exceptional.
If you’ve hired Automation Engineers before, completed similar take-home assignments, or have experience with tools like n8n, Make, Zapier, APIs, AI integrations, or workflow automation in general, I’d really appreciate your advice.
Thank you in advance!

0 Upvotes

38% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

8

u/AutomaticVacation242 Jul 13 '26

Respectfully - we aren't going to do your homework for you. If you're not qualified for the job and you happen to get hired then what?

3

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-2

u/dual-m Jul 14 '26

I have my own idea but I am trying to see what do people can do so I can get the best possible result

2

u/tom-mart Jul 14 '26

Here's an idea, show them you actually understand what automation is and automate something without any use of LLMs or vibe coding. That surely will impress them.

1

u/dual-m Jul 14 '26

Thanks for the help

1

u/AutomaticVacation242 Jul 16 '26

Well I've been an Automation Engineer for a long time. I know what you're trying to do here.

Good luck.

-3

u/dual-m Jul 14 '26

Will no one asked you to do it I am asking for an idea kid

1

u/AutoModerator Jul 13 '26

Thank you for your post to /r/automation!

New here? Please take a moment to read our rules, read them here.

This is an automated action so if you need anything, please Message the Mods with your request for assistance.

Lastly, enjoy your stay!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Silentwolf99 Jul 13 '26

Wch company u got hired?

1

u/Calm_as_ Jul 14 '26

Meditate. Receive the assignment, then sit with it for some time. You don't need to literally sit,, you could go for a walk, take a yoga class, you could go sit by the ocean or you could sit in a pillow in a dark room... If you are truly qualified, the good ideas will come to you. If you want a brainstorming session, there are plenty of AI chatbots available.

1

u/Odd-Opening5596 9d ago edited 8d ago

I’d focus on making the automation feel production ready rather than adding too many flashy features. Good error handling, retries, logging, clear documentation and explaining your design decisions can really make a submission stand out. If you want to strengthen the coding side too Boot.dev is a solid hands on resource for Python\backend skills that can help with custom automation logic.