Practice/training work - would you work for free?
By ap0calyptic
@ap0calyptic (921)
Slovenia
April 6, 2012 1:39pm CST
So I'm finishing my school right, and in my studying plan I got a month and a half of practice/training work to do and then make a report about it. I got a call from neighbouring school they got a free position and they need someone to fill in, but I refused and said I'll still wait for companies to reply me to hopefully complete this training somewhere where I can also get paid. Do you think I+m being selfish? It's just by our law any student who does practice work, government or company is obliged to pay them at least 25% of the full salary, so I think by right, I decided right?
But then again I was thinking, most of companies require previous expeience, so that I could only get with practice work even if I accepted this for free, right? but, its office work, it takes time and dedication and I think I am right if I want to at least be paid something for it and specially in situation when recession is hitting us quite hard here.
What you think and what would you do in my case?
11 responses
@mariab2000 (740)
• Canada
6 Apr 12
For my course I had fieldwork experience to do in hospitals and I wasn't paid anything for it. None of the others were paid for it, it was required to do those fieldwork but without pay. However, my sibling got paid for his fieldwork but he wasn't in the same course a me in university. It would have been nice to get paid for your experience work...
@ap0calyptic (921)
• Slovenia
6 Apr 12
I have mates with same experience and they too suggested me to first try the searching option. I'm sorry you weren0t paid anything for it, its quite a downer when you hear from other they got paid for same or similar course though.
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
6 Apr 12
i think you made a good decision. you have to test the waters first if there are good opportunities for you out there. there may be a good one coming, who knows.. nowadays, it is better to get paid in whatever we do. because there si always a corresponding cost for our time and efforts.
@ap0calyptic (921)
• Slovenia
6 Apr 12
thank you very much. and i think since this is my first job its good to not just jump on the 1st opportunity that pops, but check if there's anything better to be offered by others :)
@jvincent_129 (4994)
• Philippines
7 Apr 12
hello apocalytic.
Well, in my case, they should have given at least an allowance for the position at your school. You also have to consider the nature of the work. Is it beneficial to you? Will it gain you experience in your particular area of expertise? If you are fresh graduate with no experience yet, it will be wise to get experience and exposure first. For a fresh grad like you, experience is more important than pay/salary. But you should not sacrifice too much on getting a job with a very low pay/salary. Find a job that will give you a ton of wisdom and experience, and has an average or reasonable salary based on your qualifications and skills. Good luck!
@olliekobra1 (1825)
•
6 Apr 12
I dont blame you at the end of the day no one wants to work for free but i do think that you should have maybe taken up the offer from the school because the experiance would have benefitted you a lot. But its your choice, if it was me i proberly wouldnt work for free either.
@ap0calyptic (921)
• Slovenia
6 Apr 12
Its like i can get same experience from some other company (hopefully) if I get any positive answer and therefore I can also get paid for it, so I think it's still better to wait a little to see if I can get anything that pay and in last alternative I take up whatever they offer me, though for free, no?
@rusty_butterknife (21)
• India
8 Apr 12
As part of my course, I was required to undergo industry training as well, in the form of internships. I undertook two, one of which paid me.
I think you should look at it from an effort you put in vs. the benefit you would derive from it. If the effort is worth the benefit, then you could seriously consider taking up unpaid work as well.
For example, they may not pay you, but the company/school might have a good brand name, may add a lot of value to your resume, and you may get to learn a lot. If it seems like a worthwhile endeavour, you may want to consider it.
If not, why waste your efforts on the nest best opportunity? If you know you have better options, you could hold out.
@ap0calyptic (921)
• Slovenia
6 Apr 12
exactly, though its part of studying its not like they can abuse our knowledge for free, right.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
6 Apr 12
I think I would look for a paying position. If there are no paying positions available, then I'd do a volunteer position, but I'd definitely look around, first.
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
7 Apr 12
If I were you I'd take the position offered by your neighboring school because what you are waiting right now does not guarantee that you will be accepted.
@jamborieman (563)
• Philippines
7 Apr 12
My course is Physical therapy here in the Philippines. We have a 5th year called "internship". We still pay the tuitionfee at the same time we're working on different rehabilitation clinics and also hospitals.
So yeah... assuming that I'm paying to work.. I can handle working for free. hahaha
@jagjit273 (1754)
• India
6 Apr 12
Well you did the right thing, as you are known here. You can get value for your time here if you work here. As you learn and earn both here and will get numberless oppurtunities here in mylot it self. If you need good working sites get back to me.
@shwetat195 (628)
• India
7 Apr 12
At 22, you should not look for money, rather focus on experience and exposure. Even if it is for a while, i would suggest you not to waste your time waiting for phone calls and job offers from lucrative companies. You never know when you can benefit out of these experience. Besides, it would aid you to be more confident and also expose you to different people and working environment
