Working for free - Is that a good idea in order to get a foot in the door?

geek84

Hi Folks

I have been out of work for just over a year now. I have got office skills - Microsoft Office etc. I am also doing some accountancy qualifications - AAT.

Although I have been applying for jobs constantly for about a year now, I don't seem to be getting anywhere. I have also registered with various recruitment agencies.

Do you think it would be a good idea if I tell the agencies that if they manage to find me work, I am prepared to work for free for a set period? Or do you think the agencies will take advantage of that and think I am useless and desperate to find employment?

Thanks in advance.

Cool_Mint

Forget it, companies that employ interns (if the word "employ" even applies) will just dangle a carrot in front of you to make you work hard but at the end of your internship you'll be booted out the revolving door as the new intern arrives to take your place. It's a con.

geek84

Hi

Thanks for your speedy replies.

Cool_Mint you suggest that I forget the idea. I can see the reasons why, but can you suggest any alternative ideas in order to gain employment?

Thanks.

geek84

Hi

Many thanks for your replies.

However, it still does not answer my original question - Working for free - Is that a good idea in order to get a foot in the door?

Thanks

Mrs_Arcanum

Volunteer work can help. Got me back into working properly by Project managing a pre-school rebuild just because I was chairperson and available.

The recent experience on a CV is always useful.

Sambucus_Nigra

geek84 wrote: »

Hi

Many thanks for your replies.

However, it still does not answer my original question - Working for free - Is that a good idea in order to get a foot in the door?

Thanks

No.

Volunteering can - but that's different.


I'll remove my obviously unhelpful advice then!

ceridwen

I think its....errrr...NOT one of the best ideas I've ever heard...:cool:

The first and foremost question is:
- what income would you live on whilst doing "work for free"?

The employer wouldnt pay you. The DWP would refuse to give you benefit because you werent "available for work". So - what would you live on?

Apart from that - it looks to me like a lot of employers are taking people for a mug in expecting someone to "work for free". It would be interesting to see statistics as to how many of these "unpaid interns" actually end up getting offered the possible job the employer dangles in front of their nose as an incentive. I'm betting that, more often than not, that the "possible job at the end of it" turns out to be a mirage in the desert.

FattyBettyBoo

I Think it my be a good idea seperately from the agency work. Why don't you offer your services for free to a couple of companies you would like to work for. Then either they may start paying you when things pick up if you have proved yourself to be valuable. In the meantime, if the agency do find you paid work you can always leave.

I did this when I left college. I wanted to be a journalist but jobs were so few are far between I would have waited years for one to come up and even then the competition was tough. Instead I volunteer at the local paper, starting by making tea and then I started to identify stories for them. They then gave me two afternoons to work as a reporter working for free, then 3 months down the line they started paying me, then another 3 months down the line they offered me a job.

I think a small company that have had to enforce staff cuts would be grateful for the help and as long as you can afford to do so financially, it will provide new exprience and skills for your CV and show that you are motivated.

dickydonkin

Some could suggest that by working for nowt is doing someone out of a job while the employer is laughing his socks off.

I certainly agree with volunteering though - apart from providing a reason for getting up in the morning and retaining sanity, it looks good on a CV as well.

I think a small company that have had to enforce staff cuts would be grateful for the help

As suggested above........ doing someone out of a job!

DCFC79

Have you found out why you havent had any luck with jobs,

Sambucus_Nigra

DCFC79 wrote: »

Have you found out why you havent had any luck with jobs,

I tried that - geek isn't interested.