The hidden cost of unpaid ‘experience’

Hey,

Welcome back to Green Jobs Rising!

We’re resuming our regular newsletter schedule starting today, so you’ll get your weekly green jobs insights as usual.

Today, let’s talk about what’s not working right.

The job market is tight, and many young professionals are trying everything they can to get a foot in the door. 

So when an opportunity comes up, even if it feels questionable, it’s easy to say yes.

And some employers are taking advantage of that.

We’re seeing roles with extensive job descriptions, responsibilities, and clear expectations… but labelled as ‘fellowships’, ‘internships’, or even ‘volunteer roles.’

On paper, they promise exposure and learning. In reality, they mirror full-time jobs without the pay.

In the past, I have heard job seekers complain about the interview process.

You’re invited to an interview, and instead of a conversation, you’re given a case study. 

It could be a full communication strategy, a graphic design task, an app prototype, or a detailed project plan, work that requires time, thought, and effort.

You submit it, hoping it shows your capability.

And then…silence.
Or a short rejection email.

Later, you come to realise that your ‘case study’ looks very similar to something the organisation is now using. 

A campaign. A design. A concept. Something that solved a real problem internally.

At that point, it starts to feel like you were part of the workforce, just unpaid labour.

When multiple candidates are asked to complete substantial tasks, organisations can end up extracting value without ever making a hire, without paying for the work,  or being accountable. 

Entire roles are being structured in ways that avoid the cost of hiring. 

Work is packaged as ‘experience’, while the output expected is professional and strategic.

This is a pattern that shifts the burden onto job seekers, many of whom are already navigating financial pressure, uncertainty, and limited options.

The result of this? A system where people are asked to prove their worth repeatedly, by doing the work…without being valued for it.

Have you experienced something similar? Share you experience with us on X.