Interview Went Well, But CEO Wants Me To Work A Day -FREE (companies, pay)

[Gallit]

Sure, they'll have you come in to "try the job" on Monday, a different applicant on Tuesday, another applicant on Wednesday...

Listen to your gut. If it seems shady, it most likely is.

[Braunwyn]

What job is so easy that anything productive can result from one day of training? It would make more sense for a company to just hire some low wage worker and be done with it.

[calisteph]

I would tell him that you will gladly come in Monday for a paid shift. I would assume that he has someone else for Tuesday, etc. Free labor. Having you work for free is illegal and any employer that's willing to start off with something illegal will end up screwing you in the long run.

[ditchlights]

Oh well, it seems like a lot of people commenting on this thread don't struggle with unemployment or under-employment. OP, go ahead and follow their advice, and tell this slave-driver prospective employer to stick it up his ass, and then continue searching for the right opportunity in this crappy economy. I mean, who would want to see what the job really consists of, right? I mean, we all know that the world is perfect, right?

If an employer asked me to job shadow for a day for an opportunity that paid $50k a year to start, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm happy to hear that most people on this thread are in a much better job situation than to stoop to such a menial slave level.

[Meyerland]

If this is a job opportunity you want, then do the "internship" for a day. I would schedule it for a day you aren't working your part time job. If it's not a great opportunity, then keep looking.

It's one day.

[Ceece]

I'd probably offer to do this for a job I wanted, or thought I wanted, especially if the employer was iffy on whether I'd do well or not. It's also a chance for me to see if I liked the environment and prove myself.

BUT, I'd be unhappy if someone asked me to do it. It's bad business IMO.

[bobtn]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Not necessarily, and not likely in this situation. This could be considered an unpaid internship (even for a day), which are legal, as long as they meet the criteria. It really is dependent on the specific tasks they will be doing. Since the OP would be training for that day (as they couldn't know the job on Day 1), it seems to meet the criteria.


http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm

"The following six criteria must be applied when making this determination:

1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship."

It violates item 4, no doubt, UNLESS the employer is having a paid employee perform the exact same duties/tasks producing the same results concurrently. If a paid employee is not mimicking every action of the OP, the employer was provided an immediate advantage..lower labor costs.

The above list is not "obey 4 or 5 of 6". ALL 6 must be obeyed.

If this CEO were smart, he'd pay minimum wage for every tryout..simply to avoid a wage violation.

[Huckleberry3911948]

called working interview. also called mini internship also called employment at will also called
we hate unions we can cut our own deal without them. who needs unions if i work hard and am honest i know my boss and the government will treat me fairly.

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by ditchlights

Oh well, it seems like a lot of people commenting on this thread don't struggle with unemployment or under-employment. OP, go ahead and follow their advice, and tell this slave-driver prospective employer to stick it up his ass, and then continue searching for the right opportunity in this crappy economy. I mean, who would want to see what the job really consists of, right? I mean, we all know that the world is perfect, right?

If an employer asked me to job shadow for a day for an opportunity that paid $50k a year to start, I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm happy to hear that most people on this thread are in a much better job situation than to stoop to such a menial slave level.

Pretty much this. If you have nothing better to do, you don't have a job, and you're not losing any money, then I don't see the big issue. It's a day-long interview.

[fun2bloving]

Originally Posted by Hip_Chick54

I went to an interview the other day (lasted 4 hours). Company is fairly small but they've got a great staff. Long story short- CEO wants me to come in next week for a full 8 hour non paid shift to do a "dry run" and test out the job duties. He wants to make sure that I am a good fit for the job.

I want to know what everyone's thoughts are on this. Would you demand to be paid? I currently work part time and the day that he is asking me to come in is the day that I work. He reassured me that right now, things are looking up for me.

CEO mentioned that we can talk about salary and benefits after my 8 hours is done.

What do you all think?

Thanks!

Don't do it! He wants people that DON'T value themselves, is that you? That guy is showing everything about himself, believe him! A professional would expect to pay someone for HIS or HER time, with one exception, is it a sales position? He is looking for a desperate person, someone he can manipulate now and in the future.