Nibletz Staff
Whether or not someone should ever work for free is one of the debated topics in the startup and entrepreneurial world. On one hand, if you’re brand new to your field and nobody knows you, how are you supposed to get your foot in the door or get any exposure if you don’t do at least a few things for free? On the other hand, if you do ever work for free, what incentive do others have to pay you to continue doing what you do?
This debate asks the wrong question. The question isn’t really whether or not you should ever do anything without getting paid. The question people should be asking is this: is there any work that is worth doing for free (or paying for myself)?
How Do I Work for Free Without Hurting My Reputation/Setting Myself Back?
It’s called volunteering and not only is it worth doing for the usual touchy-feely “giving back feels so good!” reasons, it’s also a pretty sweet boost to your resume. There are a couple of ways to volunteer. The first is the one you’ve probably already thought of: helping out with clothing drives, collecting food, volunteering at local churches, homeless shelters and food banks.
Maybe you’ve got ideas about organizing a park cleanup. Those are all great ways to get involved in your community and build connections and you should definitely explore those options.
You should also try to find ways to volunteer that highlight your skill set. For example, if you’re great at writing software, perhaps you can write a program for your local food pantry that makes it really simple for them to track their inventory. Are you a marketing expert? Help organize an outreach campaign to bring in book donations for your local library. Are you a talented photographer? Take photos of the animals waiting to be adopted at the local animal shelter so that their adoption posters look better. You get the idea.
Right. But What About That “At My Own Expense?” Thing You Mentioned?
Believe it or not, there are times when having a lot of education can help make up for a lack of professional experience. Using the marketing example we talked about before, even if you don’t have a lot of professional experience with marketing campaigns, getting a master’s degree in marketing and completing an internship at a local marketing firm can help set you apart.
Getting your MBA can also help lend credibility to your startup (and help you run your business).
Yeah, yeah—you’re sick of school and the last thing you want is to devote a few more years to full time studying. But what if you didn’t have to? Nobody said you have to go the traditional educational route with these supplemental degrees and certifications. You could go the online route, which will allow you to build your business while simultaneously earning your degree. Schools like Gwynedd Mercy University have online and accelerated programs that help students who need to hold down full time employment or take care of families during the day.
Remember, how you got your degree doesn’t matter. Getting it is what matters.
The simple fact is that sometimes working for free (or at your own expense) is the best thing you can do for yourself and for your startup company. The trick is to make sure you approach that free work correctly.
Good luck!
