In the Napoleon Hill classic, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon recounts a story of how he got a job by agreeing to work for free. Yes, that’s right, for free. Actually, he agreed to work “on consignment” or on a trial basis. The gambit worked and he was employed.
If you think about it, it is a interesting option. You as the job seeker stand to lose perhaps a few days of your time. If you are already unemployed, it’s not much of a loss. For the employer it is an opportunity to observe someone in a real work environment before making a longer term commitment to that person. I would say this is a win-win.
However, I would think that you need to do your homework on the employer up front to make sure it is a company you want to work for. I also suspect this would not be an option for the companies with a “professional” personnel or Human Resources department. This means you are more likely to encounter acceptance of this concept by small to medium sized businesses where the owner or department manager is the decision maker in whom to hire. In my work with small business owners I find that they really like this idea of “try before you buy”.
If given the chance to work on a trial basis it is up to you to get the offer for full time employment. Remember, it is not just your technical competence. Equally important is how you mesh with the organization. The employer is just as concerned with how you will fit in. Will you be accepted by your co-workers? Do you fit in with the predominant company culture? This is the real advantage to the employer. They get to see beyond the model employee that everyone tries to present in the interview process and see the real person in action. They understand that unless you are trying to get a job as an astrophysicist, technical competence is much less important than the intangibles of work ethic, likeability and character.
work in the real world 