Apparently some C-level person said something recently about being willing to work for free. My thoughts will be a synthesis of stuff I've seen elsewhere.
You COULD say something truly insightful about seeing your own work as an asset:
*Volunteer work gets you face time with people hiring in your community. "Oh, we believe in the same causes? You need a job to keep up this volunteer work? Let me see what I can do..."
*Volunteer work gives you professional experience working with clients, but you practice with local nonprofits. "Hey food bank, need a modern website?"
*Straightforward mentorship opportunities might be worth some free work, especially if you're in high school or college.
If C-level people are talking about working for free, I'd like to hear them spell out exactly how that's going to work and not just be something where I'm proving to the boss I'm willing to lick his boots just because I'm so darned grateful to have a job, any job, and not be in the work house, Mr. Top-Hatted-and-Monocled-Dickensian-Capitalist-Archetype, sir.
Your work in exchange for something other than money can be a valuable trade, but you have to have a vision for what you're trying to get out of it.
Don't write off the possibility of free work, but if the work is free, you're the boss. Or, you're a customer: "I do X work in exchange for Y mentorship and training, at the end of every work day." If it doesn't work for you, you walk out. Work the "customer is always right" dynamic to your benefit.
One other thing about volunteering: it's a good look into how multiple parties come together: community, business, nonprofits, local and regional government, all of it.
#volunteer #volunteering #internships #learning #training