Some people HAVE NO SHAME!!
This clown from a local university interviewed me about a job last year. Then when the job interview was over he said “I have something to say and you probably won’t like it. There is no job available yet, but I wanted to feel the water and try to get a budget opened for this position. Let me try and I will get back to you…”
Well nothing ever ended up becoming of that phone interview. So I emailed this guy two weeks ago asking if anything has changed and if there was any possible openings for a web designer. The slob sent me back this email. I hate opportunists!
Dear Another Designer,
Thanks for your message. Unfortunately, there have been no changes to our status here at the university.
However, a non-profit group that I work with is looking for someone to design a website for them. Is there any chance that you might be interested at all in doing a pro bono project to build your portfolio?
Our current site, which I did from a template, is pretty lame
However, a non-profit group that I work with is looking for someone to design a website for them. Is there any chance that you might be interested at all in doing a pro bono project to build your portfolio?
It probably would be good for you to get the non-profit groups contact info and see what they can do for you in exchange. It might be worth your time. Spend some time talking to them, especially if they run in circles with people that could hire you for some nice projects. I’ve done some things like this and ended up getting invited to expensive fund raisers at the zoo or art museum, and mingling with people that paid $25,000/table to attend the event, and I got in free!
Some good advice here. There are times that volunteer/pro bono work will get you a foot in the door or a contact which leads to something far more lucrative.
You should see every opportunity as an open door. If you had replied and spoken to the non-profit folk they might have thought you were a top guy for getting back to them and recommend you for future paid projects. You would have got more business and had a charity site in your portfolio.
The guy you went to see initially may have thought that it was a really generous thing to do and had you in mind for future paid projects so you may have lost out on 2 counts.
Just something to think about as your portfolio isnt enormous yet.
I was just saying this to a friend of mine the other day. If you close the door before you see what’s on the other side of it, you have no way of knowing if it was good or bad.
You should do charity work out of the goodness of your heart, not because you think you may get something out of it… that includes thinking you’ll get a free ticket into “Heaven”. If you don’t want to do it, don’t.
