Need a Job? Work for Free?

This past week I was speaking with a staff member who is going to retire from our practice in September. She has been with The Dr. Svec Institute and Rehabilitation Clinics for approximately 10 years now. We were discussing her first few days on the job, including that she initially volunteered to work for me at no cost. In fact, she was part of a government program for new Canadians that provided eager workers with a small stipend to go into a workplace, gain experience, and build a resume. I did not quite understand how someone with her qualifications could not even get an interview for a real job, so we created something at first, but she quickly proved she should have a job with us, so we hired her a few months later. She has been a dedicated staff member and outstanding clinician. It was the volunteer experience for her and our “tryout” period that convinced me that it was a good match.

Today as young Canadians struggle to find worthwhile employment I am wondering how many are encouraged to use this strategy to launch their careers. The instructions would be quite simple, find several places that you feel you would want to work, send in a “volunteer” resume, and continue to call or e-mail until you get to talk to someone. If they let you in the door, just impress them so much that they will have to hire you. Be early for work, dress appropriately, understand the culture of the company, and show that you truly deserve to be there.
Now, I know that this flies in the face of what many young adults learned growing up in a pampered society. There is an expectation that they should receive whatever they want despite their efforts. That is simply not reality. No one owes you a job. No one owes you a career. Working for “nothing” may seem to be out of line, but that depends on your mind-set. You will be working for much more than a starting salary can ever provide. A chance to gain valuable experience, build your resume, and if the match fits perhaps a rewarding career in a workplace that matters.

We are searching for a Kinesiologist to expand our services at the Dr. Svec Institute and Rehabilitation Clinics in Windsor, Ontario. We have a one-week “tryout” period where we pay a small stipend to see if the person who wins the interview process does fit. We are also taking applications for Kinesiology volunteers.

So, need a job?