Cases When It Worth Working Without Payment

This business model can be successful for some (those who use the stage to advertise their products and services), but most people can not afford to put time and effort into a job that does not bring them income.

Despite saying many times I have been working without getting paid. As an author and public speaker I have to be careful about how much time I digress for unpaid work. Fortunately, in time I learned to judge when it makes sense to work for free and when not.

These are 4 cases in which work without pay can be the right choice.

You will get real access to a larger audience

Many people are willing to offer their services for free, no matter if it comes to unpaid content that a blogger can use on their site, or a webinar (online training) that can be used by various companies to prepare their employees, the idea that their name will reach a broader audience is attractive enough to work without charge. The truth is, however, that this approach is not always worth it.

What would you do if a friend asked you to create a website without getting paid, and instead, your name should be written in small print in the lower right corner of the Web page?  Will this help you win new customers? 

Maybe if your friend is a world-renowned blogger who has millions of followers on social networks. Even in this case, your business will most likely not score any phenomenal boom, thanks to the fact that your name is spelled out in some corner of the site. However, if this same friend agrees to write a post about you, praising your professional skills, unpaid work may be worth it.

Before accepting a job where pay comes in the form of popularisation of your name, ask a few specific questions:

What is the size of the audience your company reaches?

How much of this audience falls into the target group of customers who would be interested in my work?

Keep in mind that the more popular and great is the organization that offers you a job, the bigger the budget it has. Think well before deciding if such a company refuses to pay for your time and work. 

You will get a real job experience

The experience gained can help you win the dream position. Whether it means collecting photos to build a portfolio for your photographic business or giving out free public presentations, believing that in the future you will start getting paid for these gigs, unpaid work can be a good first step towards success. 

However, it is important to set a time limit for how long you would be working without getting paid. If you still work for free after 3 years, you have a hobby, not a business.

Ask yourself, "What can I gain from this?". In your mind, you must have a clearly defined goal to voluntarily volunteer your time for unpaid work.

It is equally important that you do not look desperate and willing to do anything to be recruited to such a position. Offering free services at your first meeting with a stranger is not a very good business plan. You cannot expect others to take you seriously if you do not appreciate your own work.

You will receive additional points to your CV

Some types of volunteer work can bring huge dividends when it comes to the way your CV looks. If you are a novice in the blogosphere, you may decide that it is worth providing free content to popular and prestigious sites.  The fact that your material has been published in Huffington Post, sounds far more impressive than that you have your own blog with a small but loyal audience.

If an organization invites you to work for it for free, consider whether your efforts will help you build your future career. If this company is popular, there is a great chance to win the trust of a wide audience of people, and this will open the doors for more lucrative positions in the future.

Work for a particular cause

Of course, there are times when the meaning of the work is giving, not in the claim. So, you won't be mistaken if you take the time of a charitable organization that can use your skills to help people in need.  Just don't expect this to be something to help develop your career.

Whether you decide to spend one hour a week on volunteer work or one day a year, clear time limits are important so you don't overload yourself with tasks and duties that are not in your power.   

After all, the most important thing is to price your time. Many organizations make big promises, presenting unpaid work as an exceptional opportunity for professionally developed and growth. For the most part, this is a complete lie.

Do not be fooled by advertising slogans and do not accept invitations that are based solely on the idea that your work can "become something big" in the future. There is a great chance to invest a lot of time and energy and not get anything in return.

If you don't value your time, other people won't respect it either. If you decide to work without charge, make sure that you have the time to be worth it.