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Sunday, June 9, 1996

Book charts job market for lost college graduates

By Cheryl Klein

Daily Bruin Contributor

It's an infuriating catch-22. When hiring employees, companies demand experience. But in order to get experience, potential employees need to be hired.

In "I'll Work for Free: A Short-term Strategy for a Long-term Payoff," Bob Weinstein offers a creative solution to this problem. He proposes just what the title says: working for free until the given business deems you worthy of a paycheck.

To those familiar with the sage advice of college counselors, this may sound suspiciously like an internship. Students were taking advantage of internships long before nifty $12.95 paperbacks were telling them to do so.

Weinstein assures us that there is a difference between traditional internships and working for free, but his book never clarifies what that difference is.

Essentially, working for free is a more casual arrangement between boss and worker. Its main advantage seems to be the ability to catch the employer's attention by saying, "Hey look! I love your company so much that I don't even want money to work for you. Aren't I eager and original?"

Working for free may be a fine solution for the independently wealthy, but most people endure four (five? six?) years of college so they can earn a solid living when they graduate. But Weinstein makes the valid point that finding an enjoyable, decent-salaried job fresh out of college may be a fantasy in today's market.

The bright ideas in "I'll Work for Free" lie less in the concept of not getting paid than in Weinstein's other insights into the business world.

Even in a large public school like UCLA, students are frequently sheltered from the realities of the "real" world. When they step blinking into the harsh light of the work force, it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. Here's where Weinstein's book comes in handy.

"I'll Work for Free" takes readers beyond browsing the want ads in a futile search for the job of your dreams. Weinstein gives detailed descriptions of other avenues for finding employment.

For example, he recommends seeking out start-up companies, or even companies whose futures are on the rocks. It's risky, of course, but those who weather the struggle are rewarded for taking a chance. Here he cites Microsoft as an example. Bill Gates' associates from the early days are now millionaires in their own right.

Another interesting alternative to traditional industries is working for a nonprofit organization. Weinstein stresses that the nonprofit company of the '90s is looking to streamline their management and hire people with a good mind for business.

Weinstein's book also abounds with ways to apply, network and sell yourself. Some of these tips make sense, such as sending out a friendly letter rather than an impersonal resume.

Others smack of the well-intentioned but totally impractical advice parents give their kids for making friends on the first day of school.

When networking, for example, he advises building up a strong relationship before disclosing your business motives. While there is definitely such a thing as being too blunt, isn't it a little unethical (not to mention time-consuming) to make someone a close friend for the sole purpose of working your way into his or her field?

But overall, Weinstein's voice is one of experience. He shares with his readers such valuable insights as the "corporate culture" of a few major corporations (IBM's workers trudge around in somber suits and ties, while the folks at Ben and Jerry's sport jeans and T-shirts).

He gives a brief explanation of the reasoning behind working for free, but does not dwell excessively on philosophical matters. The book relies on concrete examples and simple dos and don'ts to make its point.

Written in a style that is at times goofy and overly adjective-friendly but always colorful, "I'll Work for Free" is easy to read and probably worth the time.

Even though students may not put much weight in the benefits of fetching coffee for free, it can't hurt to have an edge up on information when entering the scary world that is life after college.

BOOK: "I'll Work for Free: A Short-term Strategy for a Long-term Payoff" by Bob Weinstein. Published by Henry Holt and Company, $12.95.