Comments on: Working For Free – Is It Ever a Good Idea? http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:50:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Carolyn Deed http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-5794 Carolyn Deed Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:30:27 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-5794 oops trigger happy...what I meat to say was.... have to cheer to the idea of not-for-profit work, as opposed to ‘freebies’. It’s a great way to give back to the community using your skills, which directly benefit the cause. And, if you want to look at it this way, it is also good kudos for the cv/creds…Also agree that doing work for free can lose respect unless of course you are at internship stage where you are willing to take on a nominal fee to get your foot in the door… oops trigger happy…what I meat to say was….
have to cheer to the idea of not-for-profit work, as opposed to ‘freebies’. It’s a great way to give back to the community using your skills, which directly benefit the cause. And, if you want to look at it this way, it is also good kudos for the cv/creds…Also agree that doing work for free can lose respect unless of course you are at internship stage where you are willing to take on a nominal fee to get your foot in the door…

]]> By: Carolyn Deed http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-5793 Carolyn Deed Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:28:10 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-5793 have to cheer to the idea of not-for-profit work, as opposed to 'freebies'. It's a great way to give back to the community using your skills which directly benefit and if you want to look at it this way also, it is good kudos on the cv/creds...Also agree that doing work for free can lose respect unless of course you are at internship stage where you are willing to take on a nominal fee to get your foot in the door... have to cheer to the idea of not-for-profit work, as opposed to ‘freebies’. It’s a great way to give back to the community using your skills which directly benefit and if you want to look at it this way also, it is good kudos on the cv/creds…Also agree that doing work for free can lose respect unless of course you are at internship stage where you are willing to take on a nominal fee to get your foot in the door…

]]> By: marilyn's shampoo http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-5300 marilyn's shampoo Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:45:55 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-5300 i found doing free/token payment work absolutely vital for building up a portfolio and learning on the job as i am completely self taught. however this year i made a no freebies vow as i kept foolishly agreeing to favour jobs for friends when i really should be concentrating on my paying client list. the project creep thing is so true - some of my most frustrating, pained moments have been with free jobs. i found doing free/token payment work absolutely vital for building up a portfolio and learning on the job as i am completely self taught. however this year i made a no freebies vow as i kept foolishly agreeing to favour jobs for friends when i really should be concentrating on my paying client list.
the project creep thing is so true - some of my most frustrating, pained moments have been with free jobs.

]]> By: Kevin M. Scarbrough http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-4361 Kevin M. Scarbrough Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:05:00 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-4361 I agree completely with the responder Cat about picking one non-profit (I chose one permanent non-profit, not one a year) and donating services to them. Prior to graduating, I selected a charity group that raised money for UNICEF. While the work I did with them didn't stay in my portfolio for long, the experience was incredible (and seeing the money they did make on the work going straight to charity prevented me from ever feeling ripped off). I agree completely with the responder Cat about picking one non-profit (I chose one permanent non-profit, not one a year) and donating services to them.

Prior to graduating, I selected a charity group that raised money for UNICEF. While the work I did with them didn’t stay in my portfolio for long, the experience was incredible (and seeing the money they did make on the work going straight to charity prevented me from ever feeling ripped off).

]]> By: Work It, Mom! | A Community for Professional Moms http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-2713 Work It, Mom! | A Community for Professional Moms Thu, 31 May 2007 12:04:01 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-2713 [...] relevant here, but we’re still newlyweds and I reserve the right to be sappy) pointed me to this post on working for free. Lots of great points in the piece itself, and some insightful comments, as [...] […] relevant here, but we’re still newlyweds and I reserve the right to be sappy) pointed me to this post on working for free. Lots of great points in the piece itself, and some insightful comments, as […]

]]> By: Should the “Free” In Freelance Refer To the Price? http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-2221 Should the “Free” In Freelance Refer To the Price? Wed, 23 May 2007 18:39:38 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-2221 [...] there are times when working for free is a good idea. You have to come up with your own rules. For me, I only work for free when it’s for karma, [...] […] there are times when working for free is a good idea. You have to come up with your own rules. For me, I only work for free when it’s for karma, […]

]]> By: Darby Sawchuk http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-1381 Darby Sawchuk Mon, 07 May 2007 08:33:46 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-1381 I recently did a job for free and I was pretty sure it would be worthwhile for me for the exposure (and maybe the connection). Unfortunately, the name in my byline was egregiously mistyped. I'm hoping something may still come of the contact, but for now, lesson learned... I recently did a job for free and I was pretty sure it would be worthwhile for me for the exposure (and maybe the connection). Unfortunately, the name in my byline was egregiously mistyped. I’m hoping something may still come of the contact, but for now, lesson learned…

]]> By: Milad http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-969 Milad Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:20:42 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-969 Hi Collis! Thanks for sharing your experience! Loved it! I translated this article to Persian and posted it in my new blog... You probably won't be able to read it anyhow! I am both thanking you for sharing and requesting your permission to post it. Btw, I love this site! Hi Collis!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Loved it!
I translated this article to Persian and posted it in my new blog…
You probably won’t be able to read it anyhow!
I am both thanking you for sharing and requesting your permission to post it.
Btw, I love this site!

]]> By: Light & Dark http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-393 Light & Dark Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:02:15 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-393 I've learned the hard way, when taking on a free assignment or pro bono work, to always provide a detailed brief and quote in advance. Without these things, it's just too easy for the scope of the job to expand way beyond what you were originally prepared to contribute, but are in the awkward position of now having to say "sorry, no, I won't do any more work on this for free." Project creep is enough of a problem with paid gigs, but it's a virtual certainty with free jobs. A quote ahead of time, with an explanation of how out-of-scope work will be handled, can save a lot of frustration and/or hard feelings later. Helps insure you'll be treated as a professional through the process too. PAul I’ve learned the hard way, when taking on a free assignment or pro bono work, to always provide a detailed brief and quote in advance. Without these things, it’s just too easy for the scope of the job to expand way beyond what you were originally prepared to contribute, but are in the awkward position of now having to say “sorry, no, I won’t do any more work on this for free.”

Project creep is enough of a problem with paid gigs, but it’s a virtual certainty with free jobs. A quote ahead of time, with an explanation of how out-of-scope work will be handled, can save a lot of frustration and/or hard feelings later. Helps insure you’ll be treated as a professional through the process too.

PAul

]]> By: Anas Al Shanti http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-277 Anas Al Shanti Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:46:37 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/start/working-for-free-%e2%80%93-is-it-ever-a-good-idea/#comment-277 Well, like said "If they are making money, Then you should too" Do you think that your client's would ever give you money for free... Doubt it. Please let me know if you want to work for free, I will surely give you a great brief.. :) Well, like said “If they are making money, Then you should too”
Do you think that your client’s would ever give you money for free… Doubt it. Please let me know if you want to work for free, I will surely give you a great brief.. :)

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