Recent evidence reveals tha0t companies are hiring people for their own interest to be full-time
employees. So, why not get in on some of that hiring action? By interning at a company you wish to
work for, you increase your chances of getting hired permanently than if you apply for a job through
the normal channels. Opportunities can work for new graduates and experienced professionals alike.
If you are a freelance web designer or consultant, the more happy clients you have, the better you will
look to prospective ones. By occasionally working for free on a successful new company logo or a
sought-after business plan, you can grow your portfolio while attracting the attention of new prospects.
Job loss can deal a heavy blow to your ego and self-esteem. In this employment market, it can take
months (if not years) to find a new job, so what better way to use some of that downtime than to do
something to boost morale? Volunteer with companies in your field to keep yourself working and
simultaneously increase the odds of landing a full-time job.
You may have graduated from college just 10 years ago, but that doesn’t mean your skills are up to
snuff. For most jobs, ability requirements change almost overnight, and you need to stay on top of your
game to remain attractive to employers. Do a little work for free in your chosen field to acquire or hone
the job skills that employers look for; additionally, this will put you in front of hiring managers and
potential employers.
Are you an artist or photographer? By taking on free gigs with corporations, you can showcase your
work in bigger and better markets than were previously available to you.
Let’s say a major soda company has a competition for a new seasonal logo, and the prize doesn’t
involve any money. Rather, the winning logo will be on soda cans for a full month, along with your
signature and website. It would be foolish to turn down that kind of exposure just because it lacks an
up-front financial reward.
Even if you have a full-time job, it doesn’t mean what you do there is personally rewarding. If this is
you, consider volunteering on projects of personal interest during non-working hours. It could be
reading to kids at the local library or serving Meals on Wheels down at the retirement center. If your
day job isn’t rewarding, make sure the rest of your life is!
No one person is good at everything. But by swapping your expertise for someone else’s, both parties
can benefit without any money trading hands.
For example, if you are a tax preparer and need a small construction project done, you could potentially
trade your professional services with a contractor who needs his taxes done. In fact, bartering used to be
the only way people exchanged goods and services – who says you can’t bring it back?
Chances are, if you are just starting out after high school or college, you will lack the experience
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Needed to land the job of your dreams. If this is the case, why not offer the skills you do have for free in
Order to get your foot in the door?
I once accepted a video editing assignment a few days after I graduated from film school that didn’t pay
Anything. Money wasn’t the driving factor, but I did get some desperately needed experience
to improve my resume.
If you were to build the next Facebook or Twitter, you would probably have to work long hours for
Little or no pay – along with no guarantee of ever making a dime. Don’t be fooled; working for yourself
is often the same as working for free, especially when you are just starting out. But if starting your own
Company is on your mind and is what you want to eventually achieve, isn’t working for free to get it off
The ground worth the effort?
Non-profits are always looking for volunteer workers to help out their cause. Why not use your skill set
to move something forward that you truly believe in? Whether it’s an environmental group, a religious
Organization, or a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, your assistance could be just what they need,
Especially in rough economic times.
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