Ask HN: Should i work for free to have a portfolio?

Honestly you shouldn't freelance right after school unless you already had a significant amount of experience and projects under your belt.

That has no reflection on whether you have the right technical skills or not. It is simply that you need project experience, mentoring and time seeing how things really work versus what you get taught in schools.

As for working for free. No, unless it is for a charity or non profit etc. working for free is a lot of times harder then being paid as your time won't be valued the same. There are exceptions for people doing some marketing of their skills etc.

If you want to build up some credibility and get some experience, help out on an open source project or two.

There are two rates: 'pro', and 'pro bono'.

Every job you do needs to come under your 'pro' rate. No referral discounts. No friend discounts. No family discounts, no ’deals' swapping services with other freelancers. A professional charges a professional rate.

As a professional its important to charge a pro rate and get used to the value of your work. when you are established and want to take on free work (pro bono) THEN you can pick and choose which projects you will do for $0, but theres not rate between full, and $0. Its also common when working with charities to invoice the pro rate and then donate 100% back to the cause if you aupport it. This invoice+donation still lets your client understand the VALUE of what your providing.

Clients paying money, but less than you are worrh will degrade your perception of your work, and are usually the worst clients you cN have because they ALSO dont recognize the value of what youre offering.

Only take on pro bono projects that you can afford, and when youre starting out you usually need the money.

My advice is be up front with people if you dont have a large portfolio, but focus on the value you can provide them and collect the full amount that is worth. They arent payong you for work you did for oters, ONLY what you do for them.

Don't work for free, just build some fun pet projects.

I've had stuff like a poker equity calculator, craigslist monitoring program, etc in my "portfolio" to showcase some different skillsets.

Obviously it helps to tailor it somewhat to the kind of work you'll be doing.

I have totally no experience with this, but I would use a search algorithm to establish your 'real rate'. Decide for yourself what figure you need to earn as a bare minimum and try to sell your services for that price. After getting a job, you know one price you're not worth. Raise your offer price by twice the amount you think would be fair and try to find new work. Measure and write things down, as far as possible avoid selling for the same price twice, don't lose confidence in yourself.

Add: Don't listen to me, davismwfl's advice is better.