Top Platforms Where Companies Hire Through Assignments

The era of the traditional resume is fading, making way for a much more practical and transparent way of getting hired: proving your skills through real-world tasks. In 2026, forward-thinking companies are no longer satisfied with a list of previous job titles or educational degrees. Instead, they want to see how you think, how you solve problems under pressure, and how you deliver quality work on a deadline. This shift toward "Assignment-Based Hiring" means that your ability to complete a specific project or technical challenge is now the most important part of your job application. If you have the talent, these platforms provide the stage for you to prove it without ever needing a fancy CV.

I’m Riten, founder of Fueler - a skills-first portfolio platform that connects talented individuals with companies through assignments, portfolios, and projects, not just resumes/CVs. Think Dribbble/Behance for work samples + AngelList for hiring infrastructure.

Fueler: The Ultimate Proof of Work and Assignment Ecosystem

Fueler is the leading platform for professionals who want to move beyond the limitations of a resume and get hired based on their actual output. It serves as a central hub where you can discover assignments hosted by your dream companies, complete them, and publish the results as "Proof of Work" for the entire world to see. Unlike traditional job boards, Fueler prioritizes the visual and technical evidence of your skills, allowing you to build a dynamic portfolio that acts as a living record of your professional growth. It is designed to bridge the gap between talented individuals and companies that value craft over credentials.

• Direct Access to Company-Hosted Assignments: Browse and participate in real-world projects and challenges posted by top-tier companies looking for fresh talent without the resume barrier.
• Comprehensive Proof of Work Documentation: Create detailed entries for every project, including the problem statement, your unique solution, the tools you mastered, and the final impact of your work.
• Instant Client-Specific Portfolio Generation: Use a smart feature to curate and share a custom selection of your work samples that are specifically relevant to a particular client or job role in seconds.
• Collaborative Networking and Visibility: Get discovered by a global community of recruiters and founders who visit the platform specifically to find individuals with a verified track record of high-quality work.
• Private and Public Work Hosting: Maintain full control over your intellectual property by choosing which projects to show publicly and which to keep private for specific recruitment conversations.

Pricing:

• Free: Start building your professional proof of work portfolio at no cost.
• Premium: Enhanced features for increased visibility and specialized networking tools.

Why it matters: Fueler is the foundation of the resume-free movement. It provides the infrastructure needed to turn a single assignment into a career-long asset. By hosting your assignments here, you ensure that your hard work doesn't just sit in an email inbox but serves as a permanent, searchable endorsement of your professional capability.

TestGorilla: Scientific Pre-Hire Skill Assessments

TestGorilla has become a cornerstone for businesses that want to remove bias and guesswork from their hiring process through data-driven testing. The platform offers a massive library of over 300 validated tests covering everything from coding and digital marketing to soft skills like critical thinking. Instead of sending a resume, you are invited to take a multi-layered assessment that predicts your job performance far more accurately than a CV ever could. This allows you to compete based on your brainpower and technical skills, ensuring that the most capable person gets the seat at the table regardless of their background.

• Validated Multi-Skill Assessment Library: Choose from hundreds of tests that cover technical domains, cognitive ability, personality traits, and even specific software proficiency required for the role.
• Unbiased Candidate Leaderboards: Performance is ranked automatically, allowing recruiters to focus on the top-scoring individuals who have already proven they can handle the technical requirements.
• Interactive and Engaging Test Formats: Experience a variety of question types including multiple-choice, coding windows, and open-ended video responses to showcase your diverse skill set.
• Advanced Integrity and Proctoring Tools: The platform ensures a fair environment for all candidates by using time limits and anti-cheating measures, making your high score a trusted credential.
• Personalized Candidate Feedback Reports: Receive insights into your performance after the assessment, helping you understand your professional strengths and identifying areas where you can improve for future roles.

Pricing:

• Free: 5 free tests and 5 custom questions for limited assessments.
• Starter: Starts at approximately $111 per month (billed annually at $83 per month).
• Pro: Starts at approximately $169 per month (billed annually at $127 per month).

Why it matters: TestGorilla is a powerful equalizer in the 2026 job market. It removes the influence of prestige and focuses entirely on potential. If you are someone who excels at problem-solving but lacks a traditional degree, this platform gives you the objective data you need to prove your worth to any employer.

