Fueler Announces Mandatory Compensation for Second-Stage Assignments

At Fueler, we are building a career infrastructure for the next 100 Million Indian Professionals. We exist to protect effort, respect time, and value your proof of work. Today, I want to make our position absolutely clear to all community members, candidates, and partner companies on the platform.

On Fueler, the first assignment can be free. It helps companies evaluate real skills and helps candidates showcase their capabilities. That is fair and reasonable. (But yes, I would liketo share that some of the companies are generous enough to make their first assignment by compensating the top performers)

However, from the second assignment onward, compensation is mandatory.

The second assignment is not a trivial task. Oftentimes, they require deep thinking, execution, iteration, and commitment. Many candidates put in long hours, often late at night, while managing studies, jobs, or personal responsibilities. I believe this effort deserves compensation.

If you are a candidate on Fueler and a company asks you to do a second assignment, please remember this clearly:

• The second assignment must always be paid.
• The amount does not matter. It could be ₹500, ₹1,000, ₹2,000, ₹5,000, ₹20,000, or more.
• What matters is that there is some compensation for the work being done.

If a company directly reaches out to you and asks for a second assignment without mentioning payment, you have two clear options:

1. Politely decline and inform them that on Fueler, second assignments are always paid.
2. Inform the Fueler team immediately. We will step in, speak to the company, and ensure compensation is arranged.

If a company refuses to compensate, we strongly advise you to not to proceed with the assignment.

This decision is not negotiable. It is a conscious stand from Team Fueler.

The market today has a serious problem. Candidates are repeatedly asked to do unpaid assignments. Some never hear back. Some see their work being used without credit or compensation. This is exploitation, plain and simple.

Fueler will not be a platform that enables that.

Exception:

We have always believe candidate's choice comes first. That's why at the same time, we want to be very clear on one important point.

Candidates always have the freedom to choose.

We understand that in certain situations, a candidate may really want the opportunity and may choose to go the extra mile. If you voluntarily decide to take up a second assignment without compensation, that is entirely your personal choice.

From Fueler’s side, we will never force, pressure, or expect any candidate to do unpaid second assignments. It is not mandatory. It is always at your free will.

Fueler’s role is to protect candidates, not to make decisions for them.

We are building a system where proof of work leads to opportunity, not burnout. Where effort is rewarded, not ignored. Where companies hire responsibly, and candidates are treated with dignity.

This is our commitment to every candidate who trusts Fueler with their work.

This is our stand against unpaid labor disguised as hiring.

And this is a step toward fixing a broken hiring ecosystem.

We will always stand with the candidates who burn the midnight oil and show up with real work.

- Riten Debnath, Founder, Fueler