A small American law firm has held ‘recruitment auditions’ in the style of reality shows Project Runway and The Apprentice in a search for a ‘Top Associate’.

A post on classified ads site Craigslist revealed that Mellen law firm in California has asked job applicants to make themselves available for up to two weeks, eight hours per day, to take part in a unique hiring process.

The advert said: “Each day the candidate with the weakest work product will be cut until one candidate remains. This process will take one or two weeks until the final candidate is offered on-going employment.

If you have seen reality television shows where contestants are cut from episode to episode such as Top Chef, Top Shot or Project Runway - it will be like this. Do you have what it takes to be Top Associate?”

The firm asked applicants for the post of mortgage litigator to “come to the first day of hiring with your laptop ready to begin”.

Candidates could expect to receive an orientation briefing and an individual interview, then they will be given assignments to take them through the following days or possible weeks.

This idea might be enough to see most job seekers running for the hills, if it weren’t for the promise of $20/hour in payment for the evaluation – not to mention the tough competition in the current job market.

It’s not known how many people have applied to the recent job posting at Mellen’s firm, but with the current job market climate in America, it’s unlikely that the ‘audition’ style interview process will be enough to deter applicants.