HackerRank: The Global Standard for Technical Coding Challenges

For software engineers, data scientists, and technical leads, HackerRank remains the gold standard for assignment-based hiring. It is used by major tech giants and innovative startups to vet developers through rigorous coding tasks that simulate real-world engineering environments. The platform focuses on the "Work Sample" method, where your ability to write clean, efficient, and bug-free code is the only metric that matters. By completing their challenges, you earn a seat at the interview table based on the quality of your logic rather than the keywords found in your LinkedIn profile.

• Support for Over 40 Programming Languages: Solve challenges in the language you know best, from Python and Java to niche frameworks, using a built-in, professional-grade code editor.
• Automated Engineering Quality Analysis: Get instant feedback on your code’s efficiency, time complexity, and adherence to industry-standard best practices, ensuring your work is enterprise-ready.
• In-Depth Technical Interview Playbacks: Hiring managers can watch a recording of your coding session to understand how you approach a problem, handle errors, and refine your logic in real-time.
• Skill-Based Certification Medals: Earn verified badges in specific domains like Problem Solving, React, or SQL, which act as high-trust endorsements of your technical level.
• Full-Stack Project Simulations: Go beyond simple algorithms by building entire features or debugging complex systems, proving you can handle the architectural demands of a modern product.

Pricing:

• Starter: $165 per month (billed annually at $1,990 per year).
• Pro: $375 per month (billed annually at $4,490 per year).
• Enterprise: Custom pricing based on high-volume hiring needs and advanced integrations.

Why it matters: In the technical world, your code is your resume. HackerRank provides a platform where your technical execution is the primary focus. Successfully completing a HackerRank assignment is a non-negotiable proof of competence that bypasses the need for recruiters to guess your skill level from a document.

Vervoe: Realistic Job Simulations for Every Role

Vervoe takes assignment-based hiring to the next level by focusing on "Job Simulations." Rather than just answering multiple-choice questions, you are asked to perform the actual tasks you would do in the role. If you are applying for a Customer Success position, you might be asked to respond to a mock client email. If you are a Content Writer, you might be asked to draft a blog post based on a specific brief. Vervoe’s AI then analyzes your performance against thousands of successful professionals to give the company a clear picture of your job readiness.

• Tailored Work-Sample Challenges: Complete assignments that are custom-built for the specific role, ensuring that you are only being tested on things that actually matter for the job.
• Multimedia Response Options: Submit your answers through text, code, video, or even audio, allowing you to showcase your communication skills in the most effective format.
• AI-Powered Grading Assistance: The platform uses sophisticated machine learning to rank your performance, providing a fair and fast evaluation even when thousands of people apply.
• End-to-End Skill Mapping: See exactly which skills the company is looking for and how your assignment performance maps to their requirements for the position.
• Seamless Integration with Job Boards: Many companies embed Vervoe challenges directly into their application process, allowing you to "prove it" the moment you click apply.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: 7-day trial with 1 assessment and limited candidate credits.
• Pay & Go: $19 per month (billed annually at $228 per year) for limited hiring.
• Growth: $250 per month (billed annually at $3,000 per year) for scaling teams.

Why it matters: Vervoe is unique because it values "doing" above all else. It is the perfect platform for professionals who may not have a traditional background but possess incredible practical skills. By simulating the job, Vervoe allows you to show that you are already prepared to excel from day one.

Codility: Precision Engineering Vetting for Scale

Codility is a highly specialized platform designed for engineering leaders who need to hire top-tier technical talent at scale. It focuses on the "Engineer-to-Engineer" hiring experience, providing deep technical tasks that go beyond simple coding. The assignments on Codility often involve architecture, system design, and large-scale problem solving. It is used by companies like Microsoft and Amazon to ensure that their technical hires are not just good coders, but great engineers who understand the nuances of building robust and scalable software.

