Yes, I will work for free

As the ranks of the laid-off volunteer their services in between employment, to charitable organizations, the same approach can pay dividends directly with employers.

Eager to get my foot in the door with a large employer several years ago, I worked with a professional staffing firm to volunteer my services to their client for two weeks. My intention was to quickly prove I could identify some of their business problems and make a set of recommendations to address their needs. After two weeks, I was offered a full-time paid contract. Then six months later, I was offered a full-time salary with full benefits.

This career opportunity fell into place for me not because there was a job opening at the time, but because I stayed focused on addressing the organization's needs (versus my own needs as a job seeker).

Why volunteer your time to an employer:

1. Allows a potential employer to see your work first-hand.

2. Give you an opportunity to learn more about an organization to see if it is a good fit for you.

3. Builds your professional portfolio of experience while you continue your job search.

4. Fills a gap in your resume.

5. Establishes valuable business connections.


Guidelines for making it happen:

1. For large companies, work through a professional staffing firm that can negotiate the logistics on your behalf.

2. For small businesses, contact the owner directly with your proposal.

3. In all cases, offer to produce something specific by the end of your trial period (e.g. a set of marketing ideas, a research report, a financial analysis).

4. Make the length of your trial period dependent on delivery of that specific goal (see #3) rather than a specific time period.

5. Focus on something that you can hit the ground running. Know your skills and interests thoroughly before making your proposal.