Unemployed? Try Pro Bono to Find a New Job

Economy got you down? Having a hard time searching for a job? Why not work for free?

No I’m not crazy. In fact, an article in this month’s Inc. Magazine: Using Charitable Donations to Motivate Employees is where I sniped the idea.

Here are a couple reasons why working for free makes good sense while trying to find a job:

skills If your job search is taking a while, then your resume could be showcasing out of date qualifications. What better way to fill in that gap, and stay on the cutting edge of your field, than to offer up your services for free somewhere to people who can use them? Extra bonus points if you volunteer for a non-profit of your choice, as it shows that you are into helping causes that are bigger than yourself.

productivity I know that finding a new job should become your full time job while you’re unemployed, but you also need to feel a sense of accomplishment. That can be hard after getting rejected a bunch while trying to get your foot in the door for an interview somewhere. Being able to apply your skills to something you believe in can be a great way to get quick hits, so that you know you still got. A lot of people will tell you that believing in yourself is the way toward success. Allow yourself to keep believing.

networking The Inc. article pointed out that most non-profits are filled with volunteers that work for for-profit organizations as their day jobs. Catch the drift. I’m personally beginning to believe in the power of the network and extended network to do things like open doors for positions of employment. The catch with any job search is that nobody’s really going to vouch for you if they haven’t actually worked with/for/alongside you. I mean really, would you? So look at the pro bono work as a way to broaden your network, while showcasing what you bring to the table to new people who may be able to help you.

What Do You Think?

That’s my quick list, what’s your take? Is pro bono work the next incarnation of Monster.com? Or am I off my rocker with this one? Can you see yourself fitting some volunteer consulting into your job search while you’re unemployed? Does it work/not work? Hit me up in the comments with your opinion on the subject.