• High-Stakes Technical Challenges: Participate in difficult, time-sensitive assignments that test your limits and prove your ability to handle complex engineering requirements.
• Collaborative Live Coding Sessions: Move from a solo assignment into a live, pair-programming environment where you can work with the hiring team in real-time on a shared task.
• Advanced Plagiarism Detection: The platform ensures a fair competition by using sophisticated technology to detect any copied code, protecting the integrity of your hard work.
• In-Depth Performance Analytics: Recruiters receive detailed reports on your coding speed, accuracy, and the specific approach you took to solve the problem.
• Diversity and Inclusion Filters: The platform is built to hide identifying information during the grading phase, ensuring that your work is judged entirely on its own merit.

Pricing:

• Starter: Starts at $1,200 per year for early-stage technical hiring.
• Scale: Starts at approximately $600 per month for growing engineering teams.
• Custom: Tailored enterprise pricing for large organizations with high volume.

Why it matters: If you are aiming for a high-level engineering role at a major tech firm, Codility is likely the platform you will encounter. Mastering their assignments proves that you are in the top tier of global developers and that you have the discipline required for enterprise-level software development.

Canditech: Full-Cycle Job Simulations and Skill Verification

Canditech is one of the newest and most innovative players in the "Proof of Work" space. They specialize in creating comprehensive job simulations for non-technical roles like Sales, Marketing, HR, and Finance. Their assignments are designed to be engaging rather than stressful tests. You might find yourself managing a mock budget in a spreadsheet or creating a sample slide deck for a project kickoff. Canditech helps companies see the "whole person" by evaluating both hard technical skills and soft interpersonal skills in a single, cohesive assignment.

• Interactive Office Simulations: Use virtual versions of common tools like Excel, Slack, and PowerPoint within the platform to complete your hiring tasks in a familiar environment.
• Soft-Skill Video Responses: Record short video clips to answer situational questions, allowing you to demonstrate your personality and professional presence to the hiring team.
• Automated Technical Grading: Get immediate scores on technical tasks like data analysis or SEO auditing, providing instant validation of your expertise.
• Custom Branding for Candidates: Experience a professional and branded journey that feels like a real interaction with the company rather than a generic online test.
• Holistic Candidate Profiles: The platform combines your assignment results with your portfolio links to create a 360-degree view of your professional potential.

Pricing:

• Basic/Starter: Pricing starts as low as $45 per month for basic assessment needs.
• Team: Starts around $299 per month for active team hiring.
• Enterprise: Custom plans starting at approximately $1,000 to $1,999 per month for larger scale.

Why it matters: Canditech is solving the "resume problem" for the millions of people in non-tech roles. It provides a structured way to prove you can do the work of a marketer or an account manager. For job seekers, it is an opportunity to show off their creativity and strategic thinking in a way that a resume simply cannot capture.

Final Thoughts

Transitioning to a resume-free hiring process might feel intimidating at first, but it is the most rewarding way to build a career in 2026. By focusing on portfolios, assignments, and building in public, you take control of your professional narrative. You are no longer waiting for permission to be seen, you are creating your own opportunities through the sheer quality of your work. As the industry moves away from paper credentials, those who can prove their value will always be in higher demand than those who can only describe it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best platforms for assignment-based hiring in 2026?

The top platforms include Fueler for showcasing proof of work, TestGorilla for general skills, HackerRank for technical roles, and Vervoe or Canditech for realistic job simulations.

Are hiring assignments usually paid by companies?

While many initial screening tests are unpaid, an increasing number of companies in 2026 are moving toward "Paid Work Trials" for technical assignments that take more than a few hours to complete.

Can I use my hiring assignments in my professional portfolio?

Yes, unless you have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), you should always document your process and the final output of your assignments to show as proof of work to future employers.

How do platforms like HackerRank detect cheating in assignments?

These platforms use advanced AI proctoring, plagiarism detection, and analysis of coding patterns to ensure that the work submitted is original and truly reflects the candidate's skills.

Is it possible to get a job without a resume if I use these platforms?

Absolutely. Many companies now use these platforms as their primary screening tool, meaning your performance on the assignment is what leads directly to an interview, bypassing the resume phase entirely.

What is Fueler Portfolio?

Fueler is a career portfolio platform that helps companies find the best talent for their organization based on their proof of work.

You can create your portfolio on Fueler, thousands of freelancers around the world use Fueler to create their professional-looking portfolios and become financially independent. Discover inspiration for your portfolio

Sign up for free on Fueler or get in touch to learn more.