Desperate times call for desperate measures. A nice old saying for the age old economic down turn we have seen time and time again. Economic downturns are as consistent as the weather; inevitable and unpredictable. Each time we find ourselves rushing to understand how it happened, who to blame and how to fix it.
What I have noticed more now than during previous economic downturns is people coping more. With unemployment at a 20-year high, this downturn has hit us hard. Individuals are willing to sacrifice more to remain employed - an unfortunate scenario or a possible realization that certain jobs were overcompensating - and even take the initiative to suggest these cuts before they get the axe. Those already part of the unemployed have a tougher predicament; they don’t have a job that they can negotiate aspects of to keep. But, a new development (something I initially thought was mad) has evolved: working for free. YES, I did just say that.
As Bob Dylan said, “The times they are a’chang’n” and so people are as well. They’re adapting to the changed environment. And so, us drones have migrated to a new idea of dealing with unemployment; a novel one at that. Think about it. You just got the boot. You take a few days to a week to assess your predicament and then jump back into the fray to look for a job. Maybe you anticipated your exit for employment and have already started the search; good for you. Either way, you most likely have some free time and having a blank spot on your resume for however long it takes to find a job is not always nominal.
Working for free might just be a great way to fill that gap, gain some new skills and possibly widen your job search and increase your contact network. It’s a great way to keep your resume looking fresh. Think of it as working an unpaid internship that will help you get gainfully employed. So, don’t look at it as a sign of desperation, but dedication to polishing your resume.
Of course you can always get a job waiting tables and get a little green in your pockets, but then again you may be able to work somewhere beneficial to your career because you’re willing to do it for free. Besides the usual non-profits you can work for, many companies are looking to hire free labor or are asking their employees to work for. Just a few months ago, British Airways asked some of its employees to work a month for free.
Companies have something to benefit from this situation. Not only do they get free labor, but additionally it is also a great way for a company to create a pipeline of talent to draw from when the economy turns around. When a position does open up in the company or the company begins hiring again, it will most likely look internally to fill positions. For both the employer and employee, it brings long-turn benefits. You’re training new potential hires from which the company has its choice and as an unpaid employee you’re gaining experience with no contractual obligation. You work as long and as hard as you want. What’s the worst they can do, fire you?
Despite it actually being illegal for a company to have you work for them for below minimum wage, many are people are finding that working for free gives them more appeal when applying for a job along with countless thousands of other applicants. Some individuals argue that if you have the skills for the job, you should be paid for it, but with a lot of companies having the work but not the revenue to hire, it may be a win-win situation.
Often times once you have been unemployed for a few months this can be a decision between having an indelible white space on your resume or keeping your skills sharp and mind in the game. It may seem like an act of desperation or the sign of a true devotion, but in the end it will likely yield long-term beneifts.
