Why You Should (Sometimes) Work for Free to Get Ahead
I know the title sounds crazy. . . that I’m advising free work to get ahead in the long run. To be honest, I was so against (and sometimes still am) working for free, as I felt it was a way for people to take advantage. After starting MissAshleyAllison.com, I realized that in the beginning all the work I did was for fun (AKA unpaid). I’ll get into more of that in a minute but the point is, my free work brought me the paid opportunities that I have now. So here’s why you should (sometimes) work for free to get ahead!
In whatever career field you’re in, I believe that sometimes free work is the way to go. For example, why would anyone want to work with you if there’s no proof in your skills? When we go on job interviews, our resume displays a proven track record. When brands reach out for partnerships, our media kit and blog show what we can offer!
As I stated earlier, when I started this blog I was without a doubt working for free (still am actually). I write about my favorite products because I love them THAT MUCH. I take photos and tag the brands because I love their pieces THAT MUCH. Companies receive free publicly from me and they don’t even have to ask. It’s all about sharing the things that I feel you all will love too! This is free work that I enjoy doing and if I didn’t do it, would I receive the paid partnerships I do now? I highly doubt it!
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So here’s three things you should consider before working for free:
Can you list the work/experience on your resume or media kit?
A prestigious internship with a company like Goldman Sachs will look amazeballs on a resume! Or for bloggers, working for free with a company like Lancome would be a great add to your media kit. Regardless of the company, if you can flaunt it where it matters most. . . then do the work! Part two is why. . .
Can it turn into a long-term relationship that’ll bring money in down the road?
We all know that it’s not about what you know, it’s who you know! If you’re going to gain crucial contacts through this experience then it can possibly turn into something that’s long-term. Once you begin to establish trust with those contacts, they’ll continue to come back because they know you’ll deliver quality content on time. This is when payment terms come into play. . . people do not mind paying someone that delivers high quality work!
Can it help you establish credibility within your field?
After you complete your work. . . will you be taken serious afterwards? Will this work experience bring you to the next level where people say, “Wow, I would pay her/him to do x, y and z for me.” If it’s going to be your foot in the door, consider it!
Working for free is a stressful decision to make. . . after all we need money to survive! However, sometimes it takes a short term sacrifice to gain a long term benefit. Don’t miss out on your blessings because they weren’t delivered in the “form” that you expected them to be! I just ask that you be considerate of the opportunities that are presented to you. . . because it could be your next stepping stone! Have you worked for free before (internships, blog reviews etc.)? Let me know your experience and outcome in the comments! Also, don’t forget to subscribe and we’ll chat soon!
Until next time ASSASSINS. . . Stay Disciplined!
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Honestly I hate when I see blogs/websites constantly pushing product.. I love when it’s spread out it shows more authentic. Thank you for the informative read <3
Such an amazing post. I have been working for free with the brands but those are the brands I love and the products I have been buying for years, writing about them makes me happy. I have not done any paid work, your post and perspective is so helpful, I will think about this.
Great points. Although no one likes to work for free, sometimes it is OK to waive the fee and do things for free.
Xx, Nailil
http://www.thirtyminusone.com
This is so true and I really shared this thought but got a bit discouraged. Unlike in the States, here in Switzerland blogging is still not taken seriously. When you decided to work for free, when you see the positive answers to the questions you made, for a second or third collaboration they’ll keep asking you to do it for free. When you try to explain that you cannot continue to work for free, they stop all communication and go look for another blogger. The thing is 99% of the Swiss bloggers don’t take blogging seriously and always work for free. Why would a brand pay when it can have it for free?
Wow, that’s disheartening to hear that they do not take bloggers/blogging seriously! I’m interested to know how brands promote their products/services without using bloggers… as we’re the most influential. For the brands who are not willing to pay after you deliver quality content multiple times, I’d say you don’t want to work with them anyway! If they cannot see your value, that’s their loss. There will always be bloggers willing to work for free but once you hit a certain level of influence, brands cannot deny you of the value you can bring them.
This is a really interesting post and you raise really good points. I do think it benefits bloggers and businesses to work for free sometimes. Especially if it leads to regular paid work.
Thank you! Yes, it can definitely turn into something if planned strategically!
Helping us the new selling and it eventually leads to $$ gain too. Great pointers!
Great points! As long as it’s a win-win, whether immediate or down the road, I see nothing wrong with unpaid work.
I also sometimes waive my fee. Usually when my partner is offering value to my brand. I don’t necessarily consider working for free because I am getting something out of it.
I agree! It definitely needs to be a win-win for both parties.
You share some really cool ideas in this post. I appreciate your perspective on working for free for a short period of time for long-term gains. Right on
Thank you!!
I think you are right! I don’t earn much from my blog but I started it out because I wanted to see if I’d enjoy blogging – and I did, thats why I still do it five years on. I think good long lasting relationships with brands really helps, I’ve done work for a company on a review basis and its turned into a frequent thing which I am so happy about!
You’re spot on! Passion and loving what you do is the ultimate road to success. As long as you’re happy, while forming these relationships then you’re the epitome of success!