Working for free: two questions

[staranise]

Two questions:

I've applied for a job I really really want and I think my experience etc matches their criteria. CLosing date was last friday and I've heard nothing. Is it ok to contact them ot ask about the application? They are a very small outfit and I don't want to pester them but I do want to stress how keen I am!

Secondly, they are a charity whose work I really admire - would it be very strange to offer to work for them for free (assuming I haven't got the job which I realise I probably haven't!)? I doubt if they would even need me (they are tiny) and would they think I was a bit strange?

1. Nothing wrong with that. Phone them on Monday and to just ask if you've made the cut etc.

2. Charities will almost certainly want/need volunteers.

Why would you work for free?? Who going to pay your bills?

I don't think it would be strange for you to offer to work for them for free, but I think you need to consider carefully what you are seeking to get out of it.

If you don't need the money, and just want to do something interesting, then by all means go for voluntary work, over the long-term if that appeals to you. If OTOH you are changing direction and want some experience to bolster your CV, think about how long you could afford / would like to work for free, and what skills you want to get out of it. I wouldn't TBH be that hopeful about voluntary work necessarily leading to paid work with the same organisation (although that can happen), but it may well look good on your CV and lead to something else.