Let's work for free

How about we have the candidates who are NOT chosen for any given position after an interview, especially when it is due to lack of experience, do the work but just not get paid, rather than not even do the work? This would give them the opportunity to gain some experience and show the employer their skills.

When I started my job search the way they do it made sense to me. I saw it as "free-time compensation" for candidates they could not offer a job. Now, I see it as denying an opportunity to gain experience, and creating a feeling that "You need experience to get experience."

Better yet, let's give each unselected candidate a CHOICE between working without pay and not working at all. Candidates who really want to gain experience would choose the former, while those who are employed or who already have lots of experience would choose the latter.

Next time you receive a rejection notice for a job you really wanted, respond "I decline the free-time compensation. I'll start my unpaid assignment tomorrow."