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Comment by davemello | Hacker News Reader

Thanks, all, for the feedback! I just wanted to clarify on my 'work for free' point. If you have no real-world experience, get some. While you may not get paid at first, the amount of marketable skills you learn will more than pay for that. The point here is not to offer to work for free in hopes that you might eventually get hired (although that can sometimes happen). Rather, the point is that there are a lot of things that you can only learn by being thrown into the context of a fast-moving, multi-faceted company with real clients.

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Thanks for joining the discussion.

Qualified it is still bad advice. The last thing the software industry needs is a hazing period for unscrupulous companies to take advantage of. If you're really lacking in any demonstrable experience then work on a personal project or an open source project until you can show that you know what you're doing. The pay is the same and what you'll have to show for it is just as valuable (if not a lot more) for future employers -- at least the ones you're likely to actually want to work for.

>> "fast-moving, multi-faceted company with real clients"

Before I got into software I built a public relations agency from the ground up. I used to dream in corporate double-talk. Even I don't know what that phrase means.

It's better to build something for yourself or contribute in Open Source than working for free on a for-profit company.

I also don't think it's easy to get "hired" for no money in most companies, legal issues aside, training people is NOT free and you can't trust and give responsibilities to someone you're not paying. On Europe is common to do unpaid internships as part of your education, but the companies taking you in get money or tax rebates to do so.

Volunteering at a non-profit is one thing, but you should never work for free at a for-profit company. Never. To go even farther, any for-profit company unable to pay even a reduced rate, equity return, or a sales commission shouldn't be hiring.

You should pay at least minimum wage which is intended for unskilled labor. Even training that person will provide value to you and you will learn so much about yourself.

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