Would you work for free?

[beastmaster]

My wife thinks Im an idiot, because I went and worked a full day for free. I am trying to go back to my roots and work up in our local mountains doing big removals, that is my first love.
I contacted several companys up there and offered to work for free one day to show what I can do. One reply the owner kind of belittled me and made fun of me. (I'm not modest in saying how good I am) But another company took me up and worked me for the day. The owner said he has several resumes on his desk but my e-mail intrigued him. At the end of the day he told me I have a leg up, and have an excellent chance to get all his contract work. Me and his Crew got a long really good and that can often be a tie breaker.
He said he'll send me a check to cover my expenses for the day and I have to mail back an application.
I am finding at 53 years old I get discriminated against a lot because of my age. I often don't even get a call back after I tell my age. So I have to do what ever I can to get a chance to show what I can do.
We all have seen people who claim 10 years experience but in reality have 1 years experience 10 times, If I have to work one day free to show what I'm about, I think its good business, my Wife(the brains of the operation) thinks it cheapens me and makes me look like a rube.
So you Owner operators, What do you all think? Beastmaster

 

[046]

have done work for free lots of times after major storms

in Tulsa we had a major ice storm that knocked out our power for 2 1/2 weeks.
MASSIVE damage everywhere .. in every direction

spent a day taking out the most dangerous hangers at the boy scout camp near Locust Grove.

another camp we used for boy scouts, supported by taking out massive amount of dangerous ice storm damage. that turned out to be a monster job.

didn't want any kids to get hurt ...

 

[sawinredneck]

I'm in a position where I can do things like that, thankfully! My wife pays the bills, what I make, or can make, is play money for us.
I have made these offers before, up to a week. It gets me out of the house, lets me know if these are the kind of people I want to work with/for and I can walk at any time. Also the boss can tell me to walk any time, no harm, no foul, nobody but me is out anything.
I think it was a good gesture, you offered something many wont do, made an impression with willingness and can be judged on your work alone, not what they are paying you at compared to what others are making.
I wish more people were in this position, I think they would be a lot happier with the jobs and employers they deal with every day.

 

[xdmp22]

I have done that a few times to get a job, though I do it a little differant. I offer to work for free for the morning, then at luch they can decide if they want to have a free morning and send me home, or hire me and keep me. I don't push to get paid for the first day, but the three times I have done it, I have gotten the job and been paid for that day.

One time I told them they could pay me minimum wage for the first week, then if they like me and kept me, I would get bumped to full starting pay. That worked well to....

Beastmaster, you may think about the minimum wage deal for the first few days, that way you atleast pay for your gas and keep the wife a little more at bay.....just a thought.....

 

[jefflovstrom]

I think it shows integrity and ambition.
Jeff :msp_smile:

 

[Jumper]

Guess I do everyday I work for Habitat.....pending a new job. I certainly am challanged in the carpentry skills area, but they seem to appreciate me helping to frame houses.

 

[pdqdl]

I think that everybody should offer to work the first day for free. As an employer, I like the "try before you buy" concept.

Problem: what about those ambitious, experienced guys that might know all the tricks about doing a job, including how to gold-brick after they are locked into the position? I presume that the average gold-bricker will "pass" on the concept of giving away a free day.

 

[TreeAce]

I can see your wifes point. And I think she makes sense. You say you are good and u know you can back it up...so why would you offer to work for free?? HOWEVER...It sounds like somthing I would do. But think about it....would a lawyer say..."I will go into court the first day for free" or if you hired a new accountant would they do anything for free in hopes of proving themselves? I doubt it. Except ...tree work is tree work and we tend to have our own way of things. OFFERING to prove yourself for free seems fine to me. I would have to wondr about any employer who would actually let someone work more than about 20 minutes and not pay them. If they cant climb you will know in 20 minutes....or less.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I think that everybody should offer to work the first day for free. As an employer, I like the "try before you buy" concept.

Problem: what about those ambitious, experienced guys that might know all the tricks about doing a job, including how to gold-brick after they are locked into the position? I presume that the average gold-bricker will "pass" on the concept of giving away a free day.

