First, this was essentially a comment I posted deep within a thread about working a free shift during the 'interview' process.
Second, it's not the worst experience of my life and should be considered carefully before working for free. Would I do it again, no. But I did work for 'free' and it turned out okayish I guess.
Third, … Read it and you'll see that I kinda was jerked around..
Original Comment:
I once had a phone interview after an Indeed application. Went well, then the regional director flew in and did an in person interview that also went well. About a week later I was called and told they would like me to perform the job for one day without pay and asked me for personal info to pull my driving record.
Job I was applying for background:
Work would be working 99% alone with vehicular travel across the state (in company car) visiting 4-10 current customers per day. Also this was spring of 2019 for reference.
It was explained to me that it would be a 3/4 long training shift driving the interviewer (and regional director) around and to perform the tasks that would be expected of me along side the new “boss.”
Upfront, I would told I would ONLY be compensated in the form of a paid lunch at any sit-down lunch place I chose. I agreed because the job had a defined salary that was discussed upfront and was 2x my current pay.
The day came, drove my car to the hotel the interviewer was staying at (flew in and stayed in my town just for the ride-along) and we visited multiple customers performing the job along side the interviewer. I drove his car around and ate an expensive lunch, then the end of the day came and I was provided a $100 cash (freebie that was never discussed) and told that we'd be in contact.
1 week later: I was called and told they decided to go with the only other candidate that did the drive along. I said no problem and moved on. I was disappointed because I wasted a day but was compensated only a little less than what I would have brought home after taxes and buying a lunch anyway.
So my opinion it depends on how bad you want THAT job. Most of the time working a shift for free, that's a no go, but sometimes…