- Home
- Networks
- Topics
- Blogs
- Co-op Blogs
- Arts and Social Sciences Co-op Blog
- Beedie School of Business Co-op Blog
- Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology Co-op Blog
- Communication Co-op Blog
- Computing Science Co-op Blog
- Contemporary Arts Co-op Blog
- Engineering Co-op Blog
- Environment Co-op Blog
- Health Sciences Co-op Blog
- Interactive Arts & Technology Co-op Blog
- MSE Co-op Blog
- Science Co-op Blog
- Sustainable Energy Engineering Co-op Blog
- Communique
- ENGAGE
- Peer Education
- Co-op Blogs
- Galleries
- Learn
- Indigenous
- EAL/ESL
- iBelong
Pro Bono vs. Speculation Work

Pro Bono vs. Speculation Work
By: Nicola Sznajder
Pro Bono or speculation work? You will come across freelance work and job postings that fit into at one of these categories but there is some confusion as to what each term means and if it is in your best interest to pursue any work in either one of these categories.
Pro Bono
Pro Bono publico is defined as donating your expertise at no charge “for the public good.” This term is also used to describe organizations and charities that exist for the public good rather than for profits. Unlike volunteering, pro bono services differ because they use the specific skills of a professional within any given industry to provide their services for free or at a reduced rate. This applies to web designers, lawyers, plumbers, and so forth.
One of the biggest benefits of Pro Bono work is the tax breaks, but it also helps to launch businesses or careers by providing good references, good portfolio work, free press, and the possibility of more work in the future. When conducting pro bono work, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons by offering your services to a community or a cause that you actually care about. As a professional, there might be limitations to what you are offering, so be sure to write up a contract that clearly states what you are and are not providing. This will protect both yourself and the client.
Some pitfalls to avoid when taking on pro bono work include taking on multiple clients. It is best to take on one pro bono client at a time in order to balance out paying and non-paying clients. Ensure that you specify some details such as a completion date and as well as defining the scope of the work before starting a project. Lastly this experience should be beneficial for both you and the client. If you are unable to see how you would benefit from this project then it may be in your best interests to take your services elsewhere.
Spec work
Speculation work is when you provide your services to develop creative work (even a finished product) for free or for a small fee as a part of a new business pitch. This is a more controversial topic since you are not giving your time and services for a not-for-profit organization, but for a company who is in the business of actually making money. You are more vulnerable and you can get scammed out of payment or spend hours on a project that doesn’t get picked up. The design community considers this type of work to undesirable and at times immoral since it is more beneficial for the client than it is for you. Spec work mostly comes in the form of design contests (like 99designs.ca) where a client is crowdsourcing different designs from several designers and then pick the one they like the best. As for the designer, you are spending a lot of time and effort at the small chance that you will be rewarded. Most designers that are involved in this type of work are looking for a portfolio pieces and getting their foot in the door but personally I believe there are better ways of getting your first start like volunteering or going pro bono.
If you would like to learn about the conversation against spec work then you can visit http://www.nospec.com/
Posted on November 20, 2014
Tags:
Submitted by volunteer on Thu, 2014-11-20 13:40 by volunteer
- volunteer's blog
- Login to post comments
- 5822 reads
RELATED TOPICS
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEARCH THE OLC
Login
OUR TWEETS
Today's Top
![]() |
Top Tip Lists Lost in Technical Translation: How to Succeed in an Unfamiliar Environment [127] |
![]() |
Top Tip Lists 8 Interview Tips For Impressing a Hiring Manager [111] |
![]() |
Peer Education How To Write Your Way Into Grad School [90] |
![]() |
Mental Health and Addictions Mental Health Wellness Tips for Quarantine [90] |
![]() |
Climate Change Changemakers: How Much Impact Can You Actually Have as a Co-op Student? [68] |
Interviews 10 Tips on Answering Interview Questions Effectively [98] |
|
Workplace Transition Top Ten Tips for Co-op Work Term Success [29] |
|
Professional Development What Learning Objectives can do for you [22] |
|
Professional Development Employer Information Sessions: Top 10 Tips [22] |
|
Interviews The Dirty Dozen Interview Questions (Part I) [18] |
[Blog] Life Experience Just Like Bunko: It's Not About You [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews Preparation = Successful Interview! [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews Acing Phone Interviews [1] |
|
[Story] Career Exploration We Are All Canucks: Dreams Come True [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews The Dirty Dozen Interview Questions (Part I) [1] |
7 seconds
From Forbes Magazine.
You have 7 seconds to make a first impression:
...
You're Welcome!
Just wanted to say a big "you're welcome!"
I think though, that we also owe you a big thank-you for all of your fantastic...
There but for the grace of
There but for the grace of God go I, reoccurs for me in periodically and I smile warmly and am grateful.
Thank you for your...
Uhoh, now you've sent us down
Uhoh, now you've sent us down a black hole of Youtube Conan clips......
Our failures define us
Conan's quote is incredibly profound..but not quite as profound as his "String Dance."