It may sound strange, but working for free can sometimes lead to a paying job. Since finding a job is taking longer than expected, experienced, mid-career level job seekers are willing to provide their expertise--gratis--to fill a gap, learn new skills and land a permanent position.
Working for an organization pro bono is a great way to get your foot in the door. There are also other benefits. Staying engaged in work, albeit unpaid, while searching for a permanent position helps job seekers feel empowered and productive. Furthermore, what better place to be than rubbing elbows with people in your target industry?
Many companies these days use these modern-day "internships" as a way to help them hire better, more reliable staff. According to a recent survey conducted by LinkedIn, listing volunteer positions on your resume will help get you a job.
LinkedIn polled nearly 2,000 U.S. professionals and found that 41% said that when they are evaluating candidates, they consider volunteer work just as much as paid work. Of the hiring managers surveyed, 20% said they gave a job based on a candidate's volunteer work experience.
Here are a few interesting facts about volunteering:
According to research firm Universum Communications, studies show employees who start out as interns before coming on board full-time have higher retention rates.
A recent study from BusinessWeek shows nearly 1 in 3 entry-level hires at the companies surveyed once worked as interns for their employer.
A 2011 survey of the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows the overall conversion rate for interns increased from 53.3% last year to 57.7% this year.
Recent statistics from UrbanIntern.com report that 34% of employers plan to hire contract workers and temporary staff in 2011, and 39% of these employers plan to transition contract or temporary staff into full time hires.
It's a known fact that job gaps can hurt your chances of landing a job, so taking on pro bono work will fill that gap and increase your market value, showing hiring managers that you took the initiative to keep your skills relevant. In this case, a little sacrifice can lead to a huge pay off and you may even land a job! Here's some advice on how to find an internship:
1. Take it seriously. The competition for an internship is similar to that of a permanent job because the experience and education requirements are usually lower. Therefore, mid-career professionals need to be serious when it comes to securing an internship. The key aspect to focus on is treating volunteer work-search the same way as any job search. That means customize your resume, include a detailed cover letter and highlight how your expertise can benefit the company. Once hired, take it seriously. Your supervisor may be the reference that will help you land your next job.
2. Try an innovative approach. If the company you want to volunteer for doesn't have any open listings for jobs or interns, create your own opportunity. Try getting in touch with the human resource department or target the contact email on job postings and offer to consult pro bono. Budget cuts affect all organizations, so they might be really grateful to hear from you and learn what you can do for them—for free!
3. Reach out to your network. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of jobs are found through networking. Use word of mouth, contact old colleagues and take advantage of social media sites to tell everyone that you are looking for a pro bono consulting opportunity and ask if they can help. Since the screening process for temporary employees is much less formal than permanent positions, a great reference can put you ahead of other candidates alone.
It's fast and easy to add your volunteer or consulting work to your resume with Resume Builder. Try it free today.
Working for an organization pro bono is a great way to get your foot in the door. There are also other benefits. Staying engaged in work, albeit unpaid, while searching for a permanent position helps job seekers feel empowered and productive. Furthermore, what better place to be than rubbing elbows with people in your target industry?
Many companies these days use these modern-day "internships" as a way to help them hire better, more reliable staff. According to a recent survey conducted by LinkedIn, listing volunteer positions on your resume will help get you a job.
LinkedIn polled nearly 2,000 U.S. professionals and found that 41% said that when they are evaluating candidates, they consider volunteer work just as much as paid work. Of the hiring managers surveyed, 20% said they gave a job based on a candidate's volunteer work experience.
Here are a few interesting facts about volunteering:
According to research firm Universum Communications, studies show employees who start out as interns before coming on board full-time have higher retention rates.
A recent study from BusinessWeek shows nearly 1 in 3 entry-level hires at the companies surveyed once worked as interns for their employer.
A 2011 survey of the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows the overall conversion rate for interns increased from 53.3% last year to 57.7% this year.
Recent statistics from UrbanIntern.com report that 34% of employers plan to hire contract workers and temporary staff in 2011, and 39% of these employers plan to transition contract or temporary staff into full time hires.
It's a known fact that job gaps can hurt your chances of landing a job, so taking on pro bono work will fill that gap and increase your market value, showing hiring managers that you took the initiative to keep your skills relevant. In this case, a little sacrifice can lead to a huge pay off and you may even land a job! Here's some advice on how to find an internship:
1. Take it seriously. The competition for an internship is similar to that of a permanent job because the experience and education requirements are usually lower. Therefore, mid-career professionals need to be serious when it comes to securing an internship. The key aspect to focus on is treating volunteer work-search the same way as any job search. That means customize your resume, include a detailed cover letter and highlight how your expertise can benefit the company. Once hired, take it seriously. Your supervisor may be the reference that will help you land your next job.
2. Try an innovative approach. If the company you want to volunteer for doesn't have any open listings for jobs or interns, create your own opportunity. Try getting in touch with the human resource department or target the contact email on job postings and offer to consult pro bono. Budget cuts affect all organizations, so they might be really grateful to hear from you and learn what you can do for them—for free!
3. Reach out to your network. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of jobs are found through networking. Use word of mouth, contact old colleagues and take advantage of social media sites to tell everyone that you are looking for a pro bono consulting opportunity and ask if they can help. Since the screening process for temporary employees is much less formal than permanent positions, a great reference can put you ahead of other candidates alone.
It's fast and easy to add your volunteer or consulting work to your resume with Resume Builder. Try it free today.
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