It Costs to Work for Free

From the Wall Street Journal | Nov 22, 2009

Emily Shankman of Chicago graduated from college earlier this year
with plenty of hope for her career. The 22-year-old had studied vocal
performance and was learning how to turn her passion for music into a
paying career.

"With the economic climate being what it is right now, it has been
very difficult for college graduates to find work in our fields," she
says. "We aren't able to get the jobs we dreamed of and studied so hard
for."

As a way to get hands-on experience in arts administration, Ms.
Shankman, who graduated from Lawrence University, took an unpaid
internship at the Lyric Opera of Chicago through December. She spends
her days archiving materials, advertising auditions and helping with
fund raising. To pay the bills, Ms. Shankman works concessions at the
opera house and sings at churches and weddings.

Ms. Shankman is one of many who are riding out the recession by
learning new fields and building their career portfolios -- and paying
the rent with side jobs, savings or a parental infusion of cash

How do you know if an unpaid experience-builder is right for you?
According to Chris Anderson, author of "Free: The Future of a Radical
Price," there's really no such thing as working for free. "There should
be non-monetary rewards like skills, connections, access and
reputation," he says.

And, adds Mr. Anderson: "When you're unemployed, sometimes your only
choice is between not working at all or working with the chance that
you'll get paid later."

Career changers may benefit from using unpaid internships or
volunteer experiences to break ground in a new industry. But that
doesn't mean it's for everyone.

When deciding whether or not to work for no pay, first determine if
you can afford it. What is your family's financial situation, and do
you have an alternate source of income?

Don't be afraid to ask the employer about your future. Organizations
will usually be open to discussions about what you can do to
potentially get hired down the road.

Once you've secured a volunteer or internship position, you must be
strategic in making the most of it. Ask to get involved with as many
large, complex projects as possible, jumping at the opportunity to
challenge yourself, master new skills, and be exposed to a variety of
jobs.

When the end of your volunteer stint draws near, scout out paid
opportunities with the organization. If there's nothing available right
away, leave on a strong note and keep in touch with the contacts you've
made.

Write to Alexandra Levit at reinvent@wsj.com