Even if you're anxious to get a job in the industry, I would argue that you should never offer to do so for free. Employers don't value "free" because they assume it's sub-standard even if you kick ass. You may be great, but if you offer to do something for free, your time likely won't be valued much and you'll end up working the useless projects. It's not fair, it doesn't make sense, but I notice that's just how people treat "free" and the highest paid opinion usually wins even if it's not always right. Respect yourself, ask for at least token pay.
I used to offer myself for 'free' as a youngster, then after a week I'd ask how much they'd pay me if I stayed. Never had a company not make a half decent offer after that week.
You risk a week, if they know what they've got they'll keep you, if you're not worth keeping then the problem might be on your end.
Here's the problem: he wants to work at a startup. A startup, if successful, that's at ramen profitability - meaning, there isn't any cash for you even if they wanted to pay.
If you've got a VC-backed startup with cash, they're recruiting interns through the traditional processes anyway, where this guy is going to have trouble standing out.
So, the pay could be in something other than cash, if the startup is anywhere near successful bragging rights would be one thing that would be valuable, a really good reference would be another.
I remember that when I was 15 I worked for free in a computer store, the deal was simple: I could play with the computer as much as I wanted, but if a customer showed up I had to explain how it worked as good as I could (Radio Shack in Amsterdam). So, even if I didn't get 'paid' in money I got to play with a computer that I could not have afforded for several years.
Maybe something like that is feasible in this case.
the problem is that "hiring" someone where they get paid is a HUUUUUUUGE pain in the ass because of all those state/federal forms you need to fill out for employees.
Which is why the really early stage startups don't really hire. Since they want to avoid that hassle.
Also when startups are squeezing every penny trying to get profitable/launch, they can't take a chance and start paying someone, even the few grand a month a "paid" intern would earn.
