Questions to Ask When Deciding to Work for Free

Nobody likes the idea that they are not being paid for their time and effort, but there is a reason to work for free . Maybe you will gain experience and write your resume. Maybe you will get exposed. It’s tricky, however, and author Seth Godin offers several important questions when deciding whether or not to work for free.

There are some good reasons for working for free, but there are also some really bad reasons for doing so. We showed you this flowchart to help you make a decision , and you should consider the following factors as well, Godin says:

  • Do they pay other people to do the job? Have your competitors?
  • Have I learned enough from this interaction to call it part of my education?
  • This community service has my name written on it, or am I just saving them money for a job they have to pay for?
  • If I get paid, is it more likely that the organization will pay more attention, better promote it, and take it more seriously?
  • Do I care about their mission? Can they afford to do it professionally?
  • Will the right people be able to attract me, people who will help me spread the word that I can get a job to do it professionally?
  • What are the risks for me, my inner monologue and my reputation if I do this work?

These questions summarize the many complexities involved in deciding whether or not to work for free, but Godin shared some additional interesting thoughts on his blog. Check it out at the link below.

Is it worth working for free? | Seth Godin

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