Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

[Kadriana]

With U.S. unemployment at a 20-year high, some Americans are working for free while looking for a job, but experts are split over whether it is a sign of dedication or desperation.

Unpaid job seekers can keep their resumes fresh by boosting their experience and learning new skills, experts say, but others warn businesses may take advantage of the jobless and that it is illegal for commercial companies not to pay workers.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/31884690

[don]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

With U.S. unemployment at a 20-year high, some Americans are working for free while looking for a job, but experts are split over whether it is a sign of dedication or desperation.

Unpaid job seekers can keep their resumes fresh by boosting their experience and learning new skills, experts say, but others warn businesses may take advantage of the jobless and that it is illegal for commercial companies not to pay workers.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/31884690

Labor laws have been ignored for how long? Hours off the clock rampant in retail chains. 24/7 availability through cellphones, laptops and blackberries. Working on "furlough daze" commonplace. This environment has hardly just begun.

[bpr]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

...but experts are split over whether it is a sign of dedication or desperation.

CNBC experts might be the most unintelligent beings on the planet.

Dedication? Ugh.

[rabot10]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

CNBC experts might be the most unintelligent beings on the planet.

Dedication? Ugh.

Hey give them a break they are entertainers for the FIRE economy – they have no brain! How would U feel if U had no brain ?

[goadam1]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

At least they feed slaves. What should we call this? It's not interning.

Name the work for free program!

[santafe2]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

CNBC experts might be the most unintelligent beings on the planet.

This is a Reuters story. It turns out that someone named "Julie Greenberg, co-founder of Jobnob.com" is one of the experts. OK, that's impressive..:rolleyes:

The writer is apparently all of 12 or 13 and is probably a friend of the expert above...
http://blogs.reuters.com/michelle-nichols/

Our protagonist, Dana Lin is 22 and working for Jobnob.com for free. I dare anyone to say that company name and not laugh. Now I'm laughing harder just imagining Metal's take on this.

Employers need to think about the same strategies that they would if they were hiring someone who was getting paid. You still want a quality person...

CNBC is shameless. Maybe they could get the writer on camera for 5 minutes. That should be fun. How come Scott Adams didn't make this up already?

http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...56C0T120090713

[cjppjc]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

Our protagonist, Dana Lin is 22 and working for Jobnob.com for free. I dare anyone to say that company name and not laugh.

Apparently it can't be done.:p

[Kadriana]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

Labor laws have been ignored for how long? Hours off the clock rampant in retail chains. 24/7 availability through cellphones, laptops and blackberries. Working on "furlough daze" commonplace. This environment has hardly just begun.

I know my father-in-law was recently cut back to 30 hours a week pay but still seems to be working 40+ hours. I was wondering how much people are willing to put up with in this environment.

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

I know my father-in-law was recently cut back to 30 hours a week pay but still seems to be working 40+ hours. I was wondering how much people are willing to put up with in this environment.

Why not put up with it? It beats being laid off or even formal pay reductions.

[plinko]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

In many ways, I think it may make sense for some people, as long as it has a route to their dream job. There's an interesting mention of "free work" as a way to get what you want at iwillteachyoutoberich : http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com...f-your-career/

[Sapiens]

Re: Work for Free? Some People Are Doing It to Help Land a Job

Name the work for free program!

How about Serfdom 2.0 "Its a privilege to be exploited"