I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked to work without pay over the past several months. With one exception, my answer has consistently been some variation of “no.” Why? It’s because I don’t work for free and you shouldn’t either. Let’s discuss.
Some folks are baffled by my unwillingness to budge on this point. I’ve been told that if I provide pro bono services to people who need help, they will go out into the world and become ambassadors for my company. I’ve had well-intentioned friends point out that not everyone can afford $250 for a resume rewrite. I’ve been the recipient of expertly crafted guilt trips that highlight record levels of unemployment and financial devastation.
The fact of the matter is that anyone who suggests you should give your labor away for free, or at a drastically reduced rate, in exchange for exposure or to garner a general sense of good-will is misguided. Your employer and/or your clients will only value your time and talents as much as YOU value your time and talents. For proof, look no further than the discussion of turquoise jewelry sales in Chapter 1 of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert Cialdini. He retells the story of a shop owner who, in an effort to sell off an abundance of turquoise jewelry that had been languishing in the shop for months, decides to slash prices by 50%. A store clerk accidentally misreads the owner’s hastily written instructions and increases prices by 50% instead. To everyone’s surprise, the shop sells every piece of turquoise jewelry within a matter of days. Why did raising prices have this effect? It’s best to let Dr. Cialdini explain but the example illustrates my point.
When you value yourself enough to insist on fair compensation, you will be perceived as valuable. If you give your labor away for free, or at drastically reduced prices, don’t be surprised when your perceived value takes a nose dive. I think most of us have experienced this phenomenon at some point in our lives.
As with any rule, there are exceptions. First, if one has the ability to help other people without jeopardizing their own financial stability, especially in times of crisis, I think that person has an ethical responsibility do so in a way that’s compatible with their resources. One of the things you’ll notice about this blog is that I publish tips for job seekers on a weekly basis. This content is free and I devote several hours per week to this aspect of the business. Why? It’s true that the blog allows me to showcase the knowledge that I bring to the table, but it’s also a way for me to give some of what I have to offer to those folks who can’t afford my services right now. It’s sort of like a free group coaching session. I can’t give away all of my time and skills for free, but the blog is a small contribution that I can make without sacrificing my family’s ability to pay its bills and I’m happy to do it.
Similarly, I’ve been asked by a respected colleague to provide pro bono training to a local veteran’s group at some point in the future and have eagerly agreed. I don’t see this as giving away my labor. As the daughter of a wartime vet I understand that these folks have made innumerable, mostly unseen, sacrifices for our collective benefit. Providing my services in this context is not working for free. In my mind, it is the repayment of a debt.
So, let’s talk! Do you feel differently? Have you worked for someone without being compensated and regretted it? What are your exceptions to the “never work for free” rule? Leave your comments below to get the conversation started.
Keep going, friend. You’ve got this.