Don't be a pest-a-miss.
Jeff :msp_wink:

 

[jefflovstrom]

I can see your wifes point. And I think she makes sense. You say you are good and u know you can back it up...so why would you offer to work for free?? HOWEVER...It sounds like somthing I would do. But think about it....would a lawyer say..."I will go into court the first day for free" or if you hired a new accountant would they do anything for free in hopes of proving themselves? I doubt it. Except ...tree work is tree work and we tend to have our own way of things. OFFERING to prove yourself for free seems fine to me. I would have to wondr about any employer who would actually let someone work more than about 20 minutes and not pay them. If they cant climb you will know in 20 minutes....or less.

Come on, Ace
Not apples to apples.
I remembered a long time ago , your interview was foot-locking 30 feet.
Jeff :msp_biggrin:
sure weeded them out.

 

[pdqdl]

...
I am finding at 53 years old I get discriminated against a lot because of my age. I often don't even get a call back after I tell my age. ...

Unless I am mistaken, it is against federal discrimination regulations to inquire about a persons age, except for situations where age is a legal restriction. Like "Are you over 21" when asking about a bartending job.

So if they ask you how old you are, just tell 'em "old enough to know what I am doing".

 

[beastmaster]

I can see your wifes point. And I think she makes sense. You say you are good and u know you can back it up...so why would you offer to work for free?? HOWEVER...It sounds like somthing I would do. But think about it....would a lawyer say..."I will go into court the first day for free" or if you hired a new accountant would they do anything for free in hopes of proving themselves? I doubt it. Except ...tree work is tree work and we tend to have our own way of things. OFFERING to prove yourself for free seems fine to me. I would have to wondr about any employer who would actually let someone work more than about 20 minutes and not pay them. If they cant climb you will know in 20 minutes....or less.

I think in this case it was a win win situation. I helped him finish a job where another climber got injured on. I'm sure leaving and then having to return again had eating into his profit margin for that job. I also enjoyed my self. I'm not the fastest trimmer, but climbing those pines and taking them down I think I shine. None of them were really big or difficult, but I did have to catch a top out of one, and use another tree to crane the pieces of another. One was leaning into the HV wires(their shielded up there) and was kind of tricky. The young guys on the crew had never seen SRT used before and thought it pretty cool. I had a pretty good time. The Owner was vary nice and professional guy with a really good rep.
Business is kind of slow up there with lots of low baller speed freaks doing trees for almost nothing. I'm sure my working for free helped him out, and I got to show case what I can do. He said he's going to mail me a check to cover my expenses for the day. At lest now I am not just another folder sitting on his desk. I am broke and could use a little cash thats no lie. But I think of it as a buisness expense. Like I said I had a good time doing it. Maybe I am a rube, but is that such a bad thing:msp_biggrin: Beastmaster

 

[TreeAce]

Come on, Ace
Not apples to apples.
I remembered a long time ago , your interview was foot-locking 30 feet.
Jeff :msp_biggrin:
sure weeded them out.

You must have stopped reading my post half way through.:msp_unsure:

 

[TreeAce]

Beastmaster....I hope I didnt come across like I think you shouldn't have done it. I think its pretty cool really. It proves that u really love what you do. I only wanted to say that I can see your wifes point and that I dont feel she is entirely wrong. I think that your wifes opinion on this really shows something.....that she is VERY proud of you.

 

[mic687]

I have worked for free in the past every time the church needs tree work or my 83yo neighbor need something. It is very rewarding to give back from time to time and in your cace my wife would say the same and I would do just what you did. Sacrifice today for the betterment of tomorrow.

 

[ropensaddle]

Come on, Ace
Not apples to apples.
I remembered a long time ago , your interview was foot-locking 30 feet.
Jeff :msp_biggrin:
sure weeded them out.

Yup I would say go get f'd lol I got a wraptoroke:

 

[VA-Sawyer]

Yup, I never could footlock worth a dang. Guess that's why I got a Pantin early on.
( Wishing I had a Wraptor myself )

As for the OP, I think the proof is in the pudding. You made him an offer he couldn't refuse and it got you to the head of the class. I think it was a smart move.
Rick

 

[Currently]

Great move.

Separates the bullchitters from the do-ers.

Walking the walk ...

 

[ropensaddle]

Great move.

Separates the bullchitters from the do-ers.

Walking the walk ...

Aww your bullchitten It may separate the young from the old but my wraptor makes foot lock look soooooooooo primitive:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Currently]

Comment directed at Beastmaster but me really like your Ford!

I am way too old to start learning how to use that climbing stuff.
Would love to watch you use